YOUNGSTOWN — When it comes to campaign money, the two Mahoning County commissioner races were at opposite ends of the financial spectrum.
More than $130,000 was spent in the race between incumbent David Ditzler, an Austintown Democrat, and Steve Kristan of Canfield, his Republican challenger, and both loaned money to their campaigns.
In the other commissioner’s race, incumbent Anthony Traficanti, a Poland Democrat, and Grant W. Williams of New Middletown, his Republican opponent, spent about $18,000 combined — and $10,000 of that went to pay Traficanti to reduce his long-time campaign debt. That payment was made Nov. 23, 20 days after the election.
During the post-general election financial period, between Oct. 15 and Dec. 4, Ditzler raised $4,875 and loaned $5,000 to his campaign on Oct. 29. During the same time, Kristan raised $2,470 and loaned $11,083 to his campaign.