Trumbull Dems support Polivka

June 19, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

WARREN

Christ Michelakis, the former chairman of the Trumbull County Democratic Party, said he has confidence in his successor, county Commissioner Dan Polivka.

After eight years as chairman, Michelakis decided not to seek re-election. Before his two terms as chairman, Michelakis served as the party’s vice chairman for about 16 years.

Polivka defeated Mark Catello of Weathersfield, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 573, 133 to 62.

The vote of the county Democratic precinct committee members was Thursday at DiViesti’s Banquet Hall.

“He’ll be fine,” Michelakis said of Polivka, who is from Warren. “If he works half as hard as chairman as he did campaigning for it, he’ll do a great job. I thought either one would do well.”

Trumbull is one of the most Democratic counties in the state.

Currently, every county official elected in partisan races — which wouldn’t include judges — is a Democrat.

But the party’s endorsement record is spotty over the past 10 years or so.

In last month’s primary, the party endorsed Warren Councilman Vincent Flask over two-term incumbent Tom Letson in the Ohio House 64th District race. Letson won the primary.

The party also endorsed J.D. Williams, a pilot, over three other candidates in the open Ohio House 65th District race. Sean O’Brien, an assistant county prosecutor, won that primary.

Democratic precinct committee members re-elected Niles Mayor Ralph Infante as party vice chairman. The committee members also elected Kathryn DeCristofaro as secretary. Incumbent Barbara Katzenberger did not seek re-election as secretary.

Infante, vice chairman since 2006, and DeCristofaro ran unopposed.