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Senate seat garners growing interest
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Robyn Gallitto
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State Sen. John Boccieri of Alliance, D-33rd
Friday is the deadline to submit letters of interest to the Mahoning County Democratic Party.
YOUNGSTOWN — An ex-Youngstown councilman, a congressional staffer and a former local television news anchor are among the growing list of those interested in succeeding John Boccieri in the state Senate.
Among those who recently contacted Mahoning County Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Antonini and/or incoming Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro about the appointment are:
- Rufus Hudson, a former Youngstown 3rd Ward councilman who lost a 2006 Democratic primary for an Ohio House seat.
- Pat Lowry of Youngstown, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s regional press secretary and a retired teacher who’s unsuccessfully run for Youngstown council president.
-Stacia Erdos Littleton, former television news anchor at WYTV in Youngstown and currently a weekend anchor and reporter for a Pittsburgh television station.
Also, Sam Moffie, of Boardman, who’s unsuccessfully run for Mahoning County commissioner and Boardman trustee, has submitted a letter of interest to the Mahoning Democratic Party. Moffie said he would only serve the remaining two-plus years of Boccieri’s unexpired term in the 33rd Ohio Senate District.
“I expect the number of candidates to grow,” said Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd.
Those who’ve already decided to seek the appointment are:
- Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto.
- Poland Trustee Robert Lidle.
- Alliance Councilman-at-Large Steve Okey.
- Brian R. Thomas, of Perrysville in Carroll County. He lost the 2004 race for the 18th Congressional District.
Ex-Mahoning County Commissioner David Engler of Canfield is also interested in the position.
Boccieri, an Alliance Democrat, will resign his Senate seat sometime next month to serve in Congress.
The 33rd Senate District includes all of Mahoning and Carroll counties and portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties. Mahoning is the largest county in terms of population in the district.
Those hoping to receive the Mahoning County Democratic recommendation for the seat must let the party know by Friday. The party’s executive committee meets Dec. 2 with each candidate. The committee will then give the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus the names of up to three finalists for the job that pays about $59,000 a year.
The other county Democratic parties in the district have until Dec. 12 to do the same.
The caucus’ four-person leadership, including Cafaro, will recommend a replacement for Boccieri to the full 11-member caucus. The caucus has the final decision on selecting the replacement.
Cafaro recommends that candidates wanting to succeed Boccieri seek the support of all the county parties in the district.
skolnick@vindy.com