How Long Can the Mahoning Valley Stay Democratic?
Local Democratic elected officials are in a pickle. The Mahoning Valley is obviously a bed of union activism, but not as much as it used to be. Outside of GM and the public employees unions, there isn’t a whole lot going on. As the area shifts to being a center of natural gas and oil production, the question arises as to when the area will actually shift Republican. Forbes Magazine mentioned the wealth that will be pouring into Eastern Ohio over the next ten years, but it is from a product which is not only frowned upon by today’s Democratic Party, it is downright demonized. The stated intent of Barack Obama and Democrats like him is to put the fossil fuel business out of business. An article in the Youngstown Vindicator unintentionally demonstrated the dilemma facing local Democrats. Jason Wilson, son of former Congressman Charlie Wilson, currently represents the Ohio 30th Senate District in Columbus. But he has been redistricted out as a result of Ohio’s loss of population. Unlike ...