2 seeking Dem nod in May primary

By David Skolnick

The commissioner will face a challenge in the May primary from a Youngstown councilwoman.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Commissioner David Ludt is running for re-election in what he said is probably his last political race.

Even with Ludt declaring his candidacy for re-election, Youngstown Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti, 53, said she has no plans to withdraw from the May Democratic primary.

Each time before Ludt runs for re-election, he has a physical. Ludt said the physical showed he’s in good health.

Ludt is seeking his fourth four-year term as commissioner this year.

Ludt, 70, said there are several things he wants to complete before leaving the commissioner’s office.

Among them is the relocation of various county agencies — including the board of elections, the recycling division and the title office — to Oak- hill Renaissance Place, he said.

Though Ludt wants to be re-elected, that isn’t as important, he said, as making sure a 0.5-percent county sales tax is approved by voters during the May 4 primary.

Ludt said he will run an “aggressive campaign,” but it won’t be a negative one, against Rimedio-Righetti, D-4th.

“It should be an interesting race,” he said. “She’s done a good job as a councilwoman. I’ve always gotten along with her.”

Rimedio-Righetti, re-elected in 2007 to a second four-year term as Youngstown 4th Ward councilwoman, said she isn’t withdrawing from the race despite Ludt’s plans.

“I’m in to win, and I remain committed to this race,” she said. “He has the right to run.”

Feb. 18 is the filing deadline for candidates to run in the May primary.

Rimedio-Righetti filed to be a candidate Dec. 21. Ludt said he will file his nominating petitions sometime next week before the deadline.

No one else has filed nominating petitions for the commissioner’s position or publicly announced plans to seek the post.

If Rimedio-Righetti were to win, she’d be only the second woman elected commissioner in Mahoning County.

The only woman to serve in that capacity is Vicki Allen Sherlock, who served from 1999 to 2004.

skolnick@vindy.com