Committee endorses incumbent Altiere

By Ed Runyan | January 26, 2012 at 12:05a.m.

WARREN

The Trumbull County Democratic Party has endorsed five-term incumbent Sheriff Thomas Altiere over one of Altiere’s top former assistants, James Phillips, 80 votes to 72, to represent the party in the March 6 primary.

The party’s central committee also endorsed incumbent state representative Tom Letson of Warren over two Democratic challengers for his 64th District seat, which encompasses Warren and surrounding areas.

The party made the endorsements at a meeting last week.

Phillips, of Farmdale, served as chief of detectives for 15 years under Altiere and retired from the department in June 2009. He has since worked as a detective in Hartford Township.

At a press conference announcing his candidacy, Phillips criticized Altiere for being reactionary to problem employees at the sheriff’s office — including several corrections officers who’ve been convicted of committing crimes on the job.

“Good supervision stops a problem before it escalates,” Phillips said.

Altiere, of Howland, said guarding prisoners eight hours a day is a difficult job and can cause people to act inappropriately, but there’s little that management can do to stop such misbehavior.

Letson, who has served in Columbus the past five years, is challenged by Sheila Calko of Warren, who received 15 votes, and David Cook of Warren, who received two. Letson received 57 votes.

Trumbull Democrats also endorsed William O’Neill of Geauga County for Ohio Supreme Court with 135 votes over Fanon A. Rucker from Hamilton County with 15 votes.

The party also will meet Jan. 31 at party headquarters in Trumbull Business College on Ridge Road Southeast to recommend someone to fill a position on the Trumbull County Board of Elections.

Niles Mayor Ralph Infante, who currently holds the seat, would like to be reappointed for four more years, said said Dan Polivka, party chairman.

But Heidi Brown, a Vienna Township trustee, and former Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien have also inquired about the position, Polivka said.