AG DeWine must assist Meacham

Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino is facing suspension by the Ohio Supreme Court because the criminal acts he’s accused of committing occurred during the conduct of his official duties. The suspension — with pay — is outlined in state statute and could occur at any time. A three-judge panel appointed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor has reviewed Sciortino’s case file and has determined that suspension is justified.

However, Sciortino, who lost his re-election bid Nov. 4 to Republican Ralph Meacham, a political novice, has a right to appear before the panel and argue against his removal. He had sought to have his lawyer represent him, but the Supreme Court ruled last week that only the target of suspension can speak at the hearing.

Regardless, the auditor is on his way out, which means the county Democratic Party precinct committeemen and -women will name a replacement to serve until Meacham’s four-year term begins in March.

Wounded chairman

Democratic Chairman David Betras, who is licking his wounds from the beating his candidates received Nov. 4 in three important races — auditor, probate judge and 7th District Court of Appeals judge — is being coy about Sciortino’s replacement.

From a partisan political standpoint, Betras would be inviting a coup d’etat if he even harbored the thought of recommending Republican Meacham.

His best bet, therefore, is to tap Carol McFall, the auditor’s chief deputy, to fill the top spot until Meacham is sworn in.

There is a “however” to this scenario: In September, state law-enforcement agents took 676 computer disks and computers that contain emails from current and former Mahoning County officials as part of the criminal investigation into the 2006 purchase by the county of Oakhill Renaissance Place.

With search warrants, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s cyber-crime agents removed the items from Sciortino’s office in the county courthouse, the county’s information-technologies department — which Sciortino oversees — on the fourth floor of the administration building, and the computer-network facility at Oakhill Renaissance Place, which the county owns.

Sciortino is facing 16 state felony charges and five misdemeanors for his role in the conspiracy to derail county government’s purchase of Oakhill Renaissance, the former Southside Medical Center.

Youngstown Mayor James A. McNally also is facing similar state criminal charges, stemming from his tenure as a county commissioner, as is Youngstown Atty. Martin Yavorcik.

They and others are accused of conspiring with prominent Valley businessman Anthony M. Cafaro Sr. to block the county’s purchase of Oakhill.

Cafaro is portrayed in court documents as the mastermind because he did not want the county to relocate the Job and Family Services agency from the Cafaro Co.-owned Garland Plaza on the East Side to Oakhill.

JFS is now located in the county-owned office complex.

Given that state investigators have in their possession computer disks and computers from the auditor’s office, the question that is hanging fire is this: Is there any other auditor’s office employee who is implicated, either directly or indirectly, in the Oakhill Renaissance Place scandal?

It’s a question that Attorney General Mike DeWine should answer — if for no other reason than to ensure that Meacham starts his tenure as county auditor with a clean slate.

Were there any employees who were aware of Sciortino’s participation in the conspiracy and either assisted their boss in doing Cafaro’s bidding or chose to turn a blind eye to his misuse of his public position?

Political minefield

DeWine, a Republican who won re-election Nov. 4, must know that his fellow Republican, Meacham, is entering a political minefield when he takes office.

Unlike probate Judge Robert Rusu, who was appointed to the bench by Republican Gov. John Kasich and ran as an independent for a full term, and Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Carol Ann Robb, a Republican elected to the appeals court, Meacham is a genuine political newbie.

As such, the certified public accountant with extensive experience in the private sector should take this advice to heart: Beware of Democrats bearing gifts.