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Betras taking Mahoning County Democrats by storm
Published:Friday, May 1, 2009
MEETING DATE: I wrote last week about an organizational meeting of the Mahoning County Teenage Republicans. The group’s first meeting is 7 p.m. May 27 at Republican headquarters, 621 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman. Online survey: The Center for Working Class Studies at Youngstown State University has started an online survey research project to measure and analyze public attitudes on various issues. The first survey — an assessment of Barack Obama’s first 100 days as president — began Thursday and will end five days later. To participate in the surveys go to http://cwcs.ysu.edu/survey. Eyeing council presidency: Joe Louis Teague, who’s unsuccessfully run for Youngstown mayor and Congress in recent years, has filed nominating petitions for Youngstown council president as an independent. Teague would face incumbent Charles Sammarone, unopposed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, in the November general election. No Republicans filed for the position. Monday is the deadline to file as an independent candidate for partisan races in November. skolnick@vindy.com |
David Betras is a fast talker, a real fast talker.
He can also be an entertaining talker, sprinkling in some colorful language and telling interesting stories.
He’s also got a lot of energy; sort of how a hyperactive person would act after drinking 15 energy drinks or Mountain Dews.
“I’m like a tornado,” Betras said.
He acknowledges that some people consider him “standoffish and arrogant.”
But the new Mahoning County Democratic chairman is also organized and passionate about injecting new life into a party that’s run on auto-pilot for the past few years.
Party precinct committee members selected Betras earlier this week as chairman.
Betras replaces county Treasurer Lisa Antonini, who was virtually invisible the past few years in politics. And the few times she was visible, it didn’t do anything to help the party.
Like the chairmen who proceeded her, Antonini lost interest in running the party long before her April 10 resignation.
Betras inherits a fractured party that needs an energy boost.
Betras is like a Red Bull in a China shop.
He’s getting off to a very quick start by reaching out to state Democratic leaders, establishing a more-inclusive county Democratic executive committee and creating a communications committee.
Betras will also focus on two key components needed for the local party to mean anything: raising money and endorsing candidates.
Antonini was able to get the party out of debt during her nearly seven years as chairwoman. She left the party with a surplus of about $20,000.
Betras needs to bring that to a much higher level.
As a political donor, Betras knows that money equals access and prestige.
His financial plan includes increasing the party’s base of contributors and asking for more money from those who already give. In this economic recession, that’s easier said than done.
The party’s failure to endorse candidates, except for two instances in 2006, over the past dozen years has made it almost irrelevant.
For example, Columbiana County’s Democratic Party is more influential on the state level than Mahoning County.
Why is it that Columbiana, which is smaller in population and has fewer Democratic county officeholders than Mahoning, is more influential?
Columbiana County endorses.
Betras intends to have Mahoning Democrats endorse a candidate for the 2010 U.S. Senate race in June.
The two leading Democratic candidates in that race are Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
Both candidates will campaign in Mahoning, one of the most Democratic counties in the state, leading up to the May 2010 primary.
If one of those candidates has the vocal support of an organized Mahoning County Democratic Party that endorsement could go a long way in helping capture this important county in the primary.
Needed prestige
It would also add needed prestige to an organization that has meant so little for far too long.
Betras also wants the county party to be a player in the 2010 statewide elections.
Mahoning Democrats turned out in a big way for most of the statewide candidates in the 2006 election.
Those numbers need to be exceeded in 2010.
Common enemy
Also, Betras won’t hesitate to unite a divided party by creating a common enemy.
Here’s an excerpt from the end of Betras’s nominating speech that is an example of what to expect.
“While bringing us together is my primary goal, I’ll devote considerable energy to battling those who seek to tear us apart or impede our progress, no matter who you are or who you are employed by.”
“So tonight I put the media on notice: if I am elected chair and you shade the truth, engage in unwarranted personal attacks against our officeholders, or seek to promote a culture of negativity, I will push back and push back hard.”
The creation of a common enemy has begun.
Comments
A primer for readers, writers and political players:
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2739
Who is he appointing?
CROOKS....what part of Mahoning Country Politics doesn't Betras get? Why would the Party HQ in Columbus pay any attention to Y'town? They usually end up getting indicted.
Unwarranted personal attacks? What are WARRENTED personal attacks, then? I thought the Democrat party patented the strategy of personal attacks. That has been their tactic rather than debating their usual looser programs and policies. They loose on factual information every time. That is why they have refined the personal attack to a fine art, both at the local and national levels. This is a laughable statement and quite hypocritical.
Does that include the Cafaros?
Oh, yea, I forgot. Wasn't Betras a major BFF, supporter, and partner of the illustrious dirtbag former Attorney General Marc Dann. That worked out very well in Columbus for the Mahoning Valley, didn't it?
This dude probably has more infulence on the county:
http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/may/01/82...
Cafaros? Seems that Tony was found guilty of bribery. So....if the shoe fits, wear it.
http://mvred.com/2009/05/04/why-does-the...
I am impressed with David.
Good luck to him.
full of energy??? Full of something else. lieing to the public for personal/finacial gain is not being charismatic is being a SOCIOPATH .He is the only person that will benefit.The "king of all media"will use his influence to get his pals elected then go in front of them he did this already w/marc dann .Will they start another "advertising agency" again.Look at his partner susan Maruca interned w/felon jack campbell ,raised by father that was convicted of gambling racketeering charges was in the cell when philomena "recanted " his ratting on maruca buddy lynn bruno onand on SOCIOPATHS
I'm not sure who is worse, the sociopaths or the flock who follow them.
Betras says he has no ties to Jennings, I believe he does. I also think Jennings is working for Betras behind the scenes. Both for his practice and now for the democratic party. Guess what Dave, Leo Jennings will bring you down. He will ruin you just like he did to Vicky and Marc.