The Ohio Democratic Party rescinded its endorsement in the 58th House District primary
YOUNGSTOWN
After two candidates for the 58th Ohio House District complained about the state Democratic Party’s executive committee endorsement of Michele Lepore-Hagan in that primary race well before the filing deadline, it’s been withdrawn.
Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown — who is seeking to succeed her husband, Robert F. Hagan — in the election and Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras sent letters to Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern asking for the withdrawal.
Redfern said Thursday that the endorsement would be rescinded with the state party’s executive committee waiting to reconsider after the county party endorses in the race.
A column last week in The Vindicator detailed ethical concerns and anger from two other candidates in that race — Youngstown Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th, and Cynthia McWilson of Youngstown.
Both called it a “back-room deal” and questioned why the state party endorsed in this open-seat race Dec. 14 when Feb. 5 is the filing deadline for the Democratic primary in May.
The recommendation for the endorsement came from the Ohio House Democratic leadership to the executive committee, consisting of about 150 people.
Lepore-Hagan and her husband said they didn’t ask anyone on the state party’s executive committee to endorse her, and she didn’t know about the vote until after the meeting.
In the column, Lepore-Hagan said she “was humbled, surprised and honored to get the support,” and didn’t plan to ask that it be rescinded.
But after the column, Lepore-Hagan wrote that the endorsement “may be used by some to distract the voters from the substantive issues that should be the focus of this campaign.”
She asked that the state party endorsement be made after the county Democratic Party endorsement, which should be mid to late February.
In his letter, Betras, a member of the state party’s executive committee, wrote that it would be best to withdraw that endorsement.
“Should the [county party] make an endorsement in the race, we will inform you at once and ask that the ODP extend its support to that candidate,” Betras wrote.
Redfern said, “If the local chair, David in this case, feels that it’s best to go through the local process first, then certainly I and the executive committee will wait for the local party’s decision and recommendation. We’ll then revisit the state party endorsement.”
The next state executive committee meeting will be in March without an exact date scheduled, Redfern said.
Tarpley said she was pleased the state party withdrew its endorsement, but said it was likely the result of backlash from the column about the letters.
“Without it in the paper, they wouldn’t have been forced to do this,” she said. “That she came up with this herself and discovered a moral compass, I don’t buy it.”
When asked to respond to Tarpley’s accusations, Lepore-Hagan said she had nothing to do with the state party endorsement.
She added that her letter “speaks for itself,” and when questioned further, proceeded to read from it.
The seat is open this year because Hagan, Lepore-Hagan’s husband, can’t run this year as state law doesn’t permit him to seek a fifth two-year term for the seat.