Local Trump enthusiasm high

November 22, 2019

The enthusiasm level for Donald Trump in the Mahoning Valley remains high as evidenced by a packed crowd hanging on every word spoken by U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, as he praised the president and compared Democrats to cockroaches. Nunes, R-Tulare, Calif., spoke last week to an audience of 560 at a Mahoning County Republican Party dinner at the Maronite Center in Youngstown. This came on the second day of the committee’s impeachment inquiry into Trump. Before Nunes arrived, I spoke with a number of people at the dinner to get ...

Tim Ryan poised for key House role

November 15, 2019

A recent announcement from a Gary, Ind., congressman that he wouldn’t seek re-election next year could result in a huge benefit to the Mahoning Valley. That Democratic congressman, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, heads the powerful House Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee. It’s the largest appropriations subcommittee, with a $622 billion budget. Visclosky’s retirement means U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland — should he win re-election next year to his 10th two-year term — is poised to become defense’s vice chairman or possibly its chairman. Of course, the Democrats ...

Election preparation and interesting races

November 8, 2019

Because of deadlines, reporters write outlines of election stories before the results come in. That's what I did before Tuesday's election. Uncertain about what would happen in Youngstown's 7th Ward council seat, I wrote two scenarios for the city council article. I wrote that it was a Democrat sweep with the assumption that Councilwoman Basia Adamczak won in the 7th Ward and another with Donald P. Scott becoming the first independent council candidate to be elected in 24 years. Instead, there was a tie. A tie? A tie! When I received the results at the Mahoning County Board ...

Money plays major role in races

November 1, 2019

“Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” While Tuesday’s election is a relatively low-key one — particularly when you consider the presidential election is next year — the amount of money in some of the local elections in the Mahoning Valley is noteworthy. The most expensive race in Mahoning County is for Youngstown Municipal Court judge. All three of the candidates seeking the six-year term loaned considerable amounts of money to their campaigns. Leading the way is Martin Hume, an assistant county prosecutor who won the Democratic primary in May. As of Oct. 16, Hume ...

Valley hopefuls rev up for 2020

October 25, 2019

I’m not trying to look past this election, but with the 2020 primary moved to March 17 because of the presidential race, the filing deadline for next year is right around the corner. Dec. 18 is the deadline for those wanting to run in the primary. That gives Republicans and Democrats less than eight weeks to turn in nominating petitions. In both Mahoning and Trumbull counties, there are elections for two county commissioners, prosecutor, recorder, treasurer, coroner, engineer, sheriff in addition to judicial seats. In Mahoning, there are three common pleas seats as well as domestic ...

Long-shot Ryan plays long game

October 4, 2019

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan has a plan for his presidential bid, but does his long-shot campaign have momentum to last? As long as Ryan’s campaign stays lean and he doesn’t burn through his limited funds, he can remain in the race. But surviving is not an effective way to run for president of the United States. He desperately needs to grow his campaign, and so far, he hasn’t shown signs of that. He recently made a solid addition hiring Dennis Willard to handle communications. But that’s not a permanent hire, and Ryan’s communications department has changed hands numerous times in its ...