Betras just can’t get a break

The chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, David Betras, called this writer at 4:18 p.m. Friday — and the ring tone on the cell-phone sounded like the scream of a Banshee. Or, was it the lament of a mourning dove?

Regardless, Betras, who was the subject of a recent not-so-flattering column in this space about his getting no respect from Democratic officeholders, wasn’t calling from a happy place.

This writer was unable (unwilling?) to answer the call, but it doesn’t take a genius to conclude that the chairman wanted to discuss the latest indignity suffered by him. Of course, he wouldn’t characterize it as such, but what Ohio’s Republican governor, John Kasich, pulled must have felt like a punch to the solar plexus.

About a half-hour before Betras’ call, The Vindicator and other media received a press release from the governor’s office announcing the appointment of former Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge James Evans, a Democrat of long standing, to the Ohio Ethics Commission.

A thorn in region’s side

Yes, the same ethics commission that has been a thorn in the side of Mahoning Valley governments that are dominated by Democrats.

And yes, the same James Evans who publicly snubbed his party chairman, Betras, when he changed the date of his retirement from the bench so as to pave the way for his successor, appointed by the Republican governor, to serve out the remaining two-plus years on his term. Kasich appointed Atty. Shirley J. Christian to the common pleas bench.

Had Evans, whose official retirement date was Oct. 1, stuck to his original plan of leaving on Sept. 1, it would have necessitated a special election in which the Democratic and Republican parties would have fielded candidates. And given the predominance of Democratic voters, Betras could have taken credit for his party holding on the seat.

But a funny thing (not so funny for the chairman) happened on the way to his grand design: Judge Evans had a change of heart (or, he found religion, if you’re a Republican) and decided that his successor should have two years-plus on the bench before an election is held.

That means Republican Judge Christian will run as an incumbent.

The reaction from Betras and other Democrats was predictable. Evans was called everything but a white man. He was denounced as an ungrateful so-and-so who made it to the county court and common pleas benches only because he was a Democrat.

But then he turned around and bit the political hand that fed him for so long.

Not only is Evans being portrayed as the ultimate turncoat, but by accepting the appointment to the ethics commission, he will be in a position to sit in judgment of all public officials and employees other than legislators and judges.

And given the Mahoning Valley’s history of government corruption, Evans may well have the last laugh. It’s only a matter of time before another Democratic officeholder or public employee finds himself on the wrong side of the law.

It is worth pointing out that Evans isn’t doing this for the money. Compared to other state commissions whose members are paid an unjustifiably large sum of money, an ethics commissioner member receives peanuts.

Law enforcement background

At $75 a meeting with a maximum of $1,800 a year, plus travel expenses, the annual compensation is a secondary consideration. Evans’ law enforcement background — he was a state trooper for many years — was undoubtedly a factor in his appointment.

So now, Betras has another reason to wonder if there’s any benefit to being party chairman. As past party leaders will tell you, it’s a daily grind trying to keep the political prima donnas happy, making sure officeholders don’t forget that they are public servants — first and foremost — and that raising money for campaigns has become a major challenge.

And then, in the case of Betras, he must swallow hard and embrace an officeholder who has criminal charges hanging over his head, but who refuses to step down. Does the name Michael Sciortino (Mahoning County auditor) ring a bell?

Note to Chairman Betras: The next time you need to get something off your chest, don’t call a columnist, call your priest. You certainly could use some divine intervention.