Trending
The story all missed
at Trump Valley rally
DEAR EDITOR:
Of all the negative majority letters concerning President Trump's rally, you missed a touching, feel-good story. This has been posted on Facebook, but you may not be aware of it.
I would hope you decide to print this in the near future, as you say: This newspaper is politically independent publication.
A 75-year-old black, Marine Vietnam War veteran stood in line for hours to see a president; it was President Trump. He was surprised at the protesters yelling vulgar and hostile attitudes. He wore a camouflage shirt and trousers with his Vietnam War veteran's cap. When they were proceeding to seats, he was told "follow me," and they seated him in the front row!
Many people shook his hand and said, "Thank you for your service." Would any of the protesters say that? When President Trump was walking toward the stage, this man stood and saluted the president, though the president was moving in an opposite direction and did not see this man. Apparently, a Secret Service agent pointed this individual out to the president and minutes later a woman came to the veteran and said, "The president would like you to have this" and hugged him, thanking him for his service. She presented him with a large, beautiful, 250-year commemorative medallion. This brought tears to this veteran's eyes.
When the rally ended and the president was walking out, he saw the veteran saluting him and he saluted back. Again, this brought tears to his eyes. He said it was one of the best and blessed days of his life. He is a man of great faith and always says he "was proud to be in the service, proud to help keep us free and proud to be an American."
Hundreds of people saw this "incident" yet the media chose to ignore it and spent more time focusing and interviewing belligerent protesters.
This election will be one of the most important in our 250- year history. If the voters, mostly born-and-bred Democrats, vote with their misplaced emotions, brainwashed propaganda and hatred for Trump and other Republicans, instead of using common sense (which isn't very common), it will drastically change America and not for the better. As Benjamin Franklin said in 1789 at the end of the Constitutional Convention: "We now have a Republic, if we can keep it!"
TERRY GALLAGHER
Youngstown
Here's suggestion on
getting rid of Ciccone
DEAR EDITOR:
So, there's no way to get Republican Mahoning County Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone out of office? His arrogance and incompetence is amazing. Electric bills not paid for 18 months, speaking and acting unprofessionally, etc.
Perhaps our government officials need to be creative in finding solutions. A suggestion -- Since Mahoning County commissioners act as general fiscal appropriators and overseers, perhaps they can conveniently "forget to pay" Ciccone's salary ($101,823/year) for 18 months. Place it in an escrow account. No doubt he will sue and let the facts come out of his incompetence. Perhaps the judge hearing the case will determine that if he didn't do his job, he is not entitled to take advantage of taxpayers.
What is Mr. Ciccone thinking? He is only 37 years old. Would any company or government agency hire this guy? Or does he think his Republican Party connections will help him once he's out as our clerk of courts? He certainly can't list his position with the county on his resume. One of the first things prospective employers do when reviewing an applicant is to Google the name. Go ahead, Mr. Ciccone, Google your name. By holding on, the Google thread only gets longer. I hear there's a door greeter's job available at 15 bucks an hour. Sure it doesn't come close to the $101,823 you're presently scamming from taxpayers, but it seems the job tasks are ones you'd be able to do.
Legislators must find a way to change the law to never allow this to happen again.
GEORGE FRANCUSKI
Youngstown
Appalling Ramaswamy
ad shows his character
DEAR EDITOR:
When you think Vivek Ramaswamy can not go any lower, he never ceases to disappoint. Only a low-life scum would try to capitalize on his opponent's sexual abuse in her young life to benefit himself. He seeks out her mother who Amy hasn't seen in 50 years.
From 9 to 12 years old, Amy Acton was raped by her mother's husband and her mother did not believe her. In the commercial, she called her daughter a liar and needs help. If anyone needs help, it's her mother. She's not only sick; shes a criminal. Her husband was charged with rape, and she aided him in his escape . She should have been in jail. Her children were taken away from her. Now that's an upstanding citizen and a model mother. She talks like she knows her daughter who she hasn't seen in 50 years. She does not know her and does not know the fine person and leader she's become.
Not only did his campaign engineer this appalling commercial, they doubled down by committing to another $4 million dollars. This tells you everything you need to know about Ramaswamy. This tells you what he thinks of women in general. The men who love their wives, girlfriends, mothers, sisters and children should understand the lack of character, moral fiber, dignity and empathy that Ramaswamy is in shortage of. Then you have JD Vance and the rest of the MAGAs who thought this was fine. These are the same people who voted not to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Candidates who will do or say anything or bring up his opponent's painful past for his benefit does not deserve my vote as governor.
Vote Amy Acton. A candidate that cares about Ohio and the people of Ohio. Ramaswamy cares only about himself.
ANGELA CARNEVALE
Youngstown
Keith Faber shows he
is ready to lead as AG
DEAR EDITOR:
I attended Ohio's attorney general debate at Youngstown State University in person. Keith Faber's experience shone through, and his readiness for the job was clear.
As Mahoning County prosecutor, I know what is at stake. Prosecutors need an attorney general who understands the challenges we face, supports law enforcement and helps us deliver justice for victims. Ohio families need someone who can turn commitments into action.
Keith demonstrated the confidence and judgment that come from experience. His record of exposing fraud and public corruption reflects a commitment to following the evidence and protecting taxpayers. His respect for the men and women who keep our communities safe was equally clear.
For me, this debate reinforced why experience matters. The attorney general's responsibilities begin the moment that person takes office.
Keith Faber showed that he understands the job and is prepared to do it. He is ready to lead on Day One, and he has my support.
LYNN MARO
Mahoning County prosecutor
Youngstown
Tell DeWine to rescind
Ramaswamy support
DEAR EDITOR:
I encourage all Ohioans to write to Gov. Mike DeWine and tell him to withdraw his endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy. The Ramaswamy campaign's latest despicable attack ad featuring Dr. Acton's estranged biological mother is just the latest demonstration of his lack of moral compass and unfitness to serve in public office.
With less than two weeks before the election, we must take every step to ensure Ramaswamy stays out of Ohio politics now and forever.
Write to DeWine at: https://governor.ohio.gov/contact
JO ANNE OFFILL
Canfield
Brown came to rescue
for public employees
DEAR EDITOR:
In response to the question in Sunday's Letters to the Editor, "What has Sherrod Brown ever done?" I have an answer. As an Ohio public employee, I was denied my entire Social Security by a law that stated that public employees did not deserve their entire amount because we had a public pension. However, we paid into Social Security.
Sherrod Brown introduced a bill to require the administration to give the full amount of Social Security to all public employees. It was passed by the House in November 2024, but by the end of December (and the end of the congressional year), it had not passed the Senate. Then Sen. Brown pushed the bill through without comments from the floor and made sure it was voted upon by midnight of the last day of Congress so that in 2025 we would all receive the full amount of Social Security we deserved.
I cannot tell you how that has helped both my husband and me, both of whom were public employees. This was one of many bills that former Sen. Brown helped pass to the benefit of his constituents. If you want to know more about his accomplishments, just look up his record. He is the man for the job! I only wish I still lived in Ohio.
GAYLE RIDGE
Pittsburgh
6 months after report,
SB 92 remains stuck
DEAR EDITOR:
Back in April, WFMJ-TV reported that Senate Bill 92 was on hold in the Ohio Senate. Six months later, nothing has changed.
The bill would fully exempt the primary residences of veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled, and their surviving spouses, from property tax. It received one hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, on Feb. 18, 2025. It hasn't had a second.
According to the VA's fiscal 2025 data, Trumbull County has 973 veterans with a 100% disability rating and Mahoning County has 1,009.
I served 11 years in the Navy, four on active duty, and worked as a Veteran Service Officer at the Sandusky Veterans Home. The Legislative Service Commission found a typical totally disabled veteran still paid about $2,450 a year even after Ohio's partial exemption.
Committee chairman Sen. Louis Blessing III decides whether the bill gets heard again. Six Senate session days remain before it dies Dec. 31.
Please call Chairman Blessing's office at 614-466-8068 and ask for a hearing and committee vote on SB 92.
JOSHUA HOUSE
Vermilion
Ramaswamy, Vance
lose all credibility
DEAR EDITOR:
Let us just think about this for a minute. Both Vivek Ramaswamy and JD Vance have daughters. What kind of cruelty and callousness make up their humanity that allow them to take advantage of another person's lifelong trauma.
Their daughters learn from them that sexual abuse is condoned. Their daughters learn that a victim of proven sexual abuse is a liar. They learn that a mother who abandons their children to support a pedophile is credible.
This is madness!
Everyone who has experienced sexual abuse at a young age lives with this trauma no matter how productive their lives have become. This is why this ad is designed to retraumatize and break down even the strongest survivor. The cruelty is beyond words.
Ramaswamy will never again be seen as credible to every God-fearing man or woman. JD Vance is already in a gutter of his own making.
I hope Ohio can restore its former roots as a state that recognizes the dignity of all of its citizens.
KATHLEEN BERRY
Youngstown
Signs with Jesus raise
questions on candidate
DEAR EDITOR:
I am still seeing campaign signs for Judge Mark Hanni stating, "Jesus is my Savior. Trump is my president." I find this troubling.
Judges are human beings, just like the rest of us. They have personal religious beliefs and political preferences, and they are entitled to them. But should those beliefs be featured on a judicial campaign sign?
Judges are entrusted with making decisions that affect people's lives, families, finances, and freedom. They must apply the law fairly, consider the facts, and treat everyone who comes before them impartially, regardless of political affiliation or religious beliefs.
Ohio's Code of Judicial Conduct emphasizes the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. A judge's personal beliefs may not determine how a case is decided, but campaign messaging that prominently identifies a candidate with a particular religious and political identity can raise questions about whether every person who enters that courtroom will receive equal and impartial treatment.
I would have concerns about appearing before a judge whose campaign sign sends this message. I don't know whether Judge Hanni's personal beliefs affect his judicial decisions, and I am not claiming that they do. But public confidence in our courts depends on more than a judge's actual impartiality. It also depends on the public's ability to trust that impartiality.
When voting for judges, we should look beyond party affiliation and personal beliefs. We should ask whether candidates demonstrate a commitment to fairness, independence and the equal application of the law.
Our courts belong to everyone. We deserve judges who inspire confidence that justice will be served without political or religious favoritism.
STEVEN PENELLA
Canfield
Have you no sense of
decency, Ramaswamy?
DEAR EDITOR:
If voters were looking for a clear indication of a candidate's character, they just got a very clear picture of Vivek Ramaswamy's. His most recent attack against Amy Acton reminded me of the confrontation between Joseph Welch, special counsel for the U.S. Army during the Red Scare era in 1954, and Sen. Joe McCarthy, who accused anybody who disagreed with him of being a communist.
When McCarthy attacked a young lawyer on Welch's firm, Welch interrupted him saying, "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
THOMAS BRENT
Struthers
New Dem majorities
must clean up messes
DEAR EDITOR:
As midterm election results are days away, I'm writing this in the hope there has been a "blue wave" to soak all Trump collaborators and make "The Boss" madder than a wet hen.
That's just a bit more mad than he already is.
Congratulations to every winning Democratic candidate. Remember this though, you're taking on serious duties to first clean up the mess. Leave prosecution of the mess makers for later.
The millstones of tariff taxes, a war chosen as an ego prop, frozen wages and rising costs, the cost of healthcare and housing, plagues of avoidable diseases, open grifting (enabled by Citizen United rulings on PACS), cash influence by unelected tech bros, selective denial of congressional funding to states and institutions he dislikes by a bullying administration, arrest, detention even murder of citizens with no verifiable evidence of wrongdoing, denial of First Amendment rights, destruction of the trust of allies and just about everything done by 47's miscreant executive orders must be taken off the necks of citizens.
That will be too much for a single term, but you must get started. With the trash tossed out, then start prosecuting the trash-making enablers. Otherwise, you may become just another batch of vengeful fools doing nothing for the body politic.
JIM CARTWRIGHT
Canfield
Trump's disaster
continues to hurt US
DEAR EDITOR:
The attack of the woman at the Trump rally in the Covelli Centre was a stark reminder of who this president is, and what kind of people still follow him. The video showed the woman being brutally punched by, as it turns out, a new New Jersey thug and follower of Trump's. That was horrible enough, but the cheering by those in attendance showed once again what kind of people support him. Mean spirited for sure, but more -- cruel and arrogant.
By this time, one would expect that even among the most recalcitrant followers, they ought to be saying what has this guy really done for me? Certainly, he hasn't made life easier for them. A war, Trump initiated, evidently as a lackey of Israel, has raised fuel prices, food prices and danger in an already dangerous world. For close to 60 years, the Republican Party, a party that should be nothing more than a perennial minority catering to the rich, has made wedge issues the key to success: the Red Scare, civil rights, women's rights, abortion, illegal immigrants, gay rights, and now the big transgender scare. None of these issues deal with a good economy and a sensible foreign policy.
But, they have worked to convince a large swath of people that they are more important than healthcare for all, clean air, water, and land, and a living wage. Trump and his subservient Republican Party has done this while pushing wealth upward at the expense of the worker. So, an election is at hand. One that Trump and his GOP state leaders are trying to suppress or discredit. We must fight this with all of our might. Throughout history, the vast majority of people have been ruled by tyrants, Kings, or dictators. America is still a place where democracy can and should prevail. Remember that on Nov 3. Vote for freedom.
FRANK WANAT
Poland