Boccieri, Rulli locked in intense battle for 33rd Ohio Senate seat

Democrat John Boccieri and Republican Michael Rulli are likely in the most hotly contested local race.

The two are running for the open 33rd Ohio Senate District seat that includes all of Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

Boccieri has long been seen as a rising star in Ohio Democratic politics. He’s currently a state representative in the 59th District, and has previously served in the Ohio House, the Ohio Senate and the U.S. House. He’s also been in the Air Force since 1994 – four years as an active-duty airman and the rest as a reservist.

Rulli’s political experience is limited to the Leetonia school board for eight years.

But he’s also the director of operations for Rulli Bros., his well-known family-owned grocery stores in Boardman and Austintown. So he’s on television a lot.

And Rulli is being backed by the Republican Senate Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of Ohio Republican senators.

Republicans control the state Senate 24-9 and are looking to pick up more seats.

The 33rd District position has attracted their attention.

At the same time, Boccieri has raised a great deal of money and has been airing commercials for a while. He’s being backed by Ohio Senate Democrats.

There have been a couple of controversial issues related to Rulli.

One was a fundraiser held for him Thursday at the Spread Eagle Tavern in Hanoverton.

Among the big names at the event was James O’Keefe, founder and president of Project Veritas. It’s a conservative group that carries out undercover sting operations in which its employees use hidden cameras and what could be considered deceptive tactics in attempts to expose wrongdoing by liberal groups, Democrats and media organizations. Project Veritas has been accused of editing its videos in ways that mislead viewers.

CNN describes Project Veritas as an “anti-media organization” and O’Keefe as “a highly controversial activist.”

O’Keefe was convicted of a misdemeanor in 2010 after being arrested by the FBI for using a fake identity to enter a federal building during a sting operation. He was fined $1,500 and put on probation for three years.

In April, a woman associated with the organization entered Lordstown High School falsely identifying herself as a teacher, gave a fake name and asked to speak to a union representative. The woman told a union representative that a friend heard a teacher at the school went too far with physical contact with a student, according to a police report.

When asked for identification, the woman said it was in her car, left to get it and didn’t return. Police later pulled over a car with the woman in it, but charges weren’t filed because the woman could argue she was invited into the school and left when asked.

Project Veritas attracted national headlines in November 2017 when a woman who works for the organization contacted The Washington Post claiming she was the victim of a sexual assault by Roy Moore, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Alabama. It appeared to be an effort to discredit women who told the newspaper that Moore had inappropriate sexual contact with them. But the newspaper figured out it was a bogus claim.

When asked why he would associate with O’Keefe, Rulli emailed me the following statement:

“The First Amendment is one of the cornerstones of our society and I believe fervently that people have the right to express their opinions. The 33rd Senate District is comprised of a diverse group of voters, many of whom are interested in Mr. O’Keefe’s work. Mr. O’Keefe is a friend of the Republican Party Chairman, David Johnson, and it was Mr. Johnson who arranged for Mr. O’Keefe’s appearance. News and ideas are being disseminated to people in ways that were unimaginable 20 years ago and as a father to teenagers, I am constantly amazed at how media is evolving. Although, in my opinion, nothing will ever take the place of reading a daily newspaper, like The Vindicator, whose good work helps to shine a light on corruption and graft, much like Mr. O’Keefe has attempted to do.”

He added: “This fundraiser has everything to do with the First Amendment and civil discourse. Two subjects that I am sure are dear to your heart. My party is the party of a big tent. Mr. O’Keefe represents one part of it.”

Boccieri said, “I’m really concerned about Michael Rulli’s campaign. [Project Veritas] attack political institutions. Some of their tactics have been questioned. I’m concerned with what Mike Rulli stands for.”

The other issue was a claim a few weeks ago from Mahoning County Democratic Chairman David Betras that Rulli was making improper corporate contributions to his campaign by using his business and employees to distribute yard signs and other campaign materials.

Interestingly, Betras had a tape of someone who went into one of Rulli’s stores with a hidden camera asking to get Rulli campaign material.

Betras’ complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission cites state law that prohibits corporations from using “money or property” to help “a candidate for election or nomination to public office.”

Rulli said candidates are constitutionally protected by the right to free speech to give out campaign materials.

“I look forward [to] this complaint being exposed for what it is – a campaign stunt designed to shift attention away from the message I’m delivering,” he said.

The complaint probably won’t go anywhere as the Ohio Elections Commission doesn’t have much authority.