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Three candidates are seeking the three recommendations from Mahoning Democrats for a state House seat
BOARDMAN
Three candidates are seeking the three recommendations from the Mahoning County Democratic Party to fill the vacant 59th Ohio House District seat.
But after the party’s central and executive committees meet at 6:30 p.m. today, it will rank the candidates based on votes – an important factor when the Ohio House Democratic Caucus makes the appointment.
“We’ll send all three names, but I’m going to let the caucus know the preference of the members by the vote totals,” said county Democratic Chairman David Betras.
The three candidates who filed by Tuesday’s deadline to be considered for the vacancy are: John Boccieri, a former U.S. House member, Ohio representative and senator, who is likely the top candidate; John Landers, a Boardman school board member; and former Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto.
The seat was vacated when Ronald V. Gerberry, an Austintown Democrat, resigned Aug. 21, the same day he was convicted of unlawful compensation of a public official.
Gerberry, who was the most-senior House member before his resignation, was convicted for a scheme to conceal campaign money from the Democratic caucus so he wouldn’t have to pay a higher fee to the group that uses the funds to elect Democrats to the state House.
In the county Democratic Party, there are about 140 to 150 central and executive committee members in the 59th District, Betras said.
The members will meet at St. Luke’s Church Hall, 5235 South Ave., Boardman, hear from the candidates and then vote.
The House caucus will consider the county party finalists, but also is taking resumes and letters of interest with a deadline of next Monday. 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 – which 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. That selection should be made by the end of the month.
The district includes a small portion of Austintown as well as all of Beaver, Berlin, Boardman, Canfield, Ellsworth, Goshen, Green, Jackson, Milton, Poland, Smith and Springfield townships; the city of Canfield; and the villages of Beloit, Craig Beach, New Middletown, Poland, Sebring and Washingtonville. The only part of the district not in Mahoning County is Alliance in Stark County.