Contests are few in Valley primary

The filing deadline was
Friday, but the nominating petitions still must be
certified.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Eight Mahoning County incumbents, including three appointed last year, will face challenges in the March 4 Democratic primary.

But in Trumbull County, there are only four competitive primaries: Two incumbents are being challenged and there are two-men races for a pair of open seats.

In Columbiana County, voters have a contest only in the Republican primary for the sheriff’s office.

Incumbent David Smith, facing a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence that could legally prevent him from serving, is being challenged by two of his former deputies — Daniel “Skip” MacLean and Jerry Herbert — along with Perry Township Police Chief Raymond Stone.

The winner will face Leetonia Police Chief John Soldano in the fall.

The filing deadline for the primary was Friday. County boards of elections still need to certify nominating petitions.

In Mahoning County, appointees facing Democratic primary challenges are:

UProbate Court Judge Mark Belinky, who has two opponents. The winner of the primary faces County Court Judge Scott D. Hunter, a Republican, in the November general election.

UCommon Pleas Judge Timothy E. Franken, who has three opponents. No Republican filed for the seat.

UTreasurer Lisa A. Antonini, who is also the county’s Democratic chairwoman, faces John F. Shultz, a longtime Democratic precinct committeeman and defense attorney. No Republican filed for that seat.

Shultz said he was running because he’s upset with how Antonini handles the sale of tax liens to an out-of-state company and her support of the Cafaro Co. in the Oak Hill Renaissance lawsuit.

“The incumbent is nothing more than a lobbyist for the Cafaro family,” said Shultz, who will be running for his first political office outside of Democratic precinct committeeman.

Also, Shultz is a longtime critic of the head of the county Democratic Party.

“Obviously, I’m not a fan of Lisa Antonini,” he said. “Her regimes both politically and publicly have been catastrophic, and it’s time for a change.”

Antonini said she has no problem with Shultz, and the only reason he is challenging her in the primary is “at the end of the day, John Shultz doesn’t like me. This satisfies his urges to get back at me. I have no ill feelings toward him.”

As for tax liens, Antonini said the sale of them has led to numerous people’s paying their delinquent property taxes and many others establishing a payment plan. She also said she’s “not in bed” with the Cafaros and stands up for what’s right for the community.

Antonini still plans to temporarily relinquish her responsibilities as party chairwoman to concentrate on her election. A decision on how that should be done will be made next week, she said.

Also, Mahoning Democrats will have an endorsement meeting later this month, she said.

Among elected incumbents, Sheriff Randall A. Wellington faces two challengers in the March 4 Democratic primary: ex-deputy David P. Aey and retired Youngstown Sgt. Rick Alli.

The county’s two commissioners, the prosecutor and coroner each face one challenger in the Democratic primary.

A preliminary review Friday by the Mahoning County Board of Elections shows that Timothy A. Gordon Jr. of Lowellville, running as the Republican candidate in the 60th Ohio House District race, may not have enough valid signatures to get on the ballot.

Gordon needs 50 valid signatures on his petitions. He submitted petitions with 60 signatures, but elections employees say only 48 appear to be valid. The final decision rests with the elections board, which meets Thursday to certify the ballot.

Republicans fielded candidates for a number of Mahoning County races even though the party hasn’t won a countywide nonjudicial race in 24 years.

“This whole team is new,” said Jeanette M. Garr, a Youngstown State University professor who is running for county recorder.

Garr views recorder as a “stepping stone” to higher office and wants to get familiar with politics through that job.

Mahoning GOP Chairman Clarence Smith was pleased that younger people are running for elected office. “These people can make a difference,” he said. “They’ll fight for our future.”

On the congressional level, U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th; Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th; and Steven C. LaTourette of Bainbridge Township, R-14th, don’t face challengers in the primary. One Republican each filed to challenge Ryan and Wilson in the general election. There are three Democrats who submitted petitions with the winner taking on LaTourette in November.

The only primary among state legislative candidates is in the 65th Ohio House District, which includes Niles, Girard, Liberty, Hubbard and its surrounding areas.

Atty. Mike Harshman — a prominent Democratic campaign contributor — is seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat held by three-term incumbent state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, who is also an attorney. Also John D. Williams is challenging her.

The winner faces Republican Lyle A. Waddell of Newton Falls.

Besides the 65th District race, there are three other Democratic primaries.

Joseph P. Consiglio, Weathersfield’s police chief since 2002, is running again — he lost in 2004 — against Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere.

The campaign heated up early for county engineer as current chief deputy engineer Randy Smith and Cafaro Co. vice president and Niles engineer David DeChristofaro made their intentions known during the summer.

Their campaign signs were visible near the Trumbull County Fairgrounds last summer, as well as at many other locations.

Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, the county’s forensic pathologist, is opposed in the Democratic primary by Gary L. Kraker for county coroner.

skolnick@vindy.com

X CONTRIBUTORS: Ed Runyan of the Trumbull bureau and D.A. Wilkinson of the Salem bureau