Lepore-Hagan, Ryan, Palermo endorsed in contested Dem primary races

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Among candidates for the March 15 primary election endorsed by the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s central and executive committees Saturday was state Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown for the 58th Ohio House District seat, the only race in which more than one candidate sought the party’s official support.

Lepore-Hagan’s primary challenger is Michael E. O’Hara, also of Youngstown.

Lepore-Hagan beat O’Hara and two others for the party’s endorsement in 2014, and she won the Democratic primary. Lepore-Hagan was unopposed in the general election two years ago.

There are two other Democratic primaries in which there is more than one opponent on the ballot in Mahoning County: U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, is being challenged by John Stephen Luchansky of Boardman, and county Recorder Noralynn Palermo of Youngstown is facing Struthers Tax Commissioner Jim Bertrando.

Ryan and Palermo received the party’s endorsement, said Mahoning Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, who was reappointed to the county Board of Elections.

The rest of the incumbent Democrats in the county on the ballot this year are unopposed in the primary. If they asked, they were endorsed by acclamation, Betras said previously.