By Vindicator Newsroom

March 4, 2008

YOUNGSTOWN — While they were both the governor’s choices, only one was the choice of Mahoning County Democratic voters.
Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat formerly of Lisbon, had appointed Timothy Franken of Beaver Township as a common pleas court judge in September 2007 and Mark Belinky of Boardman as probate court judge two months later to fill vacancies.
Judge Belinky won a three-person primary for his seat.
But Judge Franken lost to Louis D’Apolito of Boardman in a four-person race. D’Apolito takes the judicial seat on Jan. 1.
Judge Franken said he couldn’t figure out how he lost.
“It’s a mystery to me,” he said. “The people have chosen. This is what they want. It’s a disappointment. I guess that’s life.”