YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Democratic Party will induct four new members into its hall of fame Sept. 10 and honor outgoing county Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti with its trailblazer award named in honor of Joyce Kale-Pesta, a local political icon who died last year.

“These five honorees embody the values, hard work and resilience of the Mahoning Valley,” said county Democratic Party Chairman Chris Anderson. “From fighting for working families in government to grassroots organizing in our neighborhoods, each of them has left an indelible mark on our community.”

The inductees are Joe Schiavoni, Danielle O’Neill, Audrey Mora and Michael Morley.

The event is Sept. 10 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Social Hall in Youngstown.

Tickets are available at mahoningdemocrats.org or by calling 330-502-2997. Tickets are $100 per person or $750 for a table of eight.

Tim Ryan, who represented the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. House for 20 years, is the keynote speaker. Ryan lost the 2022 U.S. Senate race to Republican JD Vance and had strongly considered running this year for governor. Ryan serves as a consultant and advocate for various organizations, including those representing natural gas and cryptocurrency.

Anderson said: “We are excited to come together with former Congressman Tim Ryan to celebrate their legacy and pave the way for our party’s future.”

In addition to the inductees, Rimedio-Righetti will be given the trailblazer award named for Kale-Pesta, a former county Democratic Party chairwoman and board of elections director. Kale-Pesta was the party’s vice chairwoman and served as a board of elections member when she died in April 2025.

Rimedio-Righetti is finishing her fourth four-year term as county commissioner. Before that, she served 10 years on Youngstown City Council, representing the 4th Ward, which takes in the upper West Side of the city.

Schiavoni is currently a Mahoning County Area Court judge and spent 10 years in the state Senate, including three years as minority leader.

O’Neill is president of the JFK Democratic Women’s Club and a longtime employee of the county board of elections.

Morales is director of the county’s Jobs and Family Services and a community activist.

Morley is a former county Democratic Party chairman who served on the county board of elections and is a longtime Democratic strategist, including for Ryan.