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Aide says Traficant would run as Dem
The former congressman would face an incumbent Democrat regardless of the district.
YOUNGSTOWN — Ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., considering another run for Congress after more than seven years in a federal prison, would run as a Democrat, according to a longtime supporter.
Traficant, who served more than 17 years in the U.S. House before being expelled in July 2002, is considering running in the 6th, 17th or 16th congressional districts.
There was uncertainty as to what party affiliation Traficant would use in a potential congressional bid.
However, Linda Kovachik, a former Traficant congressional staffer and longtime friend, said Monday that Traficant would run as a Democrat.
She obtained nominating petitions for Traficant on Monday at the Mahoning County Board of Elections. The petitions are good for any congressional race statewide.
A candidate needs only 50 valid signatures on the petitions to qualify for the primary, which is May 4, 2010.
Petitions must be filed by Feb. 18 in the largest county in the congressional district in which the candidate wants to run.
Traficant said last week that he expects to decide by late January if he’ll run and in what district.
Regardless of the district, Traficant would challenge an incumbent Democrat in the May 2010 primary should he opt to run.
State law doesn’t require congressional candidates to live in the district they seek to represent. They must only be state residents at least 25 years old.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson D-6th, lives in St. Clairsville, about 10 miles west of his 12-county district that includes all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County.
The 300-plus-mile district follows the Ohio River to Lucasville in Scioto County.
Traficant, of Poland, lives in the 6th District.
Wilson is seeking his third two-year term in the 6th District next year.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, is running next year for his fifth two-year term.
Ryan, a former Traficant staffer, beat Republican Ann Womer Benjamin and his former boss, who ran as an independent from a federal prison cell, in 2002. Traficant finished a distant third in that race.
Ryan’s district includes nearly all of Trumbull County and portions of Mahoning, Portage and Summit counties.
Traficant recently spoke in Alliance, which is the far eastern portion of the 16th Congressional District.
The district includes all of Stark and Wayne counties as well as most of Medina and Ashland counties.
The district is represented by U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, an Alliance Democrat.
Boccieri, a freshman House member who’ll run for re-election next year, moved from New Middletown in Mahoning County to Alliance during the 2008 campaign.
Stuart Rothenberg, a nationally respected political analyst, recently said that he thinks Traficant would have an uphill battle getting elected.
“Traficant is a caricature,” he said.
Traficant was released Sept. 2 from federal prison after serving more than seven years. He was convicted of 10 felony counts including bribery, racketeering, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.
skolnick@vindy.com