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US Sens. Brown, Portman will be in Valley for events
YOUNGSTOWN
The state’s two U.S. senators will be in the area within a few days of each other — one speaking at the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame dinner and the other at the Republican’s Mahoning Valley McKinley Club event.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Avon, is the keynote speaker at the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Maronite Center in Youngstown.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from the Cincinnati area, is guest speaker at the McKinley Club event starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the McKinley Memorial Auditorium in Niles.
The McKinley Club, consisting of Republicans in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, has the annual event, in its 97th year, to honor President William McKinley, the nation’s 25th president, who was born in Niles on Jan. 29, 1843.
Tickets are $25 each, and can be purchased by contacting Mahoning County Republican headquarters at 330-629-7006.
Meanwhile, two outgoing Mahoning County elected officeholders are among six who will be inducted into the Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame.
“This event will be a great night as we honor the service and commitment of the inductees who have given years of hard work for the betterment of the community,” said party Chairman David Betras.
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles will also attend the dinner.
Tickets are $50 each. Checks, payable to the Mahoning County Democratic Party, can be sent to John Vivo, party treasurer, at 724 E. Boston Ave., Youngstown, OH 44502.
Those being inducted this year are:
County Sheriff Randall Wellington, who isn’t seeking re-election to the post he’s held since 1999. Wellington is also a former Youngstown police chief.
County Engineer Richard Marsico, who withdrew from a re-election bid after failing to get the party’s endorsement. Marsico is serving his 16th year as county engineer. Before that, he was the Youngstown engineer.
Jack Palermo, a former county commissioner.
James Fortune, a former Youngstown 6th Ward councilman and ex-council president.
Beverly Fortune, James’ wife, who was a longtime union official and activist with the United Auto Workers Local 1112 at the Lordstown General Motors complex.
The late Anthony Vivo, a former county clerk of courts.
Also, the Mahoning County Republican Party is having its Pachyderm Dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Georgetown in Boardman.
Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder is the guest speaker.
Tickets for the event, one of the local party’s major fundraisers, are $350 each, and can be obtained by calling GOP headquarters at 330-629-7006.