Few incumbent elected officeholders in the Mahoning Valley will face primary election challengers

YOUNGSTOWN — With a Wednesday filing deadline, few incumbents seeking re-election in 2016 in the Mahoning Valley are facing primary challenges.

As of today, primary election challengers turned in petitions to run against state Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of the 59th Ohio House District, Mahoning County Recorder Noralynn Palermo, and Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere. All are Democrats.

Altiere has two challengers – Joe O’Grady, a retired Warren police sergeant, and Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe. The two announced their campaigns after Altiere said in August 2014 that he wouldn’t run for a seventh term in 2016. Altiere said in December 2014 that he would seek another four-year term, but O’Grady and Monroe opted to stay in the race, and have filed.

Palermo will face Jim Bertrando, the Struthers tax commissioner, in the Democratic primary.

Lepore-Hagan is being challenged by Michael O’Hara, who finished a distant third to Lepore-Hagan in 2014’s four-candidate Democratic primary for the then-open Ohio House seat.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com