There was an election Tuesday (Really)

CHAIRMAN LASHES OUT: Elected Mahoning County Democratic chairman on a platform that included uniting the party, David Betras publicly lashed out at many elected Democratic officeholders. Betras publicly criticized Democratic politicians who didn’t attend last week’s rally designed to bring attention to the struggles of the middle class. Betras blasted those not in attendance — nearly every elected Democrat in Mahoning County skipped the event — for turning their backs on labor unions that support them when they run for office. Jim Graham, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1112 union at the Lordstown General Motors complex and a Betras supporter, said he was a bit surprised by the new chairman’s comments. While he could have said it more politely, Betras has a point. Just to make sure I didn’t miss his comments, Betras called me a short time after the rally. It would have been very hard to miss his statements. As Betras said, “There’s a new sheriff in town.” Apparently, he’s not taking any prisoners. skolnick@vindy.com

By David Skolnick

What if they held an election and no one voted?

We essentially had that Tuesday.

There was very little of interest heading into the primary.

Because of that, the directors of the boards of elections in the Mahoning Valley expected low turnout.

But even their low predictions were wrong.

Thomas McCabe in Mahoning County predicted turnout at 22 percent.

The actual percentage was 10.78, less than half his projection. That doesn’t include communities such as Austintown or Canfield where there was nothing on the ballot so there was no primary.

That percentage is of voters eligible to cast ballots.

“I never ever would have expected turnout to be that dismal,” McCabe said.

How dismal?

In Youngstown’s 77 precincts, there was only one that had more than 100 voters. That was Precinct 5-I where 17.2 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.

It certainly wasn’t the mayoral Democratic primary between incumbent Jay Williams and challenger Frank Bellamy, who ran one of the most pathetic campaigns this area has seen, that brought them out in Precinct 5-I. It was a liquor option that will take away the liquor license of the Party Pantry on Glenwood Avenue that led the way.

That business lost its liquor license based on the decision of 136 voters. The option failed 106 to 30.

There were 6 voters in Youngstown Precinct 2-F. There were 9 voters in Precinct 7-F.

It certainly isn’t exciting being a poll worker, who is on the job from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Can you imagine working for 13 hours in a precinct and helping 6 voters?

It wasn’t much better in Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Turnout in Trumbull was 16.07 percent. Its election director had predicted turnout at 25 percent.

In Columbiana County, 12.17 percent of eligible voters cast ballots Tuesday. The director there had predicted 15 percent to 17 percent.

While the ballot didn’t have any exciting races and only a handful of tax issues, it’s startling to look at those incredibly low voter turnout numbers.

We’ll see if turnout is better in the November general election when township trustee and school board member positions are on the ballot as well as a number of tax issues. I can’t imagine turnout being worse. But it’s probably still only going to be about 25 percent.

Helping to keep that turnout number low for the November election is the incredible mistake made at the Mahoning County Board of Elections that will result in the probable disqualifications of independent candidates for Youngstown mayor and council president.

No, Cecil B. Monroe didn’t stand a chance of beating Williams, and Joe Louis Teague wasn’t going to defeat council President Charles Sammarone.

But neither will get a chance because they were given incorrect information by board clerks about how many valid signatures they needed on their nominating petitions.

It is ultimately up to the candidates to make sure they know all the requirements to get on the ballot.

But it’s easy to understand why they would listen to what those who conduct elections for a living would say about the number of signatures needed.

Board officials have asked the Ohio secretary of state for waivers to get Monroe and Teague on the ballot, but that’s not going to help.

By David Skolnick(Contact David)