Three file to run against sheriff

Other independent

candidates filed for Mahoning prosecutor and an Ohio House seat.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Sheriff Randall A. Wellington faces the challenge of three former sheriff’s department employees in the November general election.

Wellington, of Youngstown, is running unopposed today after two opponents who filed to run against him in the Democratic primary were removed from the ballot.

But Wellington, sheriff since August 1999, has a target on his back again.

“They have a right to run,” he said of the three who filed by Monday’s deadline as independent candidates for sheriff in the November election. “As I say, ‘The water’s warm, jump in.’”

Those challenging Wellington are:

UJames S. Horvath of Boardman, a retired lieutenant.

U John Martynyszyn of Youngstown, a retired corporal.

U Howard Faison of Youngstown, a retired captain who filed last week.

County election boards have until May 16 to certify nominating petitions for independent candidates.

Others in Mahoning County filing petitions to run as independents in November are:

U Marty Yavorcik of Boardman, a defense attorney, for prosecutor. He’ll face the winner of today’s Democratic primary between incumbent Paul J. Gains of Boardman and challenger Heidi A. Hanni of Boardman.

U Dennis S. Spisak of Struthers, a Struthers school board member and principal of Southern Local High School in Columbiana County, for the Ohio House 60th District seat. He’ll face state Rep. Robert F. Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat who is unopposed today, in November.

U Maggy Lorenzi of Youngstown, who unsuccessfully ran in 2005 for city mayor, for the county commissioner seat currently held by John A. McNally of Youngstown.

McNally is being challenged in today’s Democratic primary by Mary Roby Lyden of Canfield. Lisa S. Lotze of North Lima is unopposed in the Republican primary for the seat.

In Columbiana County, Austin French, a Salem police officer, filed to run for sheriff as an independent.

Three Republicans are running today for that party’s nomination. They are: Daniel MacLean III of Wellsville, Raymond Stone of Salem, and Jerry Herbert of New Waterford. Democrat John M. Soldano of Wellsville is unopposed today for his party’s nomination.

Also, Gregory A. Shaffer of Salem, who unsuccessfully ran last year for Salem mayor, filed to run for a county commissioner seat currently held by Democrat Penny Traina of Wellsville. Traina is unopposed in her party’s primary. Republican Becky Burke of East Liverpool has no opposition for her party’s primary for the commissioner seat.

skolnick@vindy.com