Ex Ohio congressman James Traficant is dead at 73, Traficant fought for his constituents and as county sheriff stopped mortgage companies from putting people out of their homes during the height of America's foreclosure crisis

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, O hio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog . Tel: (216) 659-0463. ( www.clevelandurbannews.com ) / ( www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com ) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Democratic Congressman James Traficant is dead at 73. The controversial and colorful Traficant, who served some seven years in prison for convictions for taking bribes and kickbacks, died Saturday after a serious injury on his family farm in Youngstown, Ohio. Youngstown is a city of Mahoning County and is situated some 65 miles southeast of Cleveland. Also a former Mahoning County sheriff, Traficant was injured Tuesday after a vintage tractor flipped over on him . He died four days later in a Youngstown hospital. Traficant represented Ohio's 17th congressional district for 17 years and was expelled from Congress in 2002 following his convictions...