Welcome to The Portage County Ohio TEA Party

Traficant, who was a no-show at the group’s July meeting, spoke to a packed house in the cafeteria at Maplewood Career Center in Ravenna. Tuesday’s speech came about a week after the Mahoning County Board of Elections said the former congressman has enough valid signatures to seek his old seat in Congress this November.

The former Democrat was the hero of the night, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

“You’re looking at the only man put in prison with no evidence,” he said, claiming that his conviction on federal corruption charges stemmed from his clashes with the Justice Department and his defense of John Demanjuk, a Cleveland resident accused of war crimes.

Traficant pledged to push through the “Fair Justice Act,” which he said would investigate crimes within the justice department, and to abolish the income tax, replacing it with a 25 percent sales tax.

“This country’s bankrupt,” he said. “Stevie Wonder could see this coming.”

He acknowledged his lack of popularity in the media and in congress, and predicted that people probably wouldn’t read a good word about him in the newspapers.

“I’ll be on the ballot,” he said. “I don’t have much money. If you want to support me, I’d appreciate it if you’d put in a good word.”

Later, he accused area boards of election with “tampering with a federal election” when hundreds of signatures from four counties were disqualified.

“They couldn’t keep me off the ballot, so they kept me off until about five or six weeks before the election,” he said.

Brimfield residents Edward and Jeannette Tringhese eagerly stepped up to Traficant’s table after the speech was over.

“I saw what he did for the Mahoning Valley,” said Jeannette Tringhese, who said the couple formerly lived in that area. “He speaks up for the people. We could use some help.”

Doug Rice of Randolph said he would probably support Traficant.

“He speaks directly to the people,” he said. “He doesn’t do a lot of double talk like most of the politicians do.”

Joe Becker of Kent said Traficant raised some good points during his speech. 

Tom Zawistowski, executive director of the Portage County TEA Party, said there was controversy in the ranks when it was announced that Trafficant would address the group, and said many people called to say they were “embarrassed.”

“If Jim Traficant is going to be on the ballot, he has every right to be here,” he said.

www.recordpub.com/news/article/4890910

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