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Michelakis good for a quip
On the side
Honoring Williams: The Youngstown Warren Black Caucus will honor former Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams at an event next Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Mr. Anthony’s on South Avenue in Boardman.
Williams resigned as mayor on Aug. 1 to become executive director of the Department of Labor’s Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, effective a week later. Before leaving for Washington, D.C., Williams had promised caucus members that he would attend this event as long as there wasn’t an emergency in D.C. that would keep him away.
Reservations for the semi-formal event must be made by today by calling 330-519-6492 or 330-727-5758.
Tickets are $50 each or $375 for a table of 8. There is also a private reception at 5 p.m. costing $150 per person.
Also speaking at the event is Michael Blake, deputy director of Operation Vote for the Obama for America campaign. State Sen. Nina Turner of Cleveland, D-25th, will serve as the mistress of ceremonies for this event.
One thing you could say about Christ Michelakis, the former Trumbull County Democratic Party chairman, is he always spoke his mind.
Michelakis, who died Saturday after a lengthy illness, wasn’t much of a talker, but he had several great quotes.
After John Kerry lost the 2004 presidential election to incumbent George W. Bush, Michelakis said: “I don’t want to say anything to hurt the party, but they are too left nationally.”
When other Democrats were pressuring then-Attorney General Marc Dann of Liberty to resign in 2008, Michelakis wouldn’t do the same.
“He’s a local guy, and I don’t want to do that,” he said.
When asked if that was his entire reason, Michelakis said, “Yes.”
Dann ended up resigning a few days later.
Regarding ex-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., Michelakis said in March 2009: “I think he got railroaded.”
Traficant served seven years in federal prison for bribery, obstruction of justice, racketeering and tax evasion.
Michelakis was elected Democratic chairman in June 2002 and held that post until June 2010. Before that, he served as the party’s vice chairman on and off for several years, including the previous five years before being elected chairman.
While Trumbull is one of the most Democratic counties in the state, Michelakis took over shortly after the party experienced one of its most embarrassing primaries.
Traditionally, candidates who obtain the party’s endorsement get the most votes in the primary.
But in the 2002 primary, the endorsed candidates for the 17th Congressional District and the 65th Ohio House District lost.
Also, the incumbent county commissioner, endorsed by the party, nearly lost to a guy who barely campaigned and didn’t even own a phone.
Explaining those results, Michelakis said, “We don’t get [these] too often, but we got it this time. The party’s still strong. Sometimes it just happens this way.”
During his eight years as chairman, the party’s endorsement record was spotty at times.
In the May 2010 primary, Michelakis’ last as chairman, the party’s endorsed candidates for two Ohio House seats lost.
Also, Michelakis endorsed then-Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for U.S. Senate. She lost the primary to then-Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, who lost the general election race to Republican Rob Portman.
Michelakis rarely took the defeats personally and worked hard to get Democrats elected — even those he didn’t endorse.
Mahoning County Dems
Meanwhile, the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s executive committee will meet at 10 a.m. next Saturday at party headquarters on Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown to recommend a new county board of elections member to replace Michael Morley.
To date, the only candidate is Chairman David Betras, who is likely to be recommended regardless of who else seeks the seat.
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted must confirm the appointment.