Beware Dem Party insiders

Let’s just say — for the sake of argument, of course — that Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino wins re-election Tuesday and is then suspended (with pay) by the Ohio Supreme Court pending his trial on 16 state criminal charges stemming from his use of his public position for personal gain. Who will select his replacement?

The answer should inspire any county resident who has not voted and wants to give Sciortino the benefit of the doubt to think twice.

The embattled auditor’s successor will be chosen by the Democratic Party precinct committeemen and women. In other words, party insiders. And most of those individuals owe their allegiance to Chairman David Betras.

Is there any doubt that Betras, who considers himself the ultimate kingmaker, will decide on Sciortino’s successor, and then persuade a majority of the precinct committee members to go along with his choice?

This isn’t idle speculation.

Ho-hum attitude

Sciortino, who is seeking a third four-year term, has every confidence that he’ll win Tuesday. And why shouldn’t he? The voters of this predominantly Democratic county have a disturbingly ho-hum attitude when it comes to government corruption.

“Everybody does it” could well be the motto of the Mahoning County Democratic Party. That verbal shrug explains why even after 70-plus convictions of elected officials (including a sheriff, a prosecutor and judges) and mobsters, government corruption continues unabated.

There was the late congressman James A. Traficant Jr., who spent almost eight years in federal prison and still enjoyed widespread political support until the day he died in September.

And there was Lisa Antonini, former county treasurer and onetime chairwoman of the Democratic Party, who was nabbed by the feds for taking $3,000 from prominent businessman Anthony M. Cafaro Sr. and not declaring it on her campaign finance reports.

Add to the list former county Probate Judge Mark Belinky, who resigned in shame after being swept up in a government corruption probe by state investigators.

And now we have Sciortino, Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally (relating to his tenure as a county commissioner) and Youngstown lawyer Martin Yavorcik. They all are criminally charged in the so-called Oakhill Renaissance Place scandal.

They also have something else in common: They are Democrats — as were the crooks who went before them.

It is also important to remember that Sciortino, McNally and Yavorcik are just the tip of the corruption iceberg that will freeze Mahoning County for months to come.

For now, however, voters in Tuesday’s election must decide to either change the political landscape, or keep in place the polluted Democratic playground.

Sciortino, who was the director of the county elections board before he was given the plum job of auditor with no qualifications or credentials (other than he had Democratic blood flowing through his veins), will in all likelihood be suspended by the high court.

A three-judge panel appointed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor to review the Sciortino case has concluded that he should be forced to the sidelines — with pay — as set forth in state law pertaining to officeholders who are charged with crimes relating to their official duties.

The county auditor has the opportunity to appeal the findings before a final determination is made.

But with him out of the way, Betras and his minions in the party will put in another political hack — unless they are stopped.

Tuesday’s voting

And that’s where the voters come in. Although there has been early voting, a majority of the ballots will be cast Tuesday.

Sciortino is being challenged by an individual who is a rarity in local politics.

Ralph Meacham comes from the private sector with work experience that’s tailor-made for service as the county’s chief financial officer. And he’s scandal-free.

Meacham is a certified public accountant, has a master’s degree in business administration and has worked for several high-powered financial firms. Yet, he has an uphill battle as a Republican.

Thus this challenge to Democrats: Shed your political bigotry and elect an individual who is eminently qualified to handle the county’s finances.