Sunday, October 19, 2014
Video Set
Michael V. Sciortino should not be performing his duties as auditor of Mahoning County. That’s not only our opinion, which has been well-publicized and consistent for a long time, but the view of an independent three-judge panel appointed by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor of the Ohio Supreme Court.
The commission, consisting of retired judges David C. Faulkner of Hardin County Common Pleas Court, Thomas J. Grady of the Second District Court of Appeals and Timothy S. Hogan of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, has arrived at a preliminary determination to suspend Sciortino.
The auditor is seeking a third four-year term in the November general election. But his candidacy has been overshadowed by the 16 state felony charges against him stemming from his participation in a criminal enterprise that sought to derail county government’s purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place, the former South Side Medical Center.
The felony charges against Sciortino are as follows: one count each of money laundering and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, two counts each of conspiracy and bribery, four counts of tampering with records and six counts of perjury.
State law permits suspension with pay of a public official charged with job-related felonies, and gives the official the right to appeal a suspension commission’s preliminary determination.
Sciortino is challenging the three-judge panel’s findings, but wants his lawyer to represent him at the hearing. The commission agrees with the auditor and has asked the supreme court to rule on the constitutionality of the state law that permits only the official to appear at the appeal.
We’ve spent all this time discussing Sciortino’s legal problems to make a point: The criminal charges against him will not disappear if he is re-elected on Nov. 4, and, indeed, will distract him from performing his duties on behalf of the residents of Mahoning County.
That is what we have been arguing since he was indicted May 14 by a grand jury in Cuyahoga County.
That county’s prosecutor, Timothy J. McGinty, along with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and his legal staff, are handling the state’s government corruption case against Sciortino, Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, relating to his tenure as a Mahoning County commissioner, and Youngstown Atty. Martin Yavorcik.
The charges against them, including conspiracy, bribery and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, are not minor offenses that can be shrugged off.
Unless Sciortino has a prison wish, he will be forced to spend an inordinate amount of time working with his lawyers on his defense. And regardless of what he says about putting in a full day’s work, personal legal issues will arise that will require him to take time off.
Mahoning County taxpayers deserve better.
We have urged Sciortino to step aside. By taking the suspension with pay, he will be able devote his time to building his defense.
However, the Democratic nominee for auditor is not fazed by the charges against him and the dark cloud hanging over his head.
Thus, the voters of Mahoning County must do what’s in their best interest and the interest of government: Elect Ralph T. Meacham, the Republican challenger who has never run for office but has the credentials to ensure a seamless transition of power.
Meacham, a certified public accountant, reminds us of a former county auditor who also was a CPA. George J. Tablack was an outstanding auditor because of his educational background and his work experience.
Political appointment
It should be remembered that while Sciortino now boasts about all the progress that has been made in the office over the past nine years, he was patently unqualified to be the auditor when he was selected by the Mahoning County Democratic Party. Indeed, he was working for the board of elections when he received a political handout and became the county’s chief financial officer.
Meacham, who has a master’s degree in business administration, banking and finance, from Case Western Reserve University and an AB in economics from John Carroll University, has been a finance and human resources officer with experience in corporate management, investments, accounting, consulting and banking environments.
The companies he has worked for read like a Who’s Who in high finance, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was chief operating officer.
In light of the fact that government corruption has given the Mahoning Valley a national black eye, we believe that Meacham will bring a fresh perspective to the job of county auditor with none of the soiled political baggage that the incumbent, Sciortino, is now carrying.
The Republican challenger says his top priority is to “restore faith and trust in the office,” and that he will make transparency a guiding principle.
We regret that Sciortino does not recognize the political damage he’s doing to the already damaged reputation of the Mahoning Valley.
The Vindicator strongly endorses Meacham and urges voters to strike a blow for honest government by electing him auditor Nov. 4.