Sciortino, Betras sniping after big Dem election losses

YOUNGSTOWN

In response to comments from Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras that he had “hurt and tarnished our brand,” Auditor Michael V. Sciortino said, “You simply can’t trust the guy.”

Sciortino, who faces 22 criminal counts related to political corruption allegations, lost Tuesday’s election by 3.8 percentage points to Republican Ralph Meacham.

Betras told The Vindicator the day after that defeat, “When you are chairman, you support your candidates even if you have to hold your nose. If I had my druthers, I would have had Mike get out of the race, but he wouldn’t.”

Sciortino said Friday, “I am thankful I no longer have to associate myself with people like Betras.”

The outgoing auditor, whose term expires March 8, questioned Betras’ leadership as party chairman.

“What’s more typical for him [is] he’s trying to protect his tarnished back side,” Sciortino said. “He wasn’t worried about Valley Democratic turnout when he was in Florida the weekend before the election.”

Betras was in Florida on the Saturday and Sunday before the election for a fundraising event for U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, who was easily re-elected Tuesday.

Betras acknowledged he was in Florida at that time, but declined to respond to Sciortino’s comments.

This was among the worst elections in decades for Democrats in Ohio and in Mahoning County, a longtime party stronghold.

Read more election reaction in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.