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Smith decides not to run for Mahoning GOP chairman
By DAVID SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
After 12 years as Mahoning County Republican Party chairman, Clarence Smith will not seek another four-year term.
Mark Munroe of Boardman, who’s spent the past eight years as vice chairman, will run unopposed Monday for the party’s top spot.
“Clarence has had a major impact on the county Republican Party in his 12 years as chairman,” Munroe said. “He’s so well-respected at the state level. It’s been an honor to serve with him these past eight years.”
Smith, the retired chairman of the board of Compco Industries, a metal-stamping company, said the party will be in good hands with Munroe as chairman.
“We’ve done a good job together, and Mark will continue to do so,” Smith said. “I’ve had a good time and met a lot of good people.”
Smith, of Boardman, plans to remain active in politics.
He will remain on the county board of elections and was recently named as Mahoning County chairman of the Rob Portman for U.S. Senate campaign.
During Smith’s 12 years as chairman, not a single Republican won a partisan countywide, state legislative or congressional political race.
There are Republicans serving as judges, township trustees and school board members, but those elections are nonpartisan.
“It’s difficult to be a Republican in the Valley,” said Munroe, executive vice president of 1080 Media, a media production and Web-design company affiliated with Compco.
Munroe sees good times for Republicans ahead, pointing out that for the first time in years, there were three competitive GOP primaries last month.
The primaries were in the 17th and 6th congressional districts and the 33rd Ohio Senate District.
“I look forward to making our party stronger with better candidates,” he said. “We’ve made a lot of progress with finding good candidates this year.”
Thursday was the deadline to send letters of intent to run for chairman, vice chairman and chairwoman.
None of the races during Monday’s Republican meeting will be competitive.
Ed Crepage of Austintown will seek the vice- chairman post without an opponent. Donna Bricker of Beaver Township won’t face a challenger when she seeks re-election as party chairwoman.