In today's newspaper, Sunday, February 26, Bertram de Souza asked "What has happened to the GOPers?" He pointed out that in Mahoning County, only one Republican candidate is seeking countywide office.
Even the upstart Green Party has two candidates running countywide.
I think they have pretty much given up on the valley.
Bert knows the answer as well as I do, and that is that the county GOP needs a total overhaul from the bottom up ... a totally new leadership that has fire in its blood burning so hot and so bright that it will draw more qualified people to run for office, and this business of forcing candidates to foot the bill totally for their campaign has to be brought to a screeching halt.
Over the years a number of well qualified folks were willing to run for office under the GOP banner, but when they were told that the party wouldn't help them financially they walked away, and I don't blame them one bit.
A new chairman like Don Hanni wouldn't go amiss.
I've been back in the valley for 13 years now, after an absence of 28 years. And honestly I haven't a clue who the GOP Chairman is. I know where the HQ is as I went to pick up yard signs a time or two. But driving by there I never see anyone there.
I have doubts that they have any cash to help any possible candidates.
And my bet is that the State GOP has given up on the valley as well. Two years ago the Republican candidate for congress running against Tim Ryan didn't even have yard signs printed....
Awful leadership locally is the problem. They don't even try and it is sickening. I am declaring myself a Republican have about two contested races to vote in... President and US Senate. Other than that, nothing important at all.
Quote from: ytowner on February 26, 2012, 10:50:10 AM
Awful leadership locally is the problem. They don't even try and it is sickening. I am declaring myself a Republican have about two contested races to vote in... President and US Senate. Other than that, nothing important at all.
But what can be done about it?
Quote from: sfc_oliver on February 26, 2012, 10:55:19 AM
But what can be done about it?
Find a leader that is willing to take us to the next level. If I ever wanted to run as a Republican, something people have told me to consider doing down the road, I wouldn't stand a chance with the current leadership. Find someone well known locally that can drum up support and get people to vote GOP.
We are a top 10 county in terms of population, but probably in the 40s in terms of # of Republicans.
I couldn't agree with you more ytowner.
Politics is a blood sport and has to be fought with a no holds barred attitude, showing no mercy to one's opponent. The successful candidate has to have fire in his belly and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win, but he must also have a party leadership that will stand by him 100%, and that is what is lacking.
The last powerful chairman that the Mahoning GOP had was Det Anderson, and that man produced results, but no one today knows who he was because you weren't born yet. Strangely enough, Don Hanni patterned his chairmanship after Anderson.
It was suggested to me to run for a public office twice since I have been back. But I was too busy trying to make a living. Not so sure I would want the stress and headaches today..........
What it takes to be a sucessful politician:
1. Possess the ability to look folks streight in the eyes while lying through your teeth.
2. Few if any moral scruples.
3. The ability to do harm to your opponent and his family regardless of the consequences,
4. The gift of blarney.
5. A super ego.
6. Placing politics above even your family.
7. A willingness to accept bribes.
Quote from: Towntalk on February 26, 2012, 01:26:05 PM
What it takes to be a sucessful politician:
1. Possess the ability to look folks streight in the eyes while lying through your teeth.
2. Few if any moral scruples.
3. The ability to do harm to your opponent and his family regardless of the consequences,
4. The gift of blarney.
5. A super ego.
6. Placing politics above even your family.
7. A willingness to accept bribes.
I could probably handle number 5............
In the case of Youngstown, it might be very difficult for a GOP candidate to collect 25 valid GOP signatures in his/her ward.
I'm for nonpartisan elections in Youngstown.
Jay, what don't you understand about the fact that because of the failure of the Mahoning GOP leadership Mahoning Republicans have no option other than to either cross parties or stay away until Presidential elections.
It's too bad that Party Chairmen don't have to stand for election every four years so that the voters can force them out when they fail to do their job.
With each passing year, the condition within the Mahoning GOP grows worse and worse and it all comes down to the failure of the leadership here. If the leader doesn't provide the candidates how do you expect the Republicans to come out and vote a GOP ticket.
THE VOTER DO NOT PROVIDE THE CANDIDATES ... THE LEADERSHIP DOES, END OF DISCUSSION.
ONLY UNTIL WE TOSS THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP OUT ON TOGETHER COLLECTIVE EARS AND PUT IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE FIRE IN THEIR BELLYS LOCAL REPUBLICANS WILL JUST CONTINUE TO SIT OUT ELECTIONS.
Here's the names to point the finger at:
Mark E. Munroe
Chairman
Ed Crepage
Vice-Chairman
Donna Bricker
Chairwoman
Tracey Winbush
Treasurer
Alex Mangie
Assistant Treasurer
Megan Graff
Secretary
Committee members from Youngstown
YGN 2D Tracey Winbush Youngstown
YGN 3C Mr. Raymond Butler Youngstown
YGN 3G Ms. Jill A. Downie Youngstown
YGN 3H Mr. Richard Atkinson Youngstown
YNG 4A Mr. Kevin Wegendt Youngstown
YNG 4G Mr. Dominic Lucarelli Youngstown
YNG 4M Mr. Adam Costello Youngstown
YGN 5D Mr. Donald F. Komara Youngstown
YGN 5M Mr. Tyrone Peakes Youngstown
YGN 5N Don Priester Youngstown
YGN 6J Charles E. Rhodes, Jr. Youngstown
YNG 5H Mr. James Young Youngstown
YNG 5K Mr. Michael Gunger Youngstown
YNG 6A Mr. Jim Priester Youngstown
YNG 7B Mr. Myke Clarett Youngstown
YNG 7C Jeremy Haddle Youngstown
YNG 7M Mr. Robert Vukovich Youngstown
Quote from: Towntalk on February 26, 2012, 08:16:32 PM
Here's the names to point the finger at:
Mark E. Munroe
Chairman
Ed Crepage
Vice-Chairman
Donna Bricker
Chairwoman
Tracey Winbush
Treasurer
Alex Mangie
Assistant Treasurer
Megan Graff
Secretary
Committee members from Youngstown
YGN 2D Tracey Winbush Youngstown
YGN 3C Mr. Raymond Butler Youngstown
YGN 3G Ms. Jill A. Downie Youngstown
YGN 3H Mr. Richard Atkinson Youngstown
YNG 4A Mr. Kevin Wegendt Youngstown
YNG 4G Mr. Dominic Lucarelli Youngstown
YNG 4M Mr. Adam Costello Youngstown
YGN 5D Mr. Donald F. Komara Youngstown
YGN 5M Mr. Tyrone Peakes Youngstown
YGN 5N Don Priester Youngstown
YGN 6J Charles E. Rhodes, Jr. Youngstown
YNG 5H Mr. James Young Youngstown
YNG 5K Mr. Michael Gunger Youngstown
YNG 6A Mr. Jim Priester Youngstown
YNG 7B Mr. Myke Clarett Youngstown
YNG 7C Jeremy Haddle Youngstown
YNG 7M Mr. Robert Vukovich Youngstown
I know a few of these people. I believe leadership starts at the top. I believe Munroe's been in charge for quite some time and has produced lackluster results. These are good people, but they aren't doing the party any sort of benefit by not working to become VIABLE in this county!
Mahoning County GOP chairman as seen through the eyes of a voter.
Well with the board of elections run by the Democrat party chairman, that pretty much tells me that Republicans will never get anywhere. The head of the BOE has a vested interest in seeing to it that Republicans don't do well. That is not good at all.
Maybe the reason why the local GOP is missing is because their party's core values are
seen as being too ultra-right wing for many in this area?
The Director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections is Thomas McCabe.
The Board consists of two democrats and two republicans.
Sorry my bad. Betras is just a member, not the chair. Still a bad move.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/27/betras-sworn-in-to-board-of-elections-po/?nw (http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/27/betras-sworn-in-to-board-of-elections-po/?nw)
Dennis, this area is actually more conservative than you want to believe. The mainstream Democrat party made a shift to the left years ago but locally the Democrats never made that shift. Many Democrats that I have known, including my grandparents when they were alive, always voted the Democrat ticket but their views were actually conservative. I think many in this area are just wedded to tradition.
Rick:
Then the conservatives need to run as Democrats or Republicans or Independents.....
The bottom line is that conservatives need to run if they want to be in power.....
I have to agree with Dennis on this one. The so-called leadership in the Mahoning GOP is worthless beyond words ... DO YOU HEAR ME MONROE ... WORTHLESS AS A THREE DOLLAR BILL!
If the Young Republicans in Mahoning County had the backbone, they would gather up a petition to have the national party step in and have Monroe and his fellow travelers tossed out and a leadership team put in that has a BLAST FURNACE raging in their belly to gather up a whole slate of candidates, and then give them 1000% support all the way.