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Mahoning legislators MOVING ON
Area Democrats cruise to primary victory
By David Skolnick
YOUNGSTOWN
Three incumbents who represent the Mahoning Valley in the state Legislature cruised to easy Democratic primary victories.
Also, Matthew M. Lewis of Columbiana won the three-man Republican primary Tuesday for the 33rd Ohio Senate District race.
On the Democratic side, state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield soundly defeated his lone challenger, Kathleen Purdy of Alliance.
“We had a lot of support, which gives me a lot of motivation to help the area and do the best I can,” Schiavoni said.
Schiavoni was appointed by the Senate Democratic caucus, effective January 2009, to serve out the unexpired term of John Boccieri, now a congressman.
Tuesday was Schiavoni’s first run for office. He received 66 percent of the vote.
“It’s something exciting for me” to win my first race, Schiavoni said.
“It tells me that people approve of the job I’m doing.”
He’ll face Lewis, the Republican primary winner running for office for the first time, and Libertarian John K. Fockler Jr. in the November general election.
The results from Tuesday’s primaries are unofficial until certified by county boards of elections.
State Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown beat Don L. Hanni III, a former Youngstown school board member, in the 60th Ohio House Democratic primary. Hagan received 71 percent of the vote.
“No one can predict the winner of elections in these times of people being anti-government and anti-incumbent,” Hagan said. “I look forward to continuing to help with the partnership between local, state and federal agencies working to move Youngstown forward.”
Hagan will face Republican Daniel R. Thimons of Struthers in the November general election.
The 69th District includes all of Youngstown, Struthers, Campbell, Lowellville, Coitsville and a portion of Austintown.
In the 61st Ohio House District race, state Rep. Mark D. Okey of Carrollton beat Brian K. Simeone of Alliance in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
The incumbent received about 72 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.
Okey will face Republican Michael Foit of Amsterdam and Vaughn W. Stull, a Green Party candidate from Urichsville, in the general election.
The 61st includes portions of Mahoning, Stark and Tuscarawas counties, and all of Carrollton County.
The Mahoning part includes Beaver, Springfield, Smith, Goshen and Green townships.