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Wilson looking for rematch
On the side
A new name: The Mahoning County Democratic Club — named that in April after the North County Democrats and the Democrats of the 17th and 6th Districts merged — is getting a new name.
The members are to vote Saturday to change the name to the Mahoning Valley Democratic Club. The reason for the change is people are confusing the club with the Mahoning County Democratic Party, said Lowellville Mayor Jim Iudiciani, who heads the club.
The group is holding a rally against state Issue 2 on Saturday, starting at noon, at the Mt. Carmel Social Hall & Grounds, 102 Washington St. in Lowellville.
In addition to the rally, the club will endorse candidates in the Nov. 8 general election, and serve lunch. Admission is $5 per person to cover the cost of the food, Iudiciani said. Also, the club’s annual membership fee is $10.
Candidate forum: The Breakfast Club at Poland Presbyterian Church is hosting a candidate forum for Poland school board candidates at the church’s hall at 10 a.m. Oct. 30. The public is invited to attend.
There’s little doubt that Democrat Charlie Wilson is looking for a rematch next year with Republican Bill Johnson for the 6th Congressional District seat.
Wilson, who’s provided about $650,000 to his previous congressional campaigns, contributed $150,000 on Sept. 30.
Wilson has also filed a statement of candidacy, and issued a statement critical of Johnson. Johnson’s campaign responded with criticism of Wilson.
That $150,000 is seed money to be used for a variety of reasons.
Serious bid
It shows national Democratic officials that Wilson, a former two-term congressman from St. Clairsville, is serious about running, and willing to spend his own money.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee prefers candidates, particularly previous officeholders, to finance their own campaigns. It allows Democrats to spend money in other races.
The $150,000 is probably just the start for Wilson, who needs the money for polling and to hire a professional staff.
Wilson was elected in 2006 to the open seat and re-elected two years later. He lost to Johnson, who ran for public office for the first time, by five percentage points in 2010.
Wilson got caught in the anti-Democratic, anti-incumbent tidal wave of 2010. Some of his votes — most notably his support of health-care reform and the stimulus package — didn’t help his re-election effort last year.
Also, Wilson’s campaign staff was filled with amateurs who had little idea what they were doing.
It was Wilson’s version of a friends-and-family plan.
It worked in 2008 against a weak opponent in a strong Democratic year.
Wilson failed to recognize in time that his campaign was in serious trouble last year. If he had a legitimate campaign staff in place perhaps Wilson wouldn’t have lost.
consultants
Johnson spent his money very wisely in last year’s election hiring consultants with vast campaign experience.
Wilson flexing his financial muscle is also designed to scare off would-be legitimate Democratic competitors, such as ex-U.S. Rep. John Boccieri of Alliance.
That strategy worked in 2006, but probably won’t in 2012.
The 6th District’s boundaries currently favor Wilson over Boccieri, and that would be the main reason Boccieri wouldn’t run for the position.
Congressional redistricting by Ohio Republicans shifted the 6th District, beginning with the 2012 election, from leaning Democratic to leaning Republicans.
Wilson has run and won several state legislative and congressional races in many of the counties in the new 6th while Boccieri isn’t a familiar name in most of those areas.
Unsettled plan
The state’s congressional redistricting plan is unsettled because of an Ohio Supreme Court ruling, and the lines could be changed.
Wilson said he won’t make a final decision on challenging Johnson of Marietta until redistricting is over. Boccieri has said the same.
However, it is highly unlikely that a revised redistricting plan would impact the 6th. It’s already considered the most balanced Republican/Democratic district in the state.