A former congressman from northeast Ohio wants to make a political comeback after serving seven years in prison for corruption.
James Traficant (TRAF'-eh-kehnt) filed petitions Monday morning to run as an independent in the region's 17th Congressional District. The seat is currently held by Democrat Tim Ryan, who once worked for Traficant.
Trumbull County elections board director Kelly Pallante (puh-LAHN'-tee) says Traficant came to the board's offices in Warren around 9:30 a.m. to file the paperwork. She says the petitions will be reviewed by a July 15 deadline.
The 68-year-old Traficant was elected to nine terms in Congress as a Democrat from Youngstown before serving time for racketeering, bribery and other crimes. He left federal prison in September.
