Strickland seeking Ohio party endorsement for 2016 race against Portman

COLUMBUS

A move to get ex-Gov. Ted Strickland endorsed by the Ohio Democratic Party’s executive committee, a year before the 2016 U.S. Senate primary, is expected when the committee meets Saturday.

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, an executive committee member, said Louis Capobianco, a Strickland campaign adviser, called urging him and other committee members from the Mahoning Valley to support the former governor if the expected vote takes place.

The committee is meeting Saturday in Columbus. Betras won’t be there, but he said the area’s other committee members will attend and vote to endorse Strickland.

“I’d absolutely like to see [Strickland] get endorsed,” Betras said.

Also, an email sent by Bill DeMora, the committee’s secretary, to the 148 members and obtained by The Vindicator states: “Although it’s not part of the formal agenda, we are receiving indication from some members of the executive committee that they may seek an endorsement in the U.S. Senate race, so be prepared to discuss that as well.”

Strickland has picked up a number of key endorsements since his official announcement Feb. 25 that he was running for the Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Rob Portman.

Read more about the vote and the race in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.