Maruca will challenge Belinky for probate judge

Maruca will challenge Belinky for probate judge

YOUNGSTOWN — Attorney Susan Maruca said she will run in next year’s Democratic primary for Mahoning County probate judge against incumbent Mark Belinky.

Maruca said today she is running for the seat — she lost the 2008 primary to Judge Belinky — because of her “concerns” about the court including the judge having judgements against him for unpaid taxes and a recent ruling that will garnish his wages to pay a $20,000 loan from 2008 with $7,466.64 in interest to Mike Pallota of Naples, Fla.

Also, Maruca pointed out Judge Belinky, who earns about $105,000 annually, has about 205 parking tickets in Youngstown between 2000 and 2012, including 53 while being a judge. He has 42 unpaid tickets, she noted.

Judge Belinky couldn’t be reached today by the newspaper to comment.

He easily won the 2008 Democratic primary with 43.6 percent of the vote to 31.5 percent for Struthers Municipal Court Judge James Lanzo and 24.9 percent for Maruca.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com