There’s a lot at stake in the election

By Bertram de Souza (Contact)

Although the turnout for Tuesday’s primary election is expected to be low, the political ramifications of several contests are worth the price of admission.

Without a doubt, the battle for the Democratic nomination for mayor of Warren tops the chart — having dominated the season because of what it represents: a political insider vs. an outsider.

Doug Franklin, the city’s director of Public Service and Safety, has been involved in government since 1990. Jim Graham, the president of UAW Local 1112 at General Motors Corp.’s Lordstown plant, has never run for office, although he has participated in numerous political campaigns.

But it isn’t just the insider-outsider aspect of the race that makes it intriguing.

The stakes were raised last week when Mayor Michael O’Brien, a member of a political dynasty in Trumbull County, and former Mayor Dan Sferra, now a member of city council, endorsed Franklin. While these two veteran politicians have proven track records on the campaign trail and can rally their troops on Election Day, there is risk involved in their endorsements.

Deep roots

O’Brien, who is completing his second term as mayor, has served as Trumbull County commissioner and city councilman. His mother, Margaret, was a long-time county clerk of courts.

Sferra, who launched his political career in 1972, was mayor from 1980 to 1995, a state representative from 2000 to 2004 and ward councilman and councilman-at-large.

If Franklin loses on Tuesday — he also received the endorsed of the Mahoning/Trumbull AFL-CIO Labor Council — it will not only be a rejection of his tenure as service-safety director, council president and councilman, it will be seen as a repudiation of two veteran politicos and a powerful labor organization.

Graham’s victory, on the other hand, will deliver a strong message to the political structure in Trumbull County: the status quo is no longer acceptable.

The well-known labor leader has based his campaign on his private sector experience and the fact that he is not tied to any special interests in government.

The vote in the Warren mayor’s race will resonate for years to come. There is no Republican candidate.

Another race that will resonate politically is for the Democratic nomination for Youngstown 4th Ward council seat. Incumbent Mike Ray is being challenged by Milan Zordich, a retired city firefighter, Howie Edwards and George Doward.

Ray has served in council since December, when he was appointed by the Democratic precinct committeemen and women in the ward to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Carol Rimedio-Righetti, who was elected county commissioner.

The fact that he is not ballot tested means voters Tuesday will have to be convinced he is the right person for job. While he hasn’t been a councilman long enough to have any kind of a record, Ray has had to make the case for his election.

Zordich has never run for political office, but his long service in the fire department and his strong name identification on the city’s West Side could stand him in good stead.

Public pension

On the other hand, his earning $2,546 a month in public pension and Social Security and receiving health care benefits may be problematic in the current political environment. Voters aren’t keen on double-dippers.

A victory by Zordich would resonate because it would viewed as a rejection of the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s leadership.

Beyond that, it would be a defeat for Commissioner Rimedio-Righetti, who strongly backed Ray for the appointment.

Finally, there’s the high octane battle for Girard Municipal Court judge featuring five candidates, including Mark Finamore, who has served as magistrate in the court. The other contenders are Jeffrey Adler, Marty Hume, Rebecca Gerson and Harry DePietro.

The court has been steeped in controversy stemming from retiring Judge Michael Bernard’s battle with Mayor James Melfi and city council over money.

Whether Finamore, appointed magistrate by Bernard, and Gerson, who has sat by appointment as judge in Girard, have been tainted by the controversy will become clear Tuesday.