Published: Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Split vote adds Capri Cafaro to panel
Commissioner Heltzel said he feared the Cafaro family might influence his colleagues.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN — By a 2-1 vote, Trumbull County commissioners appointed Capri Cafaro to the Senior Citizens Advisory Council.
Cafaro, 28, daughter of Cafaro Co. executive vice president J.J. Cafaro and two-time Congressional candidate, will serve as a replacement for Joseph V. Tarantino until March 31, 2007, when the term expires.
Her appointment Wednesday became controversial when commissioners discussed it at their planning meeting Tuesday. Questions were raised about whether she lives in Trumbull County, and about which commissioner's turn it was to appoint the next member of the volunteer board.
In an interview later, Cafaro told The Vindicator she lives in Trumbull and Lorain counties. Assistant Prosecutor Jason Earnhart also said members of the council are not required to live in Trumbull County.
The council makes recommendations to the commissioners regarding spending from a levy approved by voters in November for senior citizens services. The levy will raise $2.4 million annually.
Voting for her appointment were Commissioner Dan Polivka, who said it was his turn to appoint; and Commissioner James Tsagaris. Voting no was Commissioner Paul Heltzel, who said it was his turn to appoint because he had one fewer appointment of the original 11 than the other commissioners.
Family ties
In a written statement Heltzel handed to reporters Wednesday, Heltzel said he also opposed Cafaro's appointment because of her family ties.
Heltzel noted the number of good works the Cafaro family has done for the Mahoning Valley dating to the late William Cafaro's help in rebuilding the county Democratic Party and as recent as a this week's donation of $100,000 to the School of Nursing at Youngstown State University.
"Nonetheless, the same hand that supports good causes and our area's growth should not be able to dominate and dictate to weak-willed political hacks," Heltzel said. He later explained that the "hacks" he referred to were Tsagaris and Polivka.
Anthony Cafaro Sr., president of the Cafaro Co., could not be reached to comment on Heltzel's statements Wednesday afternoon.
Told about the remarks later, Polivka said, "To me, [Heltzel] is just grasping at straws and making negative comments." Polivka said Capri Cafaro asked about the position personally, and he knows the Cafaro family "only as business people."
Tsagaris responded to the remarks by saying, "What have I given to the Cafaros? I've never done anything for them."
Tsagaris added that the Cafaro family has done a lot more for the area than the items Heltzel listed. "What about the millions they've given to the area?"
runyan@vindy.com
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Commissioner Heltzel said he feared the Cafaro family might influence his colleagues.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN — By a 2-1 vote, Trumbull County commissioners appointed Capri Cafaro to the Senior Citizens Advisory Council.
Cafaro, 28, daughter of Cafaro Co. executive vice president J.J. Cafaro and two-time Congressional candidate, will serve as a replacement for Joseph V. Tarantino until March 31, 2007, when the term expires.
Her appointment Wednesday became controversial when commissioners discussed it at their planning meeting Tuesday. Questions were raised about whether she lives in Trumbull County, and about which commissioner's turn it was to appoint the next member of the volunteer board.
In an interview later, Cafaro told The Vindicator she lives in Trumbull and Lorain counties. Assistant Prosecutor Jason Earnhart also said members of the council are not required to live in Trumbull County.
The council makes recommendations to the commissioners regarding spending from a levy approved by voters in November for senior citizens services. The levy will raise $2.4 million annually.
Voting for her appointment were Commissioner Dan Polivka, who said it was his turn to appoint; and Commissioner James Tsagaris. Voting no was Commissioner Paul Heltzel, who said it was his turn to appoint because he had one fewer appointment of the original 11 than the other commissioners.
Family ties
In a written statement Heltzel handed to reporters Wednesday, Heltzel said he also opposed Cafaro's appointment because of her family ties.
Heltzel noted the number of good works the Cafaro family has done for the Mahoning Valley dating to the late William Cafaro's help in rebuilding the county Democratic Party and as recent as a this week's donation of $100,000 to the School of Nursing at Youngstown State University.
"Nonetheless, the same hand that supports good causes and our area's growth should not be able to dominate and dictate to weak-willed political hacks," Heltzel said. He later explained that the "hacks" he referred to were Tsagaris and Polivka.
Anthony Cafaro Sr., president of the Cafaro Co., could not be reached to comment on Heltzel's statements Wednesday afternoon.
Told about the remarks later, Polivka said, "To me, [Heltzel] is just grasping at straws and making negative comments." Polivka said Capri Cafaro asked about the position personally, and he knows the Cafaro family "only as business people."
Tsagaris responded to the remarks by saying, "What have I given to the Cafaros? I've never done anything for them."
Tsagaris added that the Cafaro family has done a lot more for the area than the items Heltzel listed. "What about the millions they've given to the area?"
runyan@vindy.com
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
By a 2-1 vote, Trumbull County commissioners appointed Capri Cafaro to the Senior Citizens Advisory Council.
Cafaro, 28,...
More Stories from Sat, Aug 19, 2006
