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Sheriff’s race heating up
On the side
Heavy artillery: Rather than the typical political dinner and speech, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-6th, is bringing out the heavy artillery for an Oct. 28 fundraiser.
Johnson’s event at the Special Tactics and Rescue Training Facility in Mingo Junction will allow participants to shoot automatic weapons with two retired Navy SEALs, including a former rear admiral.
For $450 a person or $2,000 for a group of five, participants will handle and shoot the automatic weapons under the supervision and guidance of the two former SEALs. There will also be a “friendly competition using the weapons,” according to a fundraising email from Johnson’s campaign.
If you can’t swing $450, a $150 contribution gets lunch and the chance to observe the competition.
Also at the event, the two retired SEALs will discuss their views on the killing of Osama bin Laden and Somali pirates.
For reservations, call 614-824-6250 or email andrew.anderson@prhconsultinggroup.com.
Johnson of Marietta, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, serves on the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee and chairs its oversight and investigations subcommittee.
With the 2012 general election over a year away, it might seem strange to some that there are already declared candidates for Mahoning County positions for next year.
The reason is the state’s primary next year is in March rather than May.
Because of that, the filing deadline is Dec. 7, less than two months away.
Candidates seeking office in next year’s election better get organized quickly or be left behind.
Most competitive countywide races will require spending at least $100,000 for those wanting to win. A lot of the money will be spent on television commercials.
Local candidates should hope the Republican presidential primary is wrapped up by the March primary in Ohio because presidential candidates are permitted to bump TV commercials for local candidates off the air.
That’s why it will be important for locals to have a strong grassroots campaign.
Candidates must be prepared to walk the county, with campaign supporters, in order to connect with voters face-to-face beginning in January.
Buying a good pair of winter boots should be a no-brainer.
The Mahoning County sheriff’s race is starting to take shape after Sheriff Randall Wellington told The Vindicator last week that he wouldn’t seek re-election.
Already three candidates are planning to run in the March 2012 Democratic primary to succeed him.
Jerry Greene, a 22-year member of the sheriff’s office, resigned as a captain on Wednesday in order to run. The Hatch Act doesn’t permit civil-service classified employees to run for a partisan political job.
Wellington accommodated Greene by hiring him as director of jail services, a nonlaw-enforcement job.
Former Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes, who said he wanted to continue in law enforcement after his recent retirement, is also running for sheriff.
Hughes, with 34 years of police experience, has two obstacles.
One, Rod Foley, the new police chief, made significant changes to how the department is run. There’s been a spike in murders since Foley took over, but he’s realigned the department and saved money.
The second issue for Hughes is his retirement pay.
Hughes is getting more than $500,000 from a special state retirement program, and recently received more than $65,000 from the city in a severance package for unused sick, accumulated compensation and vacation time.
All city employees get severance packages when they retire or resign, and plenty of police officers received more than Hughes from the state program.
But Hughes isn’t going to win many fans for taking the money and then running for sheriff.
Also running is Poland Township Police Chief Brian Goodin, who has 28 years experience in law enforcement.
There could more candidates.
James Lewandowski, who retired in May as the sheriff’s chief deputy after 36 years of law-enforcement experience, is considering a run.
Besides “family considerations,” the other key issue Lewandowski, who’s also getting a nice pension, said he’s pondering is money.
Whoever is elected sheriff would be running a department that has seen major budget cuts in recent years, he said. Also, raising money for this campaign is going to be challenge.
Hanging out there is who Wellington, sheriff since 1999, will endorse. He plans to make a decision on who he’ll support after all the candidates file.