Boccieri gets 42 of 53 votes from Mahoning Dems to fill Gerberry seat

BOARDMAN

The Mahoning County Democratic Party’s central and executive committee members strongly backed John Boccieri tonight as their choice to fill the vacant 59th Ohio House District seat.

Of the 54 members who voted on recommending candidates for the position, Boccieri received the backing of 42.

Ex-Boardman Trustee Robyn Gallitto was second with 6 votes and John Landers, a Boardman school board member, was third with 4 votes.

Tom Lyden, an attorney from Boardman, got 1 vote, and 1 person didn’t vote. After the vote, Lyden said he’s supporting Boccieri.

The party was to recommend three candidates to the Ohio House Democratic Caucus and will send down the names of Boccieri, Gallitto and Landers along with their vote totals.

The caucus will consider the county party’s recommendation, but its members make the final decision. As a former congressman, Ohio representative and senator, Boccieri is likely the favorite to get the appointment.

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.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com