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Mahoning County Dems to meet Sept. 9 to recommend finalists for state rep vacancies
BOARDMAN
Members of the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s central and executive committees in the 59th Ohio House District will meet at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday to recommend up to three candidates to fill that vacant seat.
The members will meet at St. Luke’s Church Hall, 5235 South Ave. in Boardman, and hear from potential candidates.
The party will send up to three names to the Ohio House Democratic Caucus, which makes the appointment.
Those wanting the recommendation of the county party have until noon Tuesday to contact Chairman David Betras by email at dbetras@bhlaws.com, party Executive Director Kathryn Miller at kathrynmiller919@yahoo.com or party Election Chairman Kenneth Carano at kac304@aol.com.
The seat was vacated Aug. 21 by Ronald V. Gerberry, an Austintown Democrat convicted that day of unlawful compensation of a public official. Before his resignation, Gerberry was the most-senior House member.
The House caucus will consider the county party finalists, but is also taking resumes and letters of interest with a Sept. 14 deadline. Those should be sent to Andy DiPalma, House Democratic chief of staff, 77 S. High St., 14th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215, or by email to andy.dipalma@ohiohouse.gov.
A five-member caucus screening committee – that includes state Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th – will begin candidate interviews shortly after the application deadline.
The final decision rests with the 33-member House Democratic Caucus.
Among those who already have expressed interest in serving the remainder of Gerberry’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2016, are John Boccieri, a former U.S. House member, Ohio representative and senator; Poland Trustee Robert Lidle; John Landers, a Boardman school board member; Austintown Trustee Jim Davis; former Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto; David Green, former head of the United Auto Workers Local 1714 union; and Atty. Tom Lyden.