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Trumbull Dems support Fredericka, Fuda, O’Brien and O’Brien in primary
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Trumbull County Democrats endorsed James Fredericka Wednesday over two other Democrats to replace longtime Probate Court Judge Thomas A. Swift.
They also endorsed former Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien over two others for state representative for the 64th District to replace Thomas Letson and supported the re-election of Sean O’Brien in the 63rd District.
They overwhelmingly supported county Commissioner Frank Fuda in his bid to be re-elected over Lisha Pompili-Baumiller.
Each candidate in the probate, 64th District and commissioner’s race spoke for three minutes during the meeting of the county Democratic Party Central Committee at DiVieste’s Banquet Hall.
Michael O’Brien suggested he didn’t need three minutes after so many years as Warren mayor, councilman and county commissioner. “We’ve known each other 30 years,” O’Brien said.
Ken MacPherson, who got 21 votes to O’Brien’s 55, said he’s the best man to represent the district in Columbus because he’ll “stay up nights reading the stuff nobody wants to read to fight the Republicans” who control 70 percent of the Ohio House of Representatives.
The other candidate, Eugene Mach II, who got 4 votes, said he will stress education and small business, if elected.
Fredericka said he would protect the interests of the elderly and children with special needs, if elected to the probate court, saying many senior citizens are “afraid of the probate court, of losing their independence.”
Patricia Leopardi Knepp, who received 49 votes to Fredericka’s 113, said she has practiced many kinds of law but feels probate law is her “niche.”
William Flevares, who received nine votes, said the probate court’s budget is too large and the “scales of justice are not always fair.”
Fuda, whose vote total was the most lop-sided of the night — 149 compared to Pompili-Baumiller’s 21 — said he has kept the promises he made seven years ago when he was first elected commissioner.
The number of sewer lines installed during his seven years has decreased the number of septic-system users in Trumbull County 17 percent, “making it possible for people to sell homes and operate businesses,” he said.
Pompili-Baumuiller said she would be an “advocate for the people,” and she’s a “respected and professional businesswoman” with 31 years of experience in business banking. She has been a Hubbard City Council member 14 years.
Sean O’Brien of Howland and his Democratic opponent, Marianne James of Niles, did not speak at the meeting. O’Brien received 83 votes; James received 5.