A judicial race looks to be the most costly in Mahoning County

By David Skolnick | January 30, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The race for a judicial seat on the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court bench is shaping up to be the most expensive on the November general-election ballot.

Judge Shirley J. Christian of New Springfield, appointed in 2014 by Gov. John Kasich, is the Republican nominee.

The judge raised $9,290 in contributions last year, according to her annual campaign finance report filed by Friday’s deadline with the board of elections. Of that amount, the judge made a $3,000 contribution.

She also loaned $25,000 to her campaign. That’s the largest loan from a candidate to a campaign in the county.

In comparison, Anthony M. D’Apolito of Poland, the county juvenile court’s administrator and her Democratic challenger, raised $36,550 last year with none of it from him. He did, however, loan $1,000 to his campaign in 2015. He also loaned $1,710 the campaign in 2014.

D’Apolito raised more money in 2015 among those seeking office this year than anyone else in Mahoning County.

In second is county Engineer Patrick T. Ginnetti of Struthers, who raised $35,135 last year. Ginnetti, a Democrat, is among only four incumbents in the county without a primary or a general-election opponent.

Except for Judge Christian, all other incumbents enjoy financial leads over their opponents. Nearly every challenger failed to raise any money in 2015 for the 2016 election.

But most have plenty of time as the general election isn’t until November.

There is one Democratic primary race with the incumbent raising more money than her challenger. The primary is March 15.

Incumbent county Recorder Noralynn Palermo of Youngstown raised $11,890 last year and had $5,833 carried over from 2014.

Jim Bertrando of Struthers, her primary election opponent, raised $8,630 last year and loaned $900 to his campaign.

The winner of the Democratic primary for recorder faces Republican Steven M. Carter of Youngstown. Carter ran unsuccessfully in November 2015 as an independent in Youngstown council’s 3rd Ward race.