Mahoning Dems OK two changes to their constitution

BOARDMAN — With only a handful of objections, Mahoning County Democratic Party precinct committee members voted today in favor of significant changes to their constitution, including the elimination of secret ballots.

Local Democrats had no choice but to make the two changes, said Chairman David Betras.

If the changes weren’t made, the local party would lose access to the Ohio Democratic Party’s access to a nonprofit discount on campaign mail and access to its computer-software voter information system, he said.

The other change was to have its chairperson’s successor be of the opposite sex, which required the party to change the title of its secretary position to secretary/vice chairperson.

If that person is elevated to head of the party, he/she can have it for only 30 days before precinct committee members would convene to elect a new chairperson to fill the unexpired term.

Joyce Kale-Pesta, county board of elections director, was elected secretary at the party’s June 7 meeting. She automatically was elevated to the new position.

Both the ODP and the Democratic National Committee require county parties to abide by the two rules.

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