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Voting records do matter
On the side
Family feud: In a letter sent to his constituents, Struthers Councilman Robert D. Carcelli III, D-4th, criticized his uncle — Ronald Carcelli, a mayoral candidate — without addressing him by name.
The councilman’s letter included this: “A question continues to arise regarding a candidate in another race with my last name. A person of questionable character, he’s saying several untrue things about me, one of them being that I’ve missed many council meetings. Since 2012, I’ve only missed ONE meeting out of 68 and that was a result of the death of my beloved mother. ... I hope you’ll take time to discern who I am and understand that what this gentleman is doing is unethical and unsupported. We’re two very different individuals, and I believe the way I’ve served, my values and family speak for themselves.”
The two Carcellis don’t talk to each other, and Robert gave $30 for two fundraiser tickets to Danny Thomas Jr., the former council president running against Ronald Carcelli in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
With Democratic primary candidates in Youngstown’s seven wards asking voters to back them in Tuesday’s primary, it’s interesting to check their voting records.
The idea to check the records came from Jaladah Aslam, president of the Youngstown Warren Black Caucus and retired labor union official.
Candidates’ voting records matter. They’re asking people to vote for them so naturally they should have a history of doing it.
It’s not the main reason a person should support candidates, but it’s something to consider.
For the most part, the 21 candidates running in the primary consistently vote, according to records provided by the Mahoning County Board of Elections.
But there are some exceptions.
Julius T. Oliver, a 1st Ward candidate, didn’t vote in 2013 and 2014. He also didn’t vote in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
“Sometimes I didn’t know the issues or sometimes I felt the people on the ballot were not qualified,” he said. “Sometimes I was working late. I was just getting started in my business, and I couldn’t leave to vote.”
Holly Lynn Hanni, a 7th Ward candidate, has lived in Youngstown for about three years. She voted once — the 2014 general election — during that time.
When asked why, Hanni said, “I really don’t know. It was really hectic. I don’t remember why I didn’t. I was going back and forth between Cleveland and Philadelphia and [Youngstown because of family health issues]. It was just one of those things. My family was more important.”
Ohio has had no-fault absentee voting since 2006. The means a person could vote by mail weeks before the election or in person at the board of elections at certain times if someone is too busy on Election Day when the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Jose A. Rivera, a 1st Ward candidate, missed years of voting — 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2013.
Rick Alli in the 3rd Ward didn’t vote in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Kevin E.J. Salata, a 5th Ward candidate, skipped two presidential general elections, in 2008 and 2012. He also didn’t vote at all in 2007.
Basia Adamczak, a 7th Ward candidate who worked as a field specialist for the county Democratic Party and is a precinct committee member, didn’t vote in the 2013 general election or the 2014 Democratic primary.
Michael Rapovy, a former 5th Ward councilman looking to return to that position, has a nearly flawless voting record. He’s voted in every primary and general election for the last decade except for one time. Rapovy didn’t vote in the 2008 general election that included the presidential race. Turnout in that election in the county was 72.3 percent.
Doris Wright, a 2nd Ward candidate, has an overall good record of voting. Among the few she missed were 2003 and 2007. There was a contested primary for the seat she’s seeking in 2007.