Cafaro to lead Dems in Senate

Capri Cafaro is the first leader of the Senate Democrats from the Valley in more than 20 years.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

About 21⁄2 years ago, Capri Cafaro had lost her second bid to get elected to a U.S. House seat.

Shortly before that, Jason Wilson’s father, Charlie, fired him as his congressional campaign manager after the campaign failed to get 50 valid signatures to get Charlie’s name on the ballot.

Flash forward to Wednesday.

The 12-member Ohio Democratic Senate Caucus appointed Cafaro, D-32nd, of Liberty, as its leader and Jason Wilson, D-30th, of Columbiana, as its assistant whip, effective next month.

The positions are No. 1 and 4, respectively, for Ohio Senate Democrats.

Cafaro is the first leader of the Senate Democrats from the Mahoning Valley since Harry Meshel of Youngstown, who held that post more than 20 years ago.

Despite a huge year for Democrats in Ohio and nationwide, the party failed to pick up any seats in the state Senate in last week’s election. Republicans control the Senate 21-12.

“The Democrats in the Senate are willing to put people in leadership who are new and see if that can make a difference,” said state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, who spent 10 years in the Senate before moving to the state House in January 2007.

During that decade, Democrats failed to make any inroads in the Senate. Ten years ago, Republicans controlled the Senate 21-12.

“What Democrats in the Senate have done in the past hasn’t worked,” Hagan said. “There was desperation felt to overcome the odds against the Republicans. New blood is never bad when a change is needed.”

Outgoing state Sen. John Boccieri, D-33rd, of Alliance, who will resign sometime next month to take a seat in the U.S. House, voted for Cafaro and Wilson, who both faced opposition.

“There’s a sense of wanting to change direction,” he said. “They bring youth and energy to the caucus.”

Cafaro is 30 [she turns 31 next week] and Wilson is 40.

“I am honored and humbled by this selection,” Cafaro said. “I appreciate the trust that the caucus has put in me. I look forward to working diligently as a team.”

Wilson added: “Now we have younger leaders with different experiences. We have to work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done. We both need to reach across the aisle.”

David Johnson, Columbiana County Republican chairman, said despite Cafaro and Wilson being Democrats, he respects the two and “could not be more happy and pleased they’re in those positions. It bodes well for our part of the state, which has been neglected for too long.”

Cafaro and Wilson at the table when key decisions are being made is “good for our area and they’ll help us in those positions,” Johnson said.

Having two senators from the Mahoning Valley in leadership will “give this area a stronger voice. It’s a positive for this area,” said Paul Sracic, chairman of Youngstown State University’s political science department.

The caucus also asked Wilson to serve as Senate minority campaign chairman, a newly created nonstatutory position. The position would include candidate recruitment and raising money for the caucus and its incumbents and candidates.

“We need to talk about a few issues before I make a commitment,” Wilson said.

Last week was the first time Cafaro and Wilson won general elections.

Cafaro lost the 2006 Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District nomination and lost the 2004 general election for the 14th Congressional District seat.

Cafaro ran unopposed last week for a full four-year term to the Senate.

Wilson easily defeated Republican Tim Ginter of East Liverpool last week for a four-year term to his Senate position.

In November 2006, the Senate caucus appointed Cafaro and Wilson to finish the final two years of a pair of unexpired terms.

Cafaro replaced Marc Dann of Liberty, who resigned to become Ohio attorney general.

Wilson replaced his father, Charlie, of St. Clairsville, who left the state Senate for a U.S. House seat.

skolnick@vindy.com