Bluster from Betras triggers blowback

Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras crawled out of the weeds where he had been hiding since the November general election, and got his head caved in – again.

This time, the verbal assault came from Kristin Alvanitakis, spokeswoman of the Ohio Democratic Party, who was responding to a self-serving letter from Betras in which he blames state Chairman David Pepper and other leaders for the party’s declining political fortunes.

Last time, the blast came from this writer who suggested that Betras and Trumbull County Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Polivka should resign following the disastrous November general election.

Since then, both have kept a low profile.

Indeed, the only newsworthy mention of Betras was in a story in Politico last month about nationally renowned lawyer Michael Avenatti.

Here’s what was written, in part:

“Michael Avenatti’s cable TV bookings have dwindled. He was uninvited from one prominent Democratic event and skipped out on another. He has even publicly clashed with his highest profile client.

“In just a matter of weeks, Avenatti’s fortunes have taken a nosedive, rapidly downshifting him from 2020 presidential prospect to political pariah.

“After a recent domestic violence arrest in Los Angeles and a public rift with client Stormy Daniels over fees and legal strategy, even some of his most loyal supporters are questioning whether he could survive the latest round of challenges and be a viable candidate.

“‘As a friend, I’m concerned about him. When I call him to say ‘Hey, how you doing?’ It’s pretty obvious he’s going through a pretty rough time now,’ said David Betras, a Democratic county chairman in Youngstown, Ohio, and one of Avenatti’s earliest political backers. “I’m more worried about these pending charges. Domestic abuse? That’s pretty bad for a run for president.’”

Pretty bad? How about fatal?

It is telling that Betras, an early advocate of Avenatti’s possible bid for president in 2020, wound up backing the wrong horse.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, the only Democrat to win statewide in last November’s election, has taken the national media by storm with his exploration of a presidential run.

But this isn’t the only miscue by the Mahoning County chairman that has grabbed the attention of state leaders.

Consider the following statement from Alvanitakis, the state party spokeswoman, in response to Betras’ letter about the failure of the party’s candidate for governor, Richard Cordray, and other statewide hopefuls:

“We were all frustrated by the governor’s race results, and there is certainly added Democratic frustration in the [Mahoning] Valley because of the state House and state Senate losses there as we picked up seats in other parts of the state. We’ve been getting valuable feedback from stakeholders and party leaders since the election, and we welcome Dave’s thoughts as well.”

Kaboom!

The underlying message from Pepper to Betras: Attend to your own knitting.

It’s advice that’s more than justified given what occurred in the general election.

Two Republicans now represent heavily Democratic Mahoning County in the Ohio Legislature.

In the 33rd District Senate race, Republican grocery store owner Michael Rulli defeated prominent Democratic officeholder John Boccieri. And in the 59th House District race, Republican Don Manning, who failed in several previous election attempts, beat Democrat Eric Ungaro, a Poland Township trustee.

Betras is responsible for those Democratic losses.

In retrospect, this writer’s call for his and Polivka’s resignation was prescient.

Here’s what was written in a front page analysis on the day after the election:

“Chairmen David Betras of Mahoning County and Daniel Polivka of Trumbull County were under pressure to deliver the vote for the party ticket led by Richard Cordray, who was in a tight race for governor with Republican insider Mike DeWine, currently Ohio attorney general.

“Betras and Polivka were blamed by some in the Ohio Democratic Party for dropping the ball in 2016 that enabled Trump to carry Ohio.

“They again failed last night, and it won’t be long before they hear the calls for their resignations.

“Betras and Polivka can try to spin the results of the governor’s race all they want, but the fact remains that they blew it.

“In Mahoning County, Cordray received 48,600 votes to 36,976 for DeWine. The 56.1 percent Cordray total speaks volumes.

“In Trumbull County, which went for Trump in 2016, Cordray garnered 37,789 votes to 33,609 for DeWine. Cordray’s 51 percent is also revealing.

“Statewide, Cordray, who served as the first director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under President Barack Obama, lost to DeWine by about 200,000 votes in unofficial totals.”

The Ohio Democratic Party is on life-support given the Republican sweep – again – of all statewide races other than the U.S. Senate contest.

Sen. Brown’s victory has ignited the passions of Democrats who believe he is better positioned than any other potential candidates to take on Republican President Trump in the battleground states in the Midwest.

Trump won in this region of the country by appealing to blue-collar workers who traditionally vote Democratic.

Brown, who has long been a champion of working people, would give Trump a run for his money in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other industrial states. His legislative record speaks to his commitment to the middle class and less fortunate Americans.

As veteran conservative columnist George Will put it, Brown would bring his “muscular progressivism” to the 2020 presidential contest.

It’s unfortunate that Betras and Polivka, chairmen of predominantly Democratic counties, are nowhere to be found as Brown explores a run for president.