Both Dem candidates for Struthers mayor are convicts

STRUTHERS

Both Democratic candidates for mayor have been convicted of crimes but no longer have records.

That’s because Ronald Carcelli’s conviction for having an unlawful interest in a public contract, from his time as the city’s street foreman, was sealed by a Mahoning County judge in 2012. The 1987 conviction of Danny Thomas Jr., an ex-councilman, for selling cocaine over the telephone also was sealed by a county judge in 1998, and he also was pardoned by then-President Bill Clinton a year later.

Carcelli, who serves on the city’s board of education, said last month that he was going to talk to The Vindicator about the issue to “set the record straight.” But he has since repeatedly refused to return numerous telephone calls from the newspaper.

Carcelli — not to be confused with his nephew Councilman Robert D.

Carcelli III, D-4th, who is seeking

re-election in the May 5 primary — was indicted in 2002 on felony counts of theft in office, bribery and theft.

Read more about the matter in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.