Dems, GOP to elect new leaders Saturday

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras has two opponents challenging him for his spot, while his Republican counterpart, Mark Munroe, is running unopposed.

Precinct committee members of both the county Democrats and Republicans are meeting Saturday to elect their party officials.

It will be easy for Republicans.

Munroe is running unopposed for his second four-year term as chairman. There are only two other positions up for election, and both have only a single candidate seeking the posts.

County Democratic precinct committee members will meet at St. Luke Parish, 5235 South Ave. in Boardman, with a 10 a.m. breakfast followed by speeches and votes around 11.

Betras is running for his second four-year term as chairman.

Challenging Betras are Socrates Kolitsos, a former Youngstown school board member, and Richard Berger, hired as a part-timer in 2002 by James A. Traficant Jr. shortly before the expelled congressman was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for political corruption.

Kenneth Carano, the party’s executive vice chairman, is being challenged by David L. Engler, who lost the Democratic primary last month for a seat on the 7th District Court of Appeals, and Ronald Massullo, who served as a regional liaison for former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.