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Four candidates are running for Struthers mayor
STRUTHERS
Four candidates, including the incumbent seeking the post as a write-in, are running in the Nov. 3 election for Struthers mayor.
The candidates are: Mayor Terry Stocker as a write-in; Danny Thomas Jr., a former city council president and the Democratic nominee; Richard DeLuca, an environmental consultant and retired Struthers water pollution control manager running as an independent; and Richard Sheeler, who registered to vote three days before filing as an independent candidate.
Thomas and DeLuca criticized Stocker’s nearly eight years as mayor, saying streets weren’t paved and economic development in the city was stagnant.
Stocker said it took a year after a road-improvement tax levy was approved in May 2014 by voters for the tax money to be collected, and streets are being repaired.
Stocker has given a variety of reasons as to why he didn’t run in the Democratic primary and then later as an independent, including wanting to spend more time with his family, the deaths of two close relatives and health concerns.
As for his chances of winning, Stocker said, “It’s very difficult to win as a write-in.”
If re-elected, Stocker said he wants to continue demolishing dilapidated houses in the city – 120 have come down during his two four-year terms, the mayor says – as well as grow downtown, and make improvements to the police station and road department.
Thomas said Stocker should have borrowed money to make road repairs last year after the levy won, using the incoming funds as collateral.
“Our roads are the worst they’ve been in decades,” he said.
Thomas said the city needs to enforce its housing and rental codes evenly across the board, which isn’t happening now.
DeLuca said he wants to develop a program to help those in need of maintaining their properties.
DeLuca and Stocker are quick to criticize Thomas for his 1987 federal conviction for illegal use of a communication facility – a telephone – to distribute cocaine.
Thomas had his record sealed in 1998 by a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge and was pardoned a year later by then-President Bill Clinton.
“His actions back then do not represent our city,” DeLuca said. “He feels he’s OK because of his expungement and presidential pardon. I don’t want a convicted drug dealer serving as mayor.”
Stocker said, “If you’re convicted of a crime of that magnitude, it shouldn’t entitle you to hold the highest office in the city.”
In response, Thomas said, “Did I make a mistake? Yes, I never denied it. I’m not proud of it. I can’t erase it. I had a record. I got a presidential pardon and have done all I could” to help the city.
He also said it’s “hypocritical” of DeLuca and Stocker to criticize him when both have supporters with criminal pasts.
One of DeLuca’s supporters is Joseph P. Van Oudenhove, who was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the conspiracy to distribute cocaine in that same operation as Thomas. A judge at the time said Oudenhove was among the top local leaders of the group.
“Would I support Joe Van Oudenhove for mayor? No, but I welcome his support,” DeLuca said.
DeLuca said if he rejected Oudenhove’s support, it would insult the businessman who might leave the city.
Ronald Carcelli, whom Thomas beat in the Democratic primary in May, is supporting Stocker. Carcelli was convicted in 2005 of a misdemeanor count of unlawful interest in a public contract. An indictment accused him of taking $5,000 in bribes from a contractor while he was the city’s street foreman. Carcelli had his record sealed in 2012 by a county judge.
“Whatever Ron Carcelli did, I guess he suffered the consequences,” Stocker said. “They feel he did something wrong. He’s one of my many supporters. I can’t tell him not to support me.”
Attempts by The Vindicator to reach Sheeler were unsuccessful.
The only other competitive race in Struthers is for the 3rd Ward with incumbent Democrat Robert D. Burnside being challenged by Susan Kondos, an independent candidate.