Boccieri spent more than $75K to win Dem state House race
John Boccieri, a former congressman and state legislator, spent more than $75,000 to win the Democratic primary for the open 58th Ohio House District seat.
Boccieri’s postprimary report, between April 16 and June 5, shows he raised $21,777 — with $12,500 coming from political action committees — and spent $45,462.66. His largest expense for the period was $23,602.41 to ART Advisors LLC of Columbus for campaign mail.
During the preprimary period, between Jan. 1 and April 15, Boccieri raised $68,095.67, with $65,615.87 coming from PACs and spent $30,775.98.
Boccieri’s campaign received $25,000 in loans — $8,385 from him and $16,615 from his mother, Rosemary — both on Jan. 30.
Boccieri, of Poland, used his campaign funds to pay back his loan on May 22, 17 days after winning the Democratic primary.
Boccieri reported a $38,634.03 surplus as of June 5.
Boccieri captured 63.79% of the vote to 25.21% for Jordan Pegues and 11% for Basia Adamczak.
Neither Pegues of Austintown nor Adamczak of Youngstown filed postprimary campaign finance reports with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office as required.
Boccieri raised and spent significantly more money in the preprimary period than Pegues and Adamczak combined.
This was the only state legislative seat in the Mahoning Valley with a contested primary.
The 58th House District includes portions of Mahoning County.
Boccieri will face Republican Heather Fronk of Poland in the Nov. 3 general election.
Fronk raised $29,015.67 in the postprimary period with state Sen. Al Cutrona’s campaign committee giving her a $16,615.67 maximum contribution.
Sam Boak gave $5,000 to Fronk’s campaign while giving $2,000 to Boccieri.
Fronk spent $3,441.98 in the postprimary period.
She had $25,573.69 in her campaign fund as of June 5 along with $2,722.92 in debt.
The biggest postprimary expenses for state Reps. Tex Fischer of Canfield and David Thomas of Jefferson, who both represent the Mahoning Valley, were $25,000 contributions to the Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee. OHROC is the campaign arm of the Ohio House Republican Caucus.
In the preprimary period, Thomas gave $45,000 to OHROC while Fischer gave $25,000.
State Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, gave $30,000 to OHROC in the preprimary period. He gave $1,132 in the postprimary period.
Santucci is the only Valley legislator running unopposed in the general election. He also didn’t have a Republican primary challenger.
Santucci raised $50,020 in the postprimary period with $15,500 coming from PACs. Santucci spent $29,137.91 in the period with his largest expense being $15,000 to GM Financial for a vehicle for “campaign purposes,” according to his report. During the preprimary period, Santucci’s campaign paid $15,000 to R.D. Banks Chevrolet of Champion for a vehicle for “campaign purposes.”
With a large carryover, Santucci had $138,667 in his fund as of June 5.
Santucci represents the 64th House District, which includes portions of Trumbull County.
Thomas raised $2,000 and spent $26,800.42, with $25,000 going to OHROC, during the postprimary period.
Thomas had $8,390.17 in his fund as of June 5, which included carryover.
Thomas represents the 65th House District, which includes parts of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
Lorna J. Westlake of Austinburg was the Democratic nominee, but she dropped out and was replaced Tuesday by John Barbo, Geneva City Council president.
Westlake didn’t report raising any money for her campaign and Barbo’s entry into the race was after the postprimary filing deadline.
Fischer raised $21,557.41, with $11,825 coming from PACs, and spent $32,489.19, including the $25,000 to OHROC, during the postprimary period. Fischer also gave $1,000 contributions to seven different Republican legislative candidate committees.
Fischer had $67,006.21 in his fund as of June 5.
Democrat Wayne J. Penny of Canfield, who is challenging Fischer for the 59th House seat in November, hasn’t filed a campaign finance report.
The district includes portions of Mahoning County and a small part of Columbiana County.
In the 33rd Senate District race, incumbent Republican Al Cutrona of Canfield raised $10,050 and spent $34,276.04 in the postprimary period. His largest expenses were maximum $16,615.67 contributions to Fronk and Jay Edwards, the Republican nominee for state treasurer.
Cutrona had $239,622.76 in his campaign fund as of June 5, primarily because of money carried over from previous filing periods.
Michael L. Kripchak of Youngstown, Cutrona’s Democratic challenger, reported raising $16,337.50 and spending $10,754.09 in the postprimary period. Kripchak’s largest expense was $8,000 to Danny Thomas Jr. and Associates to serve as his campaign manager.
Kripchak reported a $5,583.41 surplus as of June 5.
The district includes all of Mahoning, Columbiana and Carroll counties.
State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, didn’t have to file a report because she isn’t on the ballot this year. O’Brien represents the 32nd Senate District, which includes all of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and most of Geauga County.
O’Brien’s term ends Dec. 31, 2028, and she cannot run for reelection.



