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Some say his jail time will tarnish his legacy
YOUNGSTOWN
Even in death, former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. leaves few people neutral.
Traficant died Saturday from injuries suffered Tuesday at his farm in Greenford when a tractor he was driving hit a steel blade in a pole barn and rolled over backward onto him.
“I was always taught if you can’t say something good about somebody, don’t say anything at all. I have no comment,” said a woman who declined to be identified when asked to evaluate Traficant’s political life.
Others, interviewed at random, were kinder.
“Everything I ever heard about him was that he was a good guy,” said Samantha Vecchione of Boardman.
Vecchione said when her neighbor, an older man, had a problem, he would call Traficant and the problem would get taken care of.
“I hope he will be remembered as someone who fought for his people and his community, Vecchione said.
Traficant was a colorful, controversial person about whom a lot of people have mixed opinions and feelings, said John Sferra of Howland.
Traficant was known far beyond the borders of the Mahoning Valley.
Sferra said he learned of Traficant’s death while listening to KGUM (567 AM) K-57, a radio news and talk show based in Guam.
Pam Richnafsky of New Lyme Township, Ohio, thinks Traficant’s jail time and the rest of that will overshadow everything good he did.
“He was colorful and grossly misunderstood because of his demeanor and gregariousness,” said Richnafsky, who never knew Traficant but knew of him.
“It’s unfortunate his legacy couldn’t be more positive. That’s a tragic way for anybody to die. I feel sorry for his family,” she said.
In 2002, Traficant was convicted of 10 felony counts including racketeering, bribery, tax evasion and obstruction of justice. He served a little more than seven years in federal prison before his release in 2009.
“It’s very sad. I can’t believe he died. I liked him and voted for him every time. I was hoping he would get back in Congress after he got out of jail,” said Mary Jo West of Boardman.
When Traficant went into Congress years ago, they listened to him, she said.
“He said gas prices rising on holidays was wrong and prices went down,” West said.
She said she liked Traficant for his “‘go get ’em’ attitude. He spoke his mind and stepped on toes and didn’t care what people thought.”
“I think he’ll be remembered for the things he got done. He fought for us. He knew what was happening to the middle class. There was some bad and some good in him, too, but that is in all of us,” West said.
Vince Rossi of Boardman described Traficant as an exceptional person.
“In reading a Vindicator article about Traficant, I was reminded of a lot of the things he did for the Valley,” said Rossi, who believes Traficant’s jail sentence was excessive for his crimes.
“He had real charisma. Even if you didn’t agree with him, he would pull you in,” said Marie, Rossi’s wife.
“Instead of laying low, he kept coming. He should be remembered for the positive things he did for the Valley and forgo the negative,” Maria said.
Nina Hanna, chairwoman of the Mahoning County Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services and owner of Hanna Management Services here, said she was impressed with Traficant’s memory and his people skills.
Hanna said she heard Traficant’s voice in an airport in Washington, D.C., and walked up and introduced herself and talked to him for about five minutes.
“About a year later, I ran into him at the airport again and he knew my name,” she said.
Regardless of his legal problems, Traficant has done more for his community than anybody before or after him, she said.
“He got the federal courthouse here. He mediated strikes. I considered him a friend,” Hanna said.