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Mahoning auditor lambastes Dem chairman’s comments
RELATED: Ohio Dem Chairman Redfern explains his resignation
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 backside,” 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.
Meacham is the first nonjudicial Republican to win countywide in 30 years.
Also, Susan Maruca, the party’s probate court judicial candidate, lost to Judge Robert Rusu, and Anthony Donofrio, the party’s 7th District Court of Appeals candidate, won Mahoning County but lost the eight-county race to Judge Carol Ann Robb of Columbiana County Municipal Court.
Judicial candidates run without party labels on general-election ballots, but both were part of the party’s coordinated campaign.
Problems with Sciortino and Ed FitzGerald, the failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate, hurt Maruca and Donofrio, Betras said after the election.
Sciortino faces charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, perjury, bribery, money laundering and tampering with records.
Sciortino, Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, a fellow Democrat, and Martin Yavorcik, a failed 2008 independent candidate for county prosecutor, were indicted May 14 for what prosecutors say was their roles in illegally trying to impede the move of the county’s Department of Job and Family Services to Oakhill Renaissance Place from Garland Plaza.
The three have pleaded not guilty.
Sciortino said he’s congratulated Meacham on his win and has offered his assistance to the auditor-elect.
“I, along with my entire auditor staff, will assist Mr. Meacham in any way possible to ensure a smooth transition for the benefit of continuing the highest quality of service for our taxpayers,” Sciortino said.