Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant will not be on the November ballot running as an Independent in Ohio's 17th congressional district, the Trumbull County Board of Elections ruled moments ago. Traficant's supporters fell 107 signatures short of the 2,092 signatures needed from registered voters in the four counties the district covers, officials explained.
"We're not done yet. We're going to appear," a Traficant supporter, Rick Berger, told reporters following the ruling.
Berger said he received a call in February from a person he did not name allegedly warning him that Traficant's name would never appear on the ballot.
Berger blamed Traficant's enemies for today's ruling.
Traficant represented the 17th congressional district from 1984 until his conviction on bribery and racketeering charges in 2002. He was released from federal prison last September.
“I’m going to run,” Traficant declared before some 35 members of The Biz Society assembled at the Rosetta Stone restaurant downtown to launch the group’s Youngstown chapter.
Traficant said he still isn’t sure which district he’ll throw his hat in, but he has nominating petitions circulating in three congressional districts-–the 17th, the 6th and the 16th. And, the former congressman noted he hasn’t decided on whether to run as a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or perhaps on another party ticket.
“I’m going to run for Congress somewhere,” he said.
Let the games begin. Of course for a lot of us the only difference between Traficant and the majority of the folks who inhabit the halls of Congress is the fact that he actually got convicted.
My advice to him, however, is to run on the Democrat ticket; that way the media will ignore all past transgressions. I can't wait for the coming soundbites.
Considering how low the Congressional Democrats have been polling of late, it's not a stretch to think this guy has a decent shot at winning a seat next year. At least while he's been in jail he hasn't been bankrupting our country like his fellow Democrats.
Former Rep. James Traficant, who was recently released from prison after serving seven years for corruption, said Thursday that he is "proud of being an ex-con" and may try to return to Congress.
Traficant, a Democrat who was elected to nine terms from Youngstown before he was kicked out of the House, said he will circulate nominating petitions in three House districts. He didn't specify which, but the three districts closest to his hometown are all held by Democrats.
He deflected a question on whether he would run next year as a Democrat, Republican or independent, saying that would be decided in time.
Traficant said some supporters have suggested that he run for president. "I have more of a national following than I realize," said Traficant, who didn't rule out a White House run.
He said he will decide on his political plans next month. He discussed his options at a news conference at which he pitched the idea of a Youngstown-area casino run by Native Americans. The required tribal status is pending, he said.
Traficant, in a wide-ranging news conference streamed live in Youngstown, displayed his typical freewheeling style, alleging prosecutorial misconduct in his case, criticizing Ohio for omitting Youngstown from a November ballot issue that approved casinos in four bigger cities, and denouncing an old nemesis, the Internal Revenue Service.
Traficant offered to help anyone facing scrutiny from the IRS and laughed at his self-described role as ex-con ex-congressman. "I'm proud of being an ex-con, by the way," he said.
He was released in September after serving time for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.
Traficant, whose wild hair contributed to an offbeat reputation, was convicted in a raucous trial in 2002 of bribery and racketeering for accepting bribes from businessmen and taking kickbacks from staff members. He then was expelled from Congress, only the second House member since the Civil War to be ousted for unethical conduct.
Really, is there ever a good time to embarrass yourself nationally? OK, these are Democrats, after all, so they have plenty of experience. Well, now he folks in Ohio seem to be a little ashamed that for Congressman James Traficant will soon be released. I must say he's really elevated his sense of sartorial splendor behind bars.
Critics of James A. Traficant Jr. say the ex-congressman’s release from prison and a party welcoming him home make it appear as though the Mahoning Valley embraces political corruption.
Traficant is to be released Wednesday from federal prison after serving a little more than seven years for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.
About 1,000 tickets have been sold to an event Sunday at Mr. Anthony’s banquet hall in Boardman to celebrate Traficant’s release.
“They’re trying to make him out to be some kind of hero coming back from war,” said Austintown Trustee David Ditzler.
Ditzler was Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman from 1999 to 2002, relinquishing the position a few months before a federal court found Traficant guilty of all 10 felony charges he faced.
“The party is a slap in the face to the Valley,” Ditzler said. “It’s a little deplorable. I’m kind of appalled that there would be such an event.”
During Traficant’s seven-year absence, the Valley’s image has “improved dramatically,” Ditzler said.
He points to U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, who replaced Traficant in Congress, as being a leader and someone who’s helped restore the area’s longtime tainted reputation.
“This is not the time for our community to embarrass ourselves nationally” with an event to celebrate Traficant’s release from prison, said state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th.
“Honoring him in any way, shape or form doesn’t do the community any good,” said Hagan, who lost the 2000 Democratic primary for a congressional seat to Traficant.
Despite being found guilty on all counts, Traficant has “never admitted guilt or apologized to his supporters or our community,” Hagan added.
Traficant was also the fifth member of the U.S. House to be expelled, and only the second since the Civil War.
“I’m struck by the fact that some people feel all politicians are guilty of some form of corruption,” Hagan said. “That’s a slap in the face of those, like myself, who have integrity. Not all of us are corrupt. [But politicians are labeled that way] when you consider people who commit crimes to be heroes.”
The welcome-home event for Traficant, who isn’t expected to attend, though organizers invited him, will bring “national embarrassment” to the area, Hagan said.
In case you don't recognize him from the above photo, taken in prison several years ago, perhaps this will jog your memory. I always marveled at that thing on top of his head.
Traficant was also famous for his speeches on the House floor, which usually ended with him saying "beam me up, Mr. Speaker."
Here's some old video.
And another gem before he was booted from Congress.
