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Rulli Bros. grocer running as a Republican for Ohio Senate
YOUNGSTOWN
Michael Rulli, director of operations for Rulli Bros., announced he is running in 2018 for the 33rd Ohio Senate District seat.
Rulli, a Leetonia school board member for nearly eight years, will run as a Republican, though he said Thursday, “There is no party affiliation when you talk about Americans. That can be a divisive tool by a lot of people. When someone talks about party affiliation, it means nothing to me.”
Yet Rulli also said that with 24 of the Senate’s 33 members being Republican, having a Republican represent the 33rd District “would help the area tremendously. We need a strong individual to get Columbus to take note of this district. They turn their back on our area year in and year out.”
The 33rd District includes all of Mahoning and Columbiana counties and leans Democratic.
Incumbent Joe Schiavoni, a Boardman Democrat, is unable to run next year because of term limits. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor.
“I’ve been friends with Joe Schiavoni for a long time, and I’ve seen all the good work he’s done,” Rulli said. “Joe’s done a pretty good job in the state Senate.”
If elected, Rulli said he would remain with his family-owned grocery store business, but would step away from many of his day-to-day responsibilities to serve in the Senate.
Rulli said he’d focus attention on stemming the Mahoning Valley’s population losses through job creation.
“You have to do whatever it takes and see what these companies want,” he said. “If you can get them here and make their deal good enough, they’re going to come here, and you’ll have the ability to keep [younger people] here.”
The two leading Democrats eyeing the seat are state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th, who formerly held the position; and Boardman Trustee Larry Moliterno, who is also chief executive officer of Meridian Health Care.
Boccieri said Thursday he’s considering a run and needs a few more weeks to discuss it with his family before making a decision.
Moliterno said Thursday he expects to make an announcement on whether he’s seeking the position in the next 30 days.