ON THE SIDE...

Opinion: By David Skolnick | July 10, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

In the span of six days, the Stark County Republican Party sent me three faxes criticizing state Sen. John Boccieri, the Democratic nominee for the 16th Congressional District.

What’s unusual is the first sentence in each calls Boccieri either a “Youngstown politician” or a “Youngstown senator.” Boccieri doesn’t live in the 16th Congressional District, something Republicans are entitled to use against him.

Boccieri lives in New Middletown, about 14 miles from Youngstown. He represents Youngstown and all of Mahoning County in the state Senate.

I suspect Stark County Republican officials know Boccieri doesn’t live in Youngstown because they’d have to be stupid to not know this. It’s a desperate and pathetic attempt to somehow discredit Boccieri by tying him to Youngstown with the implication that the city is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Mahoning Valley for Obama will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Chevrolet Centre community room in Youngstown. Those interesting in attending should call Bill Adams at (330) 793-8961 or go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/447vf to register.

skolnick@vindy.com