New state senator for part of Valley began career as Strickland’s driver

New state senator for part of Valley began career as Strickland’s driver

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Incoming state Sen. Lou Gentile has come a long way from his first political job in Ohio nearly 10 years ago driving then-U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland around his new congressional district.

When Gentile, a Democrat from Steubenville, learned that Strickland’s congressional boundaries were drastically altered through redistricting in 2002 to include counties such as Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe and Noble, he contacted the congressman’s campaign seeking a job. Gentile was a recent West Virginia University graduate at the time.

“I called Frances, [Strickland’s wife], a number of times and she became a great ally to me,” Gentile said. “She took a great liking to me. So then-Congressman Strickland hired me and gave me an opportunity.”

The congressman and Gentile spent a lot of time together on the road campaigning through the district.

After Strickland won the congressional race, he hired Gentile as a field director for Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe and Noble counties. Gentile left at the end of 2003 to work in Iowa for Dick Gephardt’s failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

At home in 2005, Gentile received a telephone call from John Haseley, Strickland’s chief of staff in Congress and later his chief of staff when governor.

“He asked about my driving record,” Gentile said. “Ted wanted someone he could trust to drive him around the state. I really enjoyed the time traveling with Gov. Strickland. We had a lot of laughs. But I also really matured during that experience. I got to see the whole state. We went to every county in the state, and I met and spoke with people in all 88 counties.”

Shortly after Strickland became governor in January 2007, he appointed Gentile as assistant director of the governor’s office of Appalachia.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.