Five file for appointment to replace Belinky as judge

YOUNGSTOWN — Two candidates in the Democratic primary for the Mahoning County Probate Court judicial seat along with three attorneys seeking to run as independents for the job applied to fill the vacant position.

The five filled out applications with 55 questions and submitted them by today’s 5 p.m. deadline to the county Republican Party by to be considered by a local screening committee that will recommend at least three of them to Gov. John Kasich, also a Republican, said Mark Munroe, county GOP chairman.

The candidates are: Susan Maruca, Christopher Sammarone, George P. Millich Jr., Mary Ann Fabrizi, and Robert N. Rusu.

Maruca, endorsed by the county Democratic Party, will face Sammarone in the May 6 Democratic primary. Millich and Fabrizi are circulating petitions to run for the seat as independents. Rusu said he will start circulating petitions shortly. The filing deadline to get on the November ballot as an independent is May 5.

Mark Belinky, under criminal investigation by the state, resigned as probate court judge on March 14.

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