Valley on president’s travel list, Betras says

By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras said he asked the president for a return visit to the Mahoning Valley.

And the president apparently is interested, Betras said.

“He said, ‘I’ll work my way up there,’” Betras said Tuesday after being among a small group who met with the president after a Tuesday speech in Columbus.

During the brief conversation, Betras said he and Obama talked about the V&M Star expansion in Youngstown and the production of the Chevrolet Cruze at the Lordstown General Motors complex.

Obama has visited the V&M location and the GM complex in the past couple of years.

Betras said he spoke at the Columbus event to the president’s political advisers, who were receptive to having the president, Vice President Joe Biden and/or former President Bill Clinton return to the Valley.

“They’re aware they need a big vote out of the Mahoning Valley” for Obama to be re-elected next year, Betras said. “... That’s good for us. Candidates from both parties will come through here and pay attention to us.”