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Official runs for county office
The incumbent will decide if he’ll seek re-election after a physical next month.
YOUNGSTOWN — City Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti will run in next year’s Democratic primary for Mahoning County commissioner, even if incumbent David Ludt, a fellow Democrat, seeks re-election.
Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th, was to file candidacy paperwork today with the county board of elections for the position. The filing deadline for the May 2010 primary is Feb. 18.
Rimedio-Righetti, 56, was elected to council in 2003 and was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2007. Her ward takes in most of the city’s West Side and is the most-populated ward in Youngstown. Because of the city’s term-limits law, she cannot run for a third term in 2011.
“I need to file early so I can do what is necessary to be elected,” Rimedio-Righetti said.
That includes organizing her supporters, meeting with people countywide to discuss their concerns and raising money, she said.
Ludt said he’ll run for re-election as long as a physical he’ll take next month gives him a clean bill of health.
“That’s the only thing holding me back,” said Ludt, first elected commissioner in 1998. “I feel good; no problems right now. If I pass the physical, I’m a go” for re-election.
Ludt, of Poland, had physicals before running for re-election in 2002 and 2006.
“I’m 70 years old, and I want to make sure I’m able to run a campaign 100 percent,” he said.
Rimedio-Righetti said she has “nothing against” Ludt, but she wants to be commissioner.
“I just can’t wait for someone to step aside,” she said.
Ludt called Rimedio-Righetti a “nice lady” and that there’s “no animosity between” them.
Rimedio-Righetti ran countywide in 2000, losing the Democratic primary to Ronald V. Gerberry, who held that post till he resigned in April 2007 to return to the state Legislature.
The only female ever elected commissioner in Mahoning County is Vicki Allen Sherlock, who served from 1999 to 2004.
skolnick@vindy.com