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Who will lead Mahoning County Dems?
Published:Friday, April 24, 2009
YOUNG REPUBLICANS: There’s going to be a new political club in town. An organizational meeting of the Mahoning County Teenage Republicans starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at GOP headquarters, 621 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman. Teenage Republicans are between the ages of 13 and 19 [Republicans mean business when they say “teenage”] who want to become politically active and meet people their own age who share a similar political philosophy. Early endorsement: Apparently it doesn’t matter to the Service Employees International Union District 1199 that the Ohio treasurer’s race is over 18 months away. The union — which represents about 35,000 social service, health care and public sector workers in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky — is endorsing Treasurer Kevin Boyce. Boyce, a Democrat, was appointed to the job by the governor in January and the general election for treasurer is in November 2010. To add to the silliness, the union endorsed four state legislators for re-election in 2010 including state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th. Hagan recently said he’d run for Congress rather than another term in the Ohio House if U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, doesn’t seek re-election. skolnick@vindy.com |
Besides playing hello stranger, Mahoning County Democratic Party precinct committee members will meet Monday to elect a new chairman and treasurer.
There are four candidates running for treasurer.
The party doesn’t have much money and has operated without a treasurer for about six months.
Of more importance is the election of the party’s next chairman.
County Treasurer Lisa Antonini resigned April 10 as party chairwoman after nearly seven years at that post.
Those seeking to succeed Antonini are Atty. David Betras; Jaladah Aslam, the party’s vice chairwoman of labor relations who’s heavily involved in organized labor; and Mike Klim, a financial consultant.
Betras is heavily favored to be elected to fill out the remaining year of Antonini’s unexpired term.
Betras is best known for his frequent appearances as a “legal expert” on television and radio, and the many commercials his law firm airs.
Statewide, he’s probably best known as a longtime friend and former law partner of ex-Attorney General Marc Dann.
Betras was heavily involved in Dann’s successful 2006 campaign and served as treasurer of Dann’s transition organization.
Dann resigned a year ago after an internal AG investigation described the office as unprofessional and one filled with cronyism.
Later investigations revealed potential criminal activity by those who served under Dann, and a state inspector general’s report questioned money paid by the transition organization.
The Dann connection isn’t going to impact the final outcome of the precinct committee members’ vote. An unsigned letter from “precinct committee members who don’t support anyone” is being circulated attacking Betras for his ties to Dann and Leo Jennings III, Dann’s former communications director.
Betras’ relationship with Dann could have some impact on the state level because those at the higher end of the Ohio Democratic political hierarchy aren’t interested in being tied to the former attorney general in any way.
But the Mahoning County Democratic Party has had minimal involvement on the state Democratic level so it couldn’t get worse.
For the past several months, Betras has met with precinct committee members — who vote for the party chairman — and elected Democratic officials campaigning for the job if Antonini resigned.
Antonini had thought about resigning for several months before finally doing so two weeks ago.
Since Antonini’s resignation, the Betras-for-chairman drum has been repeatedly beating.
Richard “Oz” Ouzounian, director of communications at Betras’ law firm who plans to run for Boardman trustee in the November election, has sent e-mails to the local media about Betras’ campaign.
For those who care, Betras has the endorsements of Columbiana County Democratic Chairman Dennis Johnson, and Jim Graham and David Green, the two United Auto Workers union chairmen at the Lordstown General Motors complex.
None of them are precinct committee members, and only Green lives in Mahoning County.
Significantly more important is Betras’ seven-page plan for the party’s future.
The plan calls for more meetings with precinct committee members, local Democratic officials, labor union officials, and leaders in the religious, black and Hispanic communities.
Betras wants to actually use the party’s ability to endorse during the primary election, something the precinct committee members agreed to do three years ago. Endorsements were only used twice: for Dann and Gov. Ted Strickland in 2006.
Betras also wants to create a finance committee to create and implement a long-term fundraising plan.
The winner of Monday’s chairman election will have some time to get organized before the major 2010 election, but can’t wait too long.
Antonini decided to resign during a very slow time in politics to give her successor the time to prepare.
The 2010 election includes races for all statewide executive office positions, the two congressional positions that have Mahoning in its districts, all four state legislative seats that include Mahoning, and some county positions.
Also, the county Democratic chairman seat expires in June 2010.
Comments
David Betras a “legal expert." Remember, 'x' is an unknown quantitative and a 'spert' is a drip under pressure.
Richard “Oz” Ouzounian for Boardman Trustee? Gave us Gallitto and helped returned Miller 4 years ago.
Looks like this November Boardman voters will become members of the Meat Cutters' Union - the election will be the butchery of a villain or two rather than the exaltation of someone actually qualified; the election of candidates with the personal qualities necessary for attaining office as opposed to those qualities demanded by the office itself. Again, voting along party lines is the fuel that has driven this county over the cliff.
Who wants to be treasurer?
King David Betras' plan for being Democratic boss includes making Mahoning County more Cafaro friendly. Examine these relationships: a.) Cafaro Aviation, Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, Michael Harshman, David Betras b.) Cafaro Corporation, Capri Cafaro, David Dechristofaro c.) Ralph Infante, Capri Cafaro, Cafaro Corporation, City of Niles d.)Cafaro Corporation, David Betras, McGuffey Plaza, Oakhill Renaissance Center What do they all have in common? The Cafaros' using their influence to usurp the voters' power and to stick their greedy hands in the public treasury. Cafaros' are always trying to move any public agency they can into one of their overpriced properties. When David Betras sued the county on behalf of the Cafaros' over the Oakhill move, he was literally suing the people! He obviously doesn't care how high your insurance premiums are, do you think he cares how high your taxes are? So long as he is wealthy it's fine to follow the liberal path. Give the spot to King David, and you're handing control of the county to the Cafaros.
Watch the TV commercials from the Betras, Maruca, and Kopp law firm. They're always speaking about "empathy,' and other EMOTIONS. By playing to peoples' emotions they're hoping to repress REASON. Any who thinks an economy can be built on people paying inflated rates for insurance so a few attorneys can get rich and use their derived income to manipulate the local political system needs to study economics.
The extortion of the taxpayers by the Cafaros, Betras, and all of their liberal friends needs to be put to an end!
Now he wants to endorse in the primaries so him and Cafaros' can hand-pick every candidate.
When Andrews' Cycles was prosecuted by the Ohio Attorney General's Office (then occupied by Marc Dann) for fraud, David Betras served as defense attorney for Andrew's. A deal was reached. When David represented Ohio Valley Mall (Cafaro) vs Mahoning County, the people (taxpayers) were sued. Just recently David has offered to represent the Youngstown Municipal Court judges in their suit aginst the city pro bono. Once again the people (taxpayers) will have to pay a heavy price. With the people being sued so frequently and for so much by Betras, how can our taxes not increase or services not get cut?
*sigh* Typical Vindy reporting. "there are FOUR candidates running for treasurer." Who are they? Any names? This whole article is nothing but a free advertisement for Betras. Gee, I wonder who the VIndy will endorse?
A DYING TOWN, A DYING VALLEY, SAME OLD POLITICS; REGURGITATED FAMILY MEMBERS HOG TROUGHING THE MONEY OUT OF THE STY, AND PASSING IT DOWN FAMILY MEMBER TO FAMILY MEMBER; AMONGST THE GENERATIONS. IF I WAS A BETTING PERSON, I'D SAY ANOTHER CAREER POLITICIAN'S FAMILY MEMBER OR HIS "WANNA-BE A PUBLIC TROUGH EATER, TOO" SON, WILL GET THE TREASURER'S POST.