From T-shirts to toupees...The Valley is getting ready to welcome home Jimbo.
The former Congressman is due to be released from federal prison September 2nd, after serving seven years for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.
"For seven years, I've been asked how's Jim Traficant doing, how's his health, tell him I said hello, tell him I can't wait until he comes out", says former Traficant aide Linda Kovachik, who's spearheading the event.
Staffers and supporters have planned a welcome home appreciation dinner for Traficant, and 1200 of his closest friends, at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman September 6th-- and tickets are going fast.
"Before we even got them in our hands, we had about 400 responses, so with that we had to divvy them out, we had 800 sold, now it's 900, we have 300 tickets left people", says Kovachik.
But not everyone's ready to roll out the red carpet. The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have scrapped their "Traficant Release Night" promotion on September 2nd after being flooded with calls and e-mails against the idea.
General Manager Dave Smith says in a press release, "The night was never planned as a celebration of his release, yet it's obvious that is how it is being perceived....In hindsight, there are likely better venues than a baseball game for the community to share their thoughts and feelings on Jim."
Public opinion appears equally divided.
"This guy went in there for doing something wrong, and now he's coming out having all these parties, it's like celebrating bad behavior", says Doris Norling of Austintown.
Kovachik says their party isn't political, just a chance to say thank you-- even though it's unclear if the guest of honor will be there.
"I don't ever think Jim would let me down, never happened, it says may, may not [be there] but believe me, I have trust that Jimbo will be there", says Kovachik.
