YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains is calling for the firing of Youngstown City Prosecutor Jay Macejko.
Gains also wants the Mahoning County Democratic Party to take back its endorsement of Macejko.
It all stems from a lawsuit filed against the city of Youngstown by an assistant city prosecutor who said his civil rights were violated and he was the target of discrimination by the city prosecutor's office.
The case was settled and now Gains is releasing what he says is part of the court record in the case.
But the Democratic Party chairman says it's really dirty politics by a desperate man.
In a news release issued late Tuesday, Gains claims Macejko and Assistant City Prosecutor Brett Hartup exchanged text messages that included racial comments.
Gains says one of the men described President Obama's stimulus package as, "Three pieces of chicken, a pack of Kool Aid and a dime bag." Gains does not say which man allegedly made that comment in the text.
But he told 21 News it didn't really matter since as the supervisor of the prosecutor's office, Macejko was responsible even if he only received the text.
Calls made to Hartup for comment were not returned.
In a statement to the media Macejko said he was not aware of where the text came from, he's never discriminated against an employee and even predicted Gains would attempt to smear him.
Macejko says. "When I announced my intention to run for this office, we were warned that my opponent and his media firm would attempt to smear me and would eventually make unfounded accusations."
He went on to say he did not write the text message concerning Obama and finds it offensive.
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Dave Betras says he has no intention of revoking Macejko's endorsement and stands by him as the party's candidate
The two candidates will face each other in a live debate Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. on 21 WFMJ.
