Felon ex-congressman Traficant makes Nov. 2 ballot to run for US House in Ohio

Ex-congressman certified for Nov. 2 ballot in Ohio

WARREN, Ohio — A former Ohio Democratic congressman who served time in federal prison for corruption has won a place on the Nov. 2 ballot to again run for a U.S. House seat, this time as an independent.

The Trumbull County elections board ruled Wednesday that Jim Traficant (TRAF’-eh-kehnt) had qualified for the ballot in northeast Ohio’s 17th district with 2,154 valid petition signatures, 11 more than required.

Director Kelly Pallante (pah-LAN’-tee) says other county elections boards in the district would be notified to place Traficant’s name on the ballot. Traficant will face Republican Jim Graham and a former aide, four-term Democrat Tim Ryan.

Traficant represented the Youngstown area for nearly two decades before his 2002 conviction. He was known for his distinctive toupee, wild hairstyle, bellbottom pants and one-minute floor speeches punctuated with the “Star Trek” catch phrase: “Beam me up.”