As Mark Hanni steps up his attack on Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, the leader has found an unexpected ally: Hanni’s sister, Holly.

In reaction to the letter Mark Hanni sent to Democats criticizing Betras’ leadership and urging his defeat at the reorganization meeting, Holly Hanni fired off one of her own:

“Dear Candidate

I am writing to you in response to a recent letter that my brother Mark Hanni has sent out to all the candidates running in the Democrat Precinct Races.  I just want to say that the Current Democrat Chairman, Dave Betras, is a life-long friend of the Hanni Family who actually served as a pallbearer at my father’s funeral.  I truly believe that if my father was still with us today he would not stand for my brother attacking a friend so dear to him as Dave.  My father always treated Dave as his protégé in the legal profession.

I first met Dave, while he was working on his father’s campaign for Boardman Trustee back in the 1980’s, when my dad was Chairman of the Party.  Over the years I have watched as Dave successfully built his own law practice into one of the major law firms in the Mahoning Valley.  Like my Dad, Dave is a self made man.  I find it appalling that my brother refers to Chairman Betras as the “Golden Checkbook”.  Ironically, My dear brother Mark failed to mention that he also attended the $1000.00 per plate Party fundraiser having arrived in style as a guest in the Cafaro Family limousine.

Although my brother Mark says now “he has no plans to run for Chairman himself”.  I remind you he made a similar announcement when he tried to take over the Local Republican Party in 2002 and 2006.

In closing, I want to say that over the past several months Dave Betras has done his best to make the Democrat Party Strong like it once was.  Please don’t let the efforts of dissidents working for my brother, prevail.”

The Hanni-Hanni clash would certainly make a great script for the television show “Brothers & Sisters.”