43
Gerberry, Alliance official among those eyeing Boccieri’s state post
Photo
State Sen. John Boccieri of Alliance, D-33rd
Photo
Robyn Gallitto
A longtime state legislator is ‘definitely leaning’ toward seeking the Senate appointment.
YOUNGSTOWN — With John Boccieri heading to the U.S. House in January, a number of elected officials are eyeing his soon-to-be-vacant state Senate seat.
A day after being elected to a two-year term in the state House, Rep. Ronald Gerberry, D-59th, of Austintown, said Wednesday he’s “definitely leaning toward seeking the appointment.” Gerberry said he expects to make a decision on pursuing the appointment, made by the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus, in about five days.
Political insiders say Gerberry would be the front-runner because of his two decades of experience in the state House and his friendships with the caucus members.
Democrats recaptured the Ohio House in Tuesday’s election, and Gerberry would probably be in line to serve as a committee chairman if he remains. Despite Democrats’ holding only 12 of the Senate’s 33 positions, Gerberry said he’d like to be there.
The 33rd Senate District includes all of Mahoning and Carroll counties and portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties. Mahoning County makes up a majority of the district’s voters. In the 2004 election, 77 percent of the district’s voters were from Mahoning. Four years prior, Mahoning made up 56 percent of that state Senate seat’s voters.
Gerberry announced in 2002 and 2006 that he would run for the Senate seat, but withdrew before the election both times. In 2002, then-state Sen. Robert F. Hagan decided to seek re-election after initially announcing he’d run for a congressional seat. In 2006, Gerberry withdrew at the request of Ohio Democratic and organized labor officials who wanted Boccieri in that position.
Also, Steve Okey, an Alliance councilman-at-large, said he’s “very interested” in seeking the appointment.
“I enjoy helping people and serving in the state Senate would be the next step for me,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
Okey is the brother of state Rep. Mark Okey, D-61st, of Carrollton, who isn’t interested in the appointment.
Mahoning County Commissioner John A. McNally IV, re-elected Tuesday, said the Senate appointment is “something I will think about ... It’s something I’ll mull over the next couple of weeks.”
Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti, also re-elected Tuesday, has discussed possibly replacing Boccieri. He couldn’t be reached Wednesday to comment.
Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto had previously expressed interest in the appointment. She said she’s keeping her options open, but hasn’t made a decision.
Among those options is replacing Gerberry in the Ohio House should he be named to the Senate.
Also, Poland Township Trustee Robert Lidle said he’d consider replacing Gerberry if the House member is chosen for the state Senate.
“It’s something I’d probably be interested in seeking if Ron” gets the Senate appointment.
Capturing the 16th Congressional District seat is still sinking in for Boccieri.
“It’s kind of surreal and amazing,” Boccieri said.
Boccieri received 54.2 percent of the district’s vote compared with 45.8 percent for Republican Kirk Schuring.
Boccieri will be the first Democrat in about 50 years to represent that district, which includes all of Stark and Wayne counties and portions of Medina and Ashland counties.
Boccieri recently moved from New Middletown in Mahoning County to Alliance in Stark County.
When asked if he would be an ally and friend to the Mahoning Valley in Congress, Boccieri said, “There’s no question.”
Schuring repeatedly attacked Boccieri during the campaign as a “Youngstown politician.”
Boccieri said he and other members of the House that represent Northeast Ohio — including U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan, D-17th, of Niles, and Charlie Wilson, D-6th, of St. Clairsville — are planning an organized effort to work collectively in Congress for the betterment of the region.
“The challenges that face Akron, Canton, Youngstown and Cleveland are all the same,” Boccieri said.
Among Boccieri’s top priorities when he becomes a congressman in January are “renegotiating free-trade agreements to stimulate the national economy, closing tax loopholes that benefit companies that leave the country and invest in companies that stay in America.”
Boccieri, an Air Force Reserves pilot who’s had four rotations in the Middle East, said he also wants to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq.
The congressman-elect is interested in joining the House’s financial services committee — Wilson is a member — and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. His dream is to serve on the House Appropriations Committee. It would be extremely unusual for a freshman House member to be selected as a member of that powerful committee.