PRIMARY ELECTION Vindicator coverage

Leading to the March 6 primary, The Vindicator will spotlight various races and issues. Below is the list of articles and the dates they will appear in the newspaper.

Monday: Poland schools have an additional levy to raise $1.45 million annually and a renewal levy for $383,122 on the March 6 ballot. Also, Poland Township wants approval on a renewal levy for $194,145 a year for road and bridges.

Tuesday: Youngstown school officials are asking voters to renew a levy approved four years ago, but at a reduced amount of $3.5 million.

Next Sunday: Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas L. Altiere faces James R. Phillips, a retired major with the sheriff’s department, in the Democratic primary.

Next Sunday: State Rep. Thomas Letson faces two challengers in the Democratic primary for the 64th Ohio House District seat. Also, three Republicans are running to see who moves on to the November general election.

Feb. 13: Incumbent Bill Johnson faces an opponent in the 6th Congressional District’s Republican primary. Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, defeated in 2010 by Johnson, is among the two Democrats running in that party’s primary.

Feb. 19: In one of the most heated races, Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains faces Youngstown Prosecutor Jay Macejko in the Democratic primary.

Feb. 19: Six Democrats are running for an open Mahoning County commissioner seat, currently held by John McNally IV. Also, Commissioner Anthony Traficanti faces one opponent for re-election.

Feb. 24: Primary candidates file campaign finance reports showing what they’ve received in contributions and what they’ve spent.

Feb. 26: Three candidates are running in the Democratic primary to replace Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington.

March 4: During the 2008 primary, numerous media organizations came to the Mahoning Valley to discuss the area’s importance in the presidential election. With no Democratic primary this year in a heavily Democratic area, the focus shifts to the Republican race. Does this area matter to the Republican candidates?