Dems Betras, Aey decide to put aside differences

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Democratic Chairman David Betras and Ed Aey, who exchanged heated words during and after the party’s election, have put aside their political differences.

Aey, who unsuccessfully ran for executive vice chairman during the party’s June 2 meeting, devoted much of his nominating speech to criticizing Betras. Specifically, Aey questioned Betras for his time in late 2006 as treasurer of Marc Dann’s attorney-general transition account.

Dann and two of his former top officials were found guilty of ethics charges related to illegal expenses from that account. Betras was never charged.

After being re-elected, Betras told The Vindicator that the Aey family was “politically done in this Valley.” Aey responded that he was being truthful, and he and his family were remaining active in politics.

Betras said at his request he met Wednesday with Aey with both apologizing and agreeing to work together to elect Democrats.

“Things are said in the heat of the campaign; we apologized, and we decided to put this issue to bed,” Betras said.

Aey said the two “hashed out what we needed to and will work together to move the Valley forward.”