November election will test attitude of Struthers voters

The Democratic nominee for mayor of Struthers has a criminal record, but we would caution readers not to judge the voters in the city too harshly. Had the other candidate in Tuesday’s primary come out on top, we would have used the same introduction.

Danny Thomas Jr., who won the party’s sweepstakes with a vote of 1,019, was convicted in 1987 by a federal judge of illegal use of a communication facility (a telephone) to distribute cocaine.

Thomas’ record was sealed in 1998 by a common pleas judge. He then received a presidential pardon from Bill Clinton, a Democrat who easily carried Mahoning County in his election and re-election bids.

Robert Carcelli, who garnered 969 votes, was convicted of a misdemeanor count of having an unlawful interest in a public contract. He was ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the city and a $1,000 fine. He was indicted on felony charges of theft in office, bribery and theft related to his job with the city of Struthers. The former street foreman received a six-month suspended jail sentence, in addition to having to pay the restitution and fine.

Carcelli’s record was sealed by a Mahoning County judge in 2012. He is currently a member of the Struthers Board of Education.

Thomas, a former Struthers city councilman, now carries the Democratic Party banner into the November general election.

With two damaged candidates seeking the party nomination Tuesday, voters had to use the lesser-of-two-evils standard.

But the general election will be a different matter. Thomas will face two well-known Struthers public officials, John P. Sveda and Richard DeLuca, who filed petitions to run as independents.

Also filing as an independent was Richard Sheeler, who registered to vote on Friday and submitted his candidacy petitions to the board of elections Monday.

One of the main issues in the general election will undoubtedly be Thomas’ criminal record. His drug-dealing history made it impossible for us to consider him for The Vindicator’s endorsement in the Democratic primary.

And, he will not receive our support in the fall. The sealing of his record and the presidential pardon don’t wipe the slate clean as far as his criminal behavior is concerned.

Although Thomas has been forthright about his drug-dealing days three decades ago, residents of the city cannot ignore the dark cloud that hangs over him.

Struthers’ reputation

This isn’t a matter of redemption, nor of his commitment to public service. If he is elected mayor, the press will invariably refer to him as “the convicted drug dealer.” That can’t be good for Struthers’ reputation.

Unlike Tuesday’s primary when voters did not have a real choice, the November general election gives voters the chance to show that character does matter when deciding who to place in the highest elected office in the city.

We find it hard to believe that people in Struthers had no qualms about electing an individual with a criminal record — Thomas — to city council in the past. Members of the Legislature are commonly referred to as “lawmakers.” The reality of having an individual who broke the law making laws must have made law-abiding citizens cringe.

Likewise, Carcelli’s presence on the school board must give parents who think about such things pause. Is he a role model for the young people in the school district? We think not.

The November general election for mayor of Struthers will test the attitude of voters when it comes to a candidate’s life experience — good and bad.