YOUNGSTOWN – There’s only one contested primary for any executive branch seat in Mahoning County and a number of incumbents currently don’t have an opponent for the Nov. 5, 2024 general election.

The lone contested primary for an executive branch position is the Republican contest for clerk of courts between David Shaffer of Struthers, who unsuccessfully ran for the position in 2016, and Michael P. Ciccone, an attorney who lives in Austintown.

Ciccone recently gained attention for filing a court case on behalf of 28 supporters of Jennifer J. Ciccone, who lost the Nov. 7 general election for Struthers Municipal Court judge, contending there was widespread fraud by the county board of elections in that particular race without giving details. A week after filing the complaint, Ciccone asked that it be dismissed without providing a reason.

The winner of that primary will face Democrat Dan Dascenzo in the general election. Dascenzo was appointed clerk of courts by county Democratic precinct committee members in September to fill the unexpired term of Tony Vivo.

While there are no other contested primaries for executive branch seats, Republican voters in the county will consider other races.

There are contested Republican primaries for a seat on the 7th District Court of Appeals, which is based in Mahoning County and has jurisdiction over eight counties, and for the 33rd District’s Republican State Central Committee man and women positions. The state central district includes Mahoning, Columbiana and Carroll counties.

The court of appeals race pits Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Katelyn Dickey of Lisbon against Mary DeGenaro of Poland, who sat on the appeals bench for 17 years before being appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The seat is being vacated at the end of the month by Democrat David D’Apolito, who is resigning early to become city manager for Canfield.

Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, will appoint D’Apolito’s successor with the Republican primary winner almost certainly getting it. It is strongly believed that DeWine won’t appoint until after the primary.

No Democrat filed for the seat. With party labels added, starting in 2022, to court of appeals races, Democrats didn’t see the seat as winnable.

In addition to Mahoning, the court has jurisdiction over Columbiana, Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe and Noble counties. All but Mahoning, which is the most populous, are strong Republican counties.

The Republican State Central committeeman race has Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman Dave Johnson of Salem, the incumbent, being challenged by Sean M. Hart of Salem.

The committeewoman’s seat has Allison Zwicker of Canfield facing Roberta Baker of East Liverpool. The seat is currently held by Monica Robb Blasdel, a state representative from Columbiana.

Wednesday was the filing deadline for candidates and issues seeking to appear on the March 19, 2024, primary ballot. The board of elections has to certify the candidates and issues.

The only countywide issue is the renewal of the 0.75% income tax for criminal justice services. The tax generates about $31.7 million annually.

Also filing for the March 19, 2024 ballot is the Poland Township 0.73-mill additional police levy that lost by 6.32% in the Nov. 7 election. The levy actually replaces two old levies.

The Campbell and Poland schools filed for renewal levies and the Springfield school district filed for the renewal of its 1% income tax.

There are several liquor options on the ballot, including seven in the city of Canfield’s Precinct 5, which is currently dry.

NOVEMBER MATCHUPS

There are some compelling matchups for the Nov. 5, 2024, general election.

Republican Geno DiFabio, who lost a county commissioner race last year by only 130 votes, is running against three-term incumbent David Ditzler, a Democrat.

The county prosecutor’s race has Democrat Gina DeGenova, elected by county Democratic Party precinct committee members in January to fill out the unexpired term of Paul J. Gains, against Republican Lynn Maro, a longtime defense attorney, in what could be the most expensive countywide race.

Incumbent county Recorder Noralynn Palermo, a Democrat, will face Republican Richard S. Scarsella, a member of the county educational service center board.

Also, incumbent Treasurer Daniel R. Yemma, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Wade Calhoun, who resigned in September 2022 as city manager of Canfield after being placed on administrative leave for alleged misconduct.

State Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, is to face Laura Schaeffer, a Beloit village councilwoman, for the 59th Ohio House District seat.

State Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, is being challenged by Republican Jennifer J. Ciccone, who lost the Struthers Municipal Court judicial race by 10.28% last month, in the 58th House seat.

UNOPPOSED

A number of longtime county officeholders not only didn’t get a challenge in the primary, but currently don’t have opponents in the general election.

March 18, 2024 is the deadline for independents to file for the November ballot, and Jan. 8, 2024 is the deadline for write-in candidates for the partisan primaries.

Among the unopposed incumbents is Sheriff Jerry Greene, who switched from being a Democrat to Republican for this election.

The other unopposed officeholders seeking reelection are all Democrats: Commissioner Anthony Traficanti, Engineer Patrick T. Ginnetti, Coroner David Kennedy and Anthony Donofrio, a common pleas court judge.

Mahoning Republican Chairman Tom McCabe said the party has “a strong slate of candidates.”

Mahoning Democratic Party Chairman Chris Anderson said: “This ticket is one of the strongest I’ve ever seen in my time in Mahoning County politics. It’s filled with public servants who bring their experience and vision, many of which have already had the support of the voters put on display by having no opposition filed against them.”

dskolnick@vindy.com