YAVORCIK TRIAL | McNally testifies he never tried to bribe Yavorcik

CLEVELAND — Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally testified today that he never bribed Martin Yavorcik or asked him to terminate a criminal investigation into him and others related to efforts to stop Mahoning County from buying the Oakhill Renaissance Place.

Yavorcik, a failed 2008 county prosecutor candidate, faces 11 felonies with prosecutors accusing him of illegally taking money from McNally, who was county commissioner at the time, and others to run for that seat. If Yavorcik won, prosecutors allege he promised to halt that investigation.

McNally said he didn't believe he ever talked to Yavorcik about Oakhill.

Yavorcik has strongly denied that plot and prosecutors have yet to put a witness on the stand who has supported that assertion.

However, court documents show that Lisa Antonini, a former county Democratic chairwoman and county treasurer, will testify that she gave Yavorcik $2,500 during the 2008 campaign that was a bribe.

The investigation into stopping the purchase of Oakhill, the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center, was initiated by county Prosecutor Paul J. Gains.

McNally testified that he "felt there was a fair amount of politics involved" by Gains when he launched the criminal probe.

The investigation accused McNally and others of impeding the purchase of Oakhill, and trying to stop the relocation of the county Department of Job and Family Services there from a building owned by a Cafaro Co. subsidiary.

Businessman Bruce Zoldan testified today that in 2008 Anthony Cafaro Sr., then the president of his family-owned Cafaro Co., asked him to make a contribution to Yavorcik's campaign. Zoldan declined because of his friendship with Gains.

"It was well known (Cafaro) didn't like Mr. Gains and wanted a new prosecutor," Zoldan said.

Zoldan said that didn't impact his friendship and business relationship with Cafaro. During questioning from Yavorcik, Zoldan said Cafaro's company loaned his business money over the years including $5 million in "the last couple of years."