Quiet primary in Mahoning

There are some intriguing primaries in Trumbull County and, incredibly, no primaries for any Mahoning County executive or judicial branch position.

This is the first time this has happened in Mahoning in likely decades.

Republicans rarely have primaries in the county as the party often struggles to even fill out a slate of candidates.

For Democrats, it’s different. There’s always someone challenging the incumbent in the Democratic-controlled county.

Several Democratic officeholders have been there for a long time such as Prosecutor Paul J. Gains, county Commissioner Anthony T. Traficanti, Domestic Relations Court Judge Beth A. Smith, Common Pleas Court Judge John M. Durkin and Clerk of Courts Anthony Vivo.

Gains has fended off a few tough primary challengers in the past and quite frankly, Democrats know they’re going to lose if they go against any of those other mentioned incumbents.

Sheriff Jerry Greene is virtually untouchable and Republicans couldn’t find anyone to challenge him in the general election. The last time the Republicans had a sheriff candidate was 1988.

Engineer is also a Democratic slam-dunk. Patrick T. Ginnetti isn’t facing any opposition. While the Republicans thought they had a candidate, that person didn’t file. The last time a Republican ran for engineer in the county was 1972.

Not including Congress or the president, the only primary in all of Mahoning County is for the Democratic nomination for the Ohio House’s 59th District between Chris Stanley of Canfield, a Youngstown city school teacher and author, and Chuckie Denison III of Lake Milton, who used to work at Lordstown General Motors and appeared in an online ad for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.

The winner faces state Rep. Don Manning, R-New Middletown, who was first elected last year, winning by 375 votes. The district includes half of Mahoning County and is becoming more Republican. Also, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who has worked well with Democrats, is strongly backing Manning for re-election.

The local Democratic Party recruited Stanley after unsuccessfully convincing several others to run.

Some of the bigger names include John Boccieri, a former state legislator and congressman who lost a state Senate bid last year; Joe Schiavoni, a former state Senate minority leader who is opting to run for a county court judicial seat with an Aug. 5 filing deadline; Poland Township Trustee Eric Ungaro, who narrowly lost to Manning last year; and Boardman Township Trustee Larry Moliterno, who lost to Ungaro in last year’s Democratic primary for the seat. Ungaro and Moliterno were re-elected to their trustee positions last month.

In Trumbull County, the Democratic primary for county engineer fascinates me.

David DeChristofaro, who was forced to leave the job in 2011 on criminal convictions that have since been expunged, is challenging incumbent Randy Smith, who succeeded him.

The two have an obvious dislike for the other. The primary should be a doozy.

Commissioner Dan Polivka faces two challengers in the March 17 primary: David M. Guarino, a former deputy sheriff, and Carl F. Clemens III, a county transit board member. The winner of the primary will face Republican Niki Frenchko in the general election.

Democratic coroner candidate Lawrence D’Amico, deputy coroner, faces Michael Jurenovich, an orthopaedic surgeon. Coroner Thomas James, a Democrat, chose not to run. The Democratic primary winner faces Republican Larry Woods in the general election.

Even Republicans will have a primary in March with Sandra O’Brien, a former Ashtabula County auditor faces Kenneth J. Polke of Ashtabula. Last year, the Ohio State Dental Board permanently revoked his dental license. He was also a replacement player during the National Football League’s 1974 preseason strike.

The winner faces incumbent state Sen. Sean J. O’Brien, D-Bazetta.

Perhaps the most competitive primary in the Valley will be for the Democratic nomination for the Ohio House’s 63rd District.

Gil Blair was a Weathersfield trustee when he was appointed to the position in May because of the resignation of Democrat Glenn Holmes as state representative.

Blair is being challenged by Niles Councilman-at-Large Barry Profato and Werner Lange of Newton Falls.

It will be interesting to see who gets the Trumbull County Democratic Party’s endorsement.

Skolnick covers politics for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com