YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After more than a decade as one of the most prominent political figures in the Valley, Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras has announced his resignation. 

Betras announced this weekend that he had decided to leave the post he has held for more than ten years. 

Betras was chosen to spearhead the county's Democratic party on April 27th, 2009 to finish the unexpired term of Lisa Antonini. Antonini had previously resigned and later pleaded guilty to one count of honest services mail fraud for failing to report a $3,000 cash gift from an area businessman. 

Betras beat out two challengers for the seat, a feat he would repeat several times during his tenure. 

In 2010, the newly minted Party Chairman, Betras spearheaded the effort to bring back party endorsements in Mahoning County. 

That same year, he won a full four-year term as the party chairman. 

The following May, in 2011, the Mahoning County Democratic Party boasted that 100 percent of the endorsed candidates won their election. 

Betras faced his first major hurdle in office in 2012 when then-Secretary of State Jon Husted refused to appoint him to the Mahoning County Board of Elections. Betras was chosen by the board in 2012 to fill the seat of Michael Morley who resigned the previous year. 

However, Husted denied the appointment, citing Betras for "wrongful conduct" as treasurer of ex-Attorney General Marc Dann's transition account.

Jon Husted declared that Betras was not competent to serve on the elections board.

Marc Dann resigned in 2008 amidst a sexual harassment scandal then pleaded guilty in 2010 to improperly paying two aides from political and office accounts and failing to disclose campaign expenses. 

Betras made local headlines firing back against the Secretary of State, calling the accusations fictitious. Betras gained support from both the Mahoning County and Republican Party leaders at the time. 

Then-State Representative Bob Hagan and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern both backed Betras, calling Husted's accusations "baseless". 

In 2013, Betras would again make headlines, after removing several executive committee members from the roles in the party when they chose to back Youngstown Mayoral candidate Demaine Kitchen, rather than the party-endorsed candidate John McNally. 

Betras repeated the move again in 2017, also in the race for Youngstown Mayor, this time between independent Sean McKinney and endorsed-Democrat Jamael Tito Brown. 

Betras would go on to tell our print partner The Vindicator, "I'm not trying to quiet anyone, but when you accept a leadership position in the party, there are certain expectations."

The following year, 2014, would mark a turbulent year for Betras. Betras won reelection to his second term as Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman in June, beating two challengers and getting 70 percent of the vote. 

In addition to receiving a bomb threat, and a letter threatening his family, Betras then helmed the county party at a time of unprecedented defeats. 

Following the 2014 November election, Chairman Dave Betras remarked to 21 News, "we got killed". 

Democratic Party endorsed county auditor Michael Sciortino lost reelection to a political newcomer, Republican Ralph Meacham, who garnered 52% of the vote.

Sciortino, faced a  22 count criminal indictment for his alleged part in the Oakhill Corruption Case. He later pleaded guilty to the charges. 

The Vindicator reports that race marked the first time the Democratic Party lost a county executive office election in 30 years. 

That was also the election endorsed Democrat Susan Maruca would lose the County Probate Court seat to Republican Judge Robert Rusu and Republican John Kasich would win the seat for Ohio Governor over Ed Fitzgerald. 

2015 and 2016 marked a vocal span for Betras as he geared up for the 2016 Presidential election. 

Betras succeeded in bringing Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and others to the area to rally voters. 

In May 2016, Betras was quoted nationally by several outlets as writing a letter to the Clinton campaign, warning her of Trump's effect on the area. 

According to the Washington Post, Betras had to kick 18 members off his own Democratic central committee for crossing over to back Trump.

The Post wrote that Betras tried to convince the Clinton campaign that jobs were at the forefront of the Valley's, and the nations', concerns rather than some other campaign topics. 

However, he faced a never before seen wave of "crossover voters" who changed party lines to vote for Republican candidate Donald Trump. 

Still, Betras and the Democratic Party were able to hold Mahoning County, remaining one of only seven of Ohio's 88 counties where a majority of voters cast their ballots for Democrat Hillary Clinton.

50% of Mahoning County went for the Democratic nominee, compared to Trump's 47%.

Statewide, Trump got 52% of the vote compared to Clinton's 44%. Donald Trump ultimately secured the presidency. 

It marked the first time a Democrat had lost Ohio and Pennsylvania since 1988.

Despite the national tide, Betras was able to hang his hat on Mahoning County remaining blue. 

Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown both secured their seats again. 

Following Clinton's defeat, Betras would make local and national headlines for calling out Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper, and well as national leadership. 

Betras would run for reelection as party chairman again following the 2016 presidential race, and would again win. 

In 2017, Betras announced he was considering doing away with party endorsements due to a shifting political climate. However, after candidates pushed back, Betras told the Vindicator that he would keep them. 

In June 2018, Betras was reelected to the post of Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman. His term was set to end in June 2022.