Bill Clinton visits local fundraiser

Event raises $125,000 for wife’s campaign

By AMANDA SMITH-TEUTSCH / Tribune Chronicle
CANFIELD — About 100 people, each contributing $1,000 to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign to win the Democratic nomination for president, schmoozed with former President Bill Clinton Tuesday.

The invitation-only event raised at least $125,000 for the New York senator’s war chest, said Harry Meshel, local head of the Clinton campaign. It was held at the Canfield home of Bruce Zoldan of Phantom Fireworks.

“It went even better then we expected,” Meshel said. The former president spoke on a range of topics and also touched on the importance of the Mahoning Valley in his wife’s win in the Ohio primary.

“He said that she remembers where she’s been, and she knows the importance of the area in winning Ohio,” Meshel said of the former president’s speech. “He talked about a range of topics from history to current events to the future,” he said, “and the need to have someone in office who is experienced and confident.”

Two security checkpoints were set up for those wishing to get inside to meet Mr. Clinton. The first checkpoint was set up at the front gate, which was styled like wrought iron and hung between massive concrete pillars. Mahoning County Sheriff’s deputies Robert Smith and Don Belasic manned the gate and let guests, valets and workers pass. Guests were checked again at the front door by more deputy sheriffs and Secret Service agents.

“The deputies here have all worked Mr. Zoldan’s parties before, so we know the drill,” said Belasic. There are several parties each year where deputy sheriffs are hired to help with security, he said.

Belasic said the Secret Service didn’t tell the sheriff how many agents they had on site, or if the house had extra security measures installed for the former president’s visit.

“Honestly, I don’t think that house needs any more security than it already has,” he said of the Zoldan family home.

Half of the guests were still in their cars lining neighboring driveways and the street when the former commander-in-chief arrived.

Escorted by several sheriff patrol cruisers, he rode at the front of the 10-car convoy and quickly was swept into the Zoldan estate just after 7:30 p.m.

Two hours later, the party was still going.

“It’s a pretty quiet street normally,” said neighbor John Dellick, 13. He and his friends built a snow bank and packed it down so they could stand higher and wave as the convoy passed.

“I saw Mr. Clinton. He had his glasses on and he waved at us,” said Dellick who from his vantage point had a clear view of the former president.

“Seeing the president is pretty cool,” said his friend, Michael DiRenzo, 9.

The 100 invited guests each contributed a minimum of $1,000 to the campaign. Some, like Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains, who arrived smoking a cigar, proudly proclaimed he’d bought his own ticket. “Although the last time I met Bill Clinton, I got shot six months later, we’ll see what happens this time,” Gains said.

Others, like Youngstown’s Kelly Pavlik, middleweight boxing world champion said he hoped he’d be comped.

“I guess we’ll see when we get to the door,” he jokingly said. He said he was a Clinton supporter, having met U.S. Sen. Clinton at a rally held in her honor at Austintown Fitch High School. He took a pair of boxing gloves to present as a gift to the former president.

The event was catered by Jeffery Chrystal Catering. Three bartenders, three chefs plus Chrystal, prepared the hors d’oeuvres menu, which included stuffed mushrooms, cheese and bread trays, seafood and lamb.

Zoldan was co-host of a fundraiser last summer for Clinton’s rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

The former president made several campaign stops in Ohio prior to the March 4 primary, but did not come to the Mahoning Valley.



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