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Franklin gains rare council endorsement in run for Warren mayor
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Doug Franklin
Al Novak
Jim Graham
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Seven of the 10 members of Warren City Council will announce their support today for Doug Franklin for Warren mayor in Tuesday’s primary election.
Councilmen Al Novak and Vincent Flask said they felt strongly enough about supporting Franklin that they asked their fellow council members to sign a letter of support.
Novak said that in the 20 years he’s been on council and in the years before that he can remember, council members never formally endorsed a mayoral candidate in this way.
“I think basically Doug knows the ropes and how to deal with things,” Novak said. “In negotiations, things go better when you know the person.”
Franklin’s opponent in the Democratic primary is Jim Graham, president of Local 1112 of the United Auto Workers union at GM Lordstown, who is running for government office for the first time.
Novak said the years to come will be critical for the city, the state and the country.
“It’s going to take unity with our elected officials, and Doug is basically a peacemaker,” Novak said.
A press conference will be at 1 p.m. at the gazebo on Courthouse Square to make the announcement, Flask said. He would not identify the seven supporting Franklin or the three who declined to sign the letter.
Councilman Bob Dean has stated his support for Franklin in the past, and Councilman Dan Sferra said Wednesday he also supports Franklin. Council President Bob Marchese has stated his support for Graham.
When told of the Franklin endorsement, Graham said of the seven council members: “Obviously they’re satisfied with the status quo. I am not.
“Obviously they [the seven council members] have not driven around the city and seen the condition of it and the fact that we’re losing businesses and the condition of the streets.”
Graham has said that as service-safety director the past 71/2 years, Franklin has failed to reduce blight, drug dealing and prostitution.
Sferra and Mayor Michael O’Brien participated in a press conference Wednesday at Franklin’s campaign headquarters to announce their support for Franklin.
“I think Doug will be a good person and a good mayor,” said Sferra, who was Warren mayor for 16 years.
Comments
Overwhelming support again goes to Doug Franklin for Mayor. In addition to the major unions of the AFL-CIO deserting their fellow union man Graham, 7 of 10 regular Council members now endorse Franklin. Of the three who didn't sign, Dippolito said he doesn't support anyone (duh), and Brown and Marchese are ardent supporters of Graham and part of his Sunrise Inn strategy team. Perhaps Marchese remained "neutral", just like the Dems are doing with Obama, fearing their association may derail their own reelection bids. Nevertheless voters, your choice is clear. Doug Franklin is the clear choice for Mayor of Warren. Get out and vote next Tuesday, May 3rd.
graham cant even get support from warren steelworkers. thats what happens when gm does away with skilled trades and outsources jobs hundreds of jobs to nonunion substardard paying companies owned by republican supporters .Not a peep out of graham . former mahoning Republican chairmans companies are always at lordstown too. Where is Graham?Graham wants to call himself a democrat???I guess that makes his buddy Kasich a democrat too
I truely feel sorry for the citizens of Warren. Because neither one of the candidates seem to have a grasp on the real problems facing the city. Doug Franklin has been in Gov't for a long time. What has he really done? Jim Graham might be a breathe of fresh air that Warren needs, but he doesn't really have any experience in Gov't. Its a crying shame that there isn't Republican on the ballot to offer a different view on things.These two seem to copy one another in their speeches