What does Righetti offer?

You mean there IS a Republican Party in Mahoning County? I thought under Clarence Smith that the local GOP has become a wing of the Mahoning County Democratic Party... the religious wing!

Does anyone else get the idea that Bertie deScumbag kicks himself daily for not being a government employee as he has to mention, time and again, about his disdain for such workers? Bertie--surely in whatever country you came from that spewed you out to us, they have government workers. Maybe you should have been one.

Bert is right on

Too bad Ludt didnt run the county as effectively as his towing business...one down, more to go....

Good for you Carol. I hope you do a great job.

The above article has a litany of questions that a competent reporter would have asked BEFORE the election, well I quess Bert is no better then these Government workers that he maligns on a daily basis.
Still leaning on that shovel , and to think ,it only took you one whole week to come up with this article.

Uh, Bertram, perhaps you didn't read her Bio on the City Council website.

"Her objective in her position as 4th Ward Councilperson is to utilize her work experience, educational background, strong interpersonal skills and non-partisan judgment to represent the community."

She's got "strong interpersonal skills," Bert. The County is saved!
Seriously, her Bio reads like a bad 10th grade job application. I can't wait to read the updated version.

So I usually agree with a lot Mr. de Souza has to say, or at least respectfully disagree, but I have trouble with this column. I had no idea you had to work in the private sector first before you worked in the public. Must be some rule book I haven't seen yet. At least she is not one of the many elected officials that have been thoroughly tainted in scandal. If I work my butt off for a degree in social work and decide to work for the county, does that mean I should kiss any future political career goodbye??

The people of Mahoning County seem to think Righetti is up to the job and while we should remain diligent to how she handles the office, we should also be giving her the benefit of the doubt. There is nothing wrong with bringing people together as long as they produce action once they get there. This county is in a world of hurt and it is going to take strong leadership, courage and conviction to work our way out of it. I hope Righetti and other county officials are up for it. If not, I have no problems with a recall.

Can't we do better? The Ohio Inspector General in the Dann scandal report said that on December 22, 2006 a $6,000 check was written to Feisty Dishes and signed by David Betras, the Treasurer for the transition account.The OIG found that acts of wrongdoing occurred.The Democratic Party has a guy who was in the middle of the Dann case representing the valley Democrats. And why hasn't he been charged?

When Betras bragged that every candidate that was endorsed by the Democratic party won their primaries it was obvious that "when nothing changes, nothing changes." The democratic party has been in control of Mahoning valley politics since as far back as the fifties that I know of. They were in charge when the mills closed and under their fine guidance the valley progressed to where it is today.... It didn't work during my parents generation, nor mine, or since then. Yet when the democratic party endorses a list of candidates it becomes the goal of all the lemmings to ask no questions but vote for the "chosen." Ludt obviously did not follow orders!

Ohio is called "the heart of it all" If that is true then ytown would be one of the arm pits. You people that just blindly vote for the same "chosen" people deserve what you get! Look at all the other steel mill towns, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo etc. Pittsburgh and Cleveland may not be perfect but they are head and shoulders ahead of Ytown and always will be. As a rule, most of the rust belt cities have or are leaving Ytown in the dust. Would Republicans do any better? I don't know but I would bet they could do no worse. Ideally a good mix would be the right start. But we know that will never happen.

The steel mills will be back stronger than ever possibly this year or maybe next year...... It will happen, just have faith and keep doing as you are told by the Democratic messiahs!!!

Once again, de Souza has written a mean spirited, slanted column which shows that he is in the pocket of the current regime in Mahoning County. Does this column have anything to do with the fact that Ms. Righetti has said, as many others of us believe, that George Tablack has too much power in the County? Apparently, Mr. de Souza is a fan club of one for the County Administrator. Mr. de Souza, are you so limited in your vocabulary that you constantly have to use the insulting, demeaning phrase, "feeding at the public trough"? Why don't you get off your duff and visit some of the country agencies and see that there are many hardworking, honorable people working in the public sector? For someone who has made a career out of columns on Jim Traficant and public employees because you are apparently too limited or lazy to write much of anything else, you certainly have a lot of chutzpah to criticize anyone else's work experience. You are absolutely laughable because you obviously have no idea at all what really goes on in County government and try to present yourself as a knowledgeable insider. Try doing some real investigation instead of just spouting off on your limited topics.

@Marcus57 & burford

You both are fact based spot on,..

However, I'm inclined to believe none of this is going to unnoticed nor non addressed. See there are a series of ongoing probes going on and I sense things unraveling in camp corruption.

As an independent who's not fooled nor controlled by the local branch of the democratic party having been taken over by Cafaro cronies.

Thus in deliberating who I'll support and vote for as candidates. I'm awaiting to hear what the republican candidate has to say in regards to values and objectives.

I anticipate the takeover of the counties democrat branch is about to be shook up in a manner of an array of prosecutions.

Sure both branches democrat and republican are currently ran by differing and and in some cases unified racketeers.

However, as for now and until what I perceive as a sweeping roundup of currently positions criminals and crumb cakes.

If the better candidate is republican I'll not hesitate to cast my vote and vocal support for that individual.

I don't think the residents are going to get true quality candidates until after this forthcoming mass prosecution that's looming on the horizon.

Heard that Cafaro was at Party Headquarters the night of the election congratulating and conferring with Righetti and Betras. Not a good sign.

Hey Bert

Look where Dave Ludt's business experience has put the county. As someone that has nearly 30 years of private sector work experience, you would demean me as not having any public work experience. You can't have it both ways. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

First of all, someone who has run a business in the private sector doesn't automatically make him/her an expert in government affairs. Many major companies in the past didn't always have a great batting average. The reason Ludt lost is the same reason the other two stooges are on the bubble; they are doing a lousy job. There may not be any improvement from the newly elected government double-dipper, but that remains to be seen.

@burford

Not surprising,..

Although I don't know if any of the Cafaro ownership was or wasn't present. As by extreme contrast in values and integrity I'm not aligned with the local disguise of the democrat identity.

However, after the forthcoming cleanup I sense coming. I'll establish contact and my take on a position of providing just leadership and representation.

As an Independent with whats historically been true democratic values instilled in me.

To be non biased locally both factions are infested with corruption and sadly locals don't have quality candidates to support.

Those that would beg to differ I pose they present any name of any candidate and we discuss them in open forum.

The lack of local turnout for the primaries is because the populous is tied of trying to vote for the mere lesser of evils,.. and that's a damn shame.

First, lets clear something up and establish something else. One I was at the Dems headquarters on election all night and no Cafaros were there, so that shows Burford to be a liar..Second and this is the most obvious about these claims of Cafaro influence. HES IN JAIL, get it HES IN JAIL. Secondly what I think really hurt Ludt was who some of his supporters are. I live in southern Mahoning County where Ludt has a strong following. But I goto a church on the West Side of Youngstown. And when we saw that he had as a supporter that dis-barred, disgraced, convict exfelon lawyer Colucci and members of the Lordi family who he has members married into he probanly lost 600 to 800 votes in a flash. Heres a guy who thieved his clients got caught paid very little back (if any) and dave has him strutting around at functions. Candidates have to be careful because I dontthink people have that hero worship mentality for these slimy crooks like they used to (other then Traficant). I mean as our priest said years ago we should forgive these sinners we will but we wont forget the damage that what we preceived as false allegation did to our church. I mean once a liar always a liar.

dog, before you call someone a liar please get your facts straight. Three people I spoke to confirmed Tony Cafaro was at Party Headquarters around 11:00 with Righetti and Betras. He is not in jail. All campaigns have unsavory characters hanging around. But it is safe to say that Colucci has not controlled public officials like Cafaro. Call me a liar again.

First Ludt. Then hopefully it will be Traficanti. These people have no solutions. They have the same knee jerk reaction to finance and problems of the county.Here is what Traficanti said about the courthouse repair problems: "It's going to be very difficult. We're going to have to sit down and look where we can cut. Somebody's gonna have to basically get cut to come up with the funds."

That's why Ludt lost.It is always a simpleton's response: cut. What about grants? What about stimulus money? We have 2 congressman and a bunch of state office holders. Why should Mahoning County go it alone? Don't we pay state and federal taxes too?

1. This is a strange column to write AFTER the election. She already won so there isn't much point in writing this type of article about her NOW.

2. I like Ludt and think he did a good job as commish. HE was very gracious and classy and said he wishes Carol RR well. But this column comes across the exact opposite. She won't even take office for 7+ months, so what is need to be critical of her background NOW? If she screws up once she gets in office, then let her have it, but at least wait until she is sworn in.

3. The comment "It is a sad commentary that the Mahoning County Republican Party did not have a contested primary for commissioner" is true. But the sad part isn't the lack of effort by local GOP, it is the closed mindedness of local voters. GOP has not had a non-judicial officeholder elected countywide in Mahoning Co. since 1964 when Fred DeLuca was elected commish!

1984 Gary Van Brocklin was elected prosecutor (sort of judicial) in Reagan landslide, b/c of MADD's help, and deservedly defeated shortly thereafter (by a lowlife).

Lyle Williams was elected to Congress a couple times, but he was kind of stale and IIRC won b/c of his margins in Trumbull Co., not Mahoning.

4. Traficanti should be COMMENDED for looking for ways to cut spending elsewhere to help pay for courthouse. Kudos to him for doing so.

Is there a GOP candidate in the fall? Is there an Independent? If so, Carol will win with at least 60% of the vote. If not, she will win with 80% of the vote. The only time an incumbent democrat can be beat is in the primary.

I think all what Bert brings up is important -- especially if indictments come down and the Dem Party and it's fearless leader Betras have to supply office holders for Carol to work with (or against).

1970mach1-The budget has already been adopted. Why not look at outside revenue sources? Having said that, Traficanti says they need $100,000 immediately. How about Tablack's salary?

"1970mach1-The budget has already been adopted. Why not look at outside revenue sources? Having said that, Traficanti says they need $100,000 immediately. How about Tablack's salary?"

IIRC Traficanti said they ARE looking into federal $$ for grants. I believe his comments were based upon what Mahoning Co. can spend out of Mahoning Co. budget.

Obviously you dislike Tablack, that's ok, many others do too. But the county is going to have an administrator whether it is him or someone else. And that person is not going to work for free.

If we have three full-time commissioners, why is it necessary to have an administrator? I think it is time to shake things up, get rid of the county govt set-up under state laws, and have a charter form of govt. First, re-configure the county courts. Then, eliminate some of the elected positions such as recorder, auditor, treasurer, clerk of courts, and have them appointed. Make them share staffs, under one collective bargaining agreement sowe don't have duplication. And, while I'm fantasizing, eliminate nepotism and cronyism.

Sorry, I have to go now. The nurse is bringing me my medication and some new crayons!

@ gdog4766

Let's start valuing and respecting the total TRUTH here,..

Which will be by imploring the refraining from your trying to assail someone as liars in regards to something you can't refute nor verify,.. ok?

See without bias it's certainly not illogical nor uncommon for a Cafaro to cavort in whats presented as the local gaggle of whats presented as the areas democrat branch. Where they { the Cafaro" s } beyond documented influence DO in fact pose as whom owns and run's that deplorable outfit.

To include it's known and confirmed that there's NO Cafaro in jail now and there WEREN'T any Cafaro's in jail during the recent primaries polling tabulations. So if there's a lie being told here you're the culprit by either choice, intent or having been so grossly misinformed,..how's that?

I hear that the Commissioners are putting pressure on Tablack to retire. They will Knight him and give him Goshen Township for his own manor. His replacement will be Don Gaudio -- the guy that Belinky thinks is the greatest graduate of rehab since Bill W. and Doctor Bob founded AA.

My brother has been in rehabilitation for a long time. He will spend the rest of his life fighting his addiction. You are a sicko for playing politics with an addict.

Hey burford -- nice spin, you must worship at the alter of Judge Belinky. Once one is in public life -- their life is just that -- public! Gaudio has NOTHING to do with your brother's addiction and recovery.

I do not know Judge Belinky or Gaudio. Your political cliches about spinning and worshipping at an alter are stupid.I do know that a person with an addiction should not have their past used for political gain. I am certain addicts and their familes would agree.How mean are you?

Burford --

Gaudio is slopping at the public trough. His action(s), past and present; as those of any public employee are public record and open to scruitny -- that's the price one pays for living off the taxpayer.

If you think that this is wrong, you don't have as much knowledge about recovery as you write.

BTW: It was Judge Belinky who brought up Gaudio's addiction in a journal entry. Maybe you ought to talk or write him about your concerns.

@burford

I understand and agree with you that former addicts that's fighting to get and stay clean are to be supported and not demeaned. I also share a great measure of the other views you've expressed here.

However, it's also my belief that anyone with a suspect criminal history. Aren't favored by me to be placed in any position of working with court authority, around narcotics, matters dealing with administering public health care. Nor be given any authority over taxpayers funds.

It's a matter of judgment and consequences and one with a history of such choices in judgment. Aren't to be forced to be re-trusted by others in such said capacities.

There are many careers and jobs they can pursue, qualify for and hold. Of prestigious and rewarding work with lucrative pay that won't breech that.

That said I don't know Belinky nor Don Gaudio either. Where from what I hear of Belinky I'm inclined to support him. But do I agree with the position he gave Don Gaudio,.. NO !!!