Youngstown Mayor Charles P. Sammarone says he will be talking to his family over the holidays about the possibility of his running for election next year — a prospect he discussed with The Vindicator late last week.
While the field for the 2013 mayoral race has not been finalized, Sammrone’s presence would accomplish two things:
One, his candidacy would give the voters of Youngstown the opportunity to evaluate his performance in office since August 2011.
A veteran of city politics, Sammarone filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Mayor Jay Williams, who joined the administration of President Barack Obama. The retired city school educator was council president when Williams left, which resulted in his moving up to the mayor’s job. He has also served as water commissioner and 5th Ward city councilman.
Two, Sammarone’s presence in the race would give city residents a standard by which to judge the other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination next year. There are two who have already filed petitions: Commissioner John A. McNally IV, who chose not to seek re-election to the county office; and, Matthew Smith, who has run before.
There will be other candidates of substance by the time the filing deadline in February rolls around, which is why Sammarone’s presence in the race would be good for the city.
Regular readers of The Vindicator’s editorial page would not be surprised by our positive reaction to the prospect of the mayor being on the ballot next year.
We have unequivocally endorsed his agenda, foremost of which is to change the attitude of city employees with regard to those who pay their salaries: the taxpayers.
Sammarone has come with up with a saying about workers who don’t earn their keep that well applies to every level of government: “They’re stealing time.”
Think about it: Every minute a public employee does not spend doing the people’s work is a minute stolen those who pay his or her salary — the taxpayers.
Since taking office a year and four months ago, the mayor has laid down the law when it comes to city employees. Given that their base salaries are based on a 40-hour work week, he expects them to give the taxpayers their money’s worth.
“I’m trying to change attitudes,” he has said. “That’s a long and hard process. It’s one of the hardest things you have to do. Not everyone in city government, but some government workers have a tendency to do enough just to get by rather than make the best decisions. We have to be proactive, and not just reactive.”
Time clocks
After he had observed the culture of city hall, the mayor decided that accountability was required. As a result, he has installed time clocks — based on fingerprint identification — and is also installing GPS monitoring systems on most city vehicles.
Long time observes of city government can’t help but applaud Sammarone for doing what should have been done many years ago, namely, requiring city employees to justify their existence.
If Sammarone decides not to enter the race for a full four-year term next year, the question that must be asked is this: If the mayor steps down at the end of 2013, will his successor be committed to the agenda that the incumbent believes must be pursued as Youngstown’s population declines, the number of residents who pay income tax nosedives and the current size of government becomes unsustainable?
Comments
Continue to up the heat on the feds don't let the Cafaro's pay to have this swept under the rug.
Especially now with the Cafaro family wanting to install their puppet McNally as mayor.
Anyone that would vote for McNally as mayor needs their head examined especially with this clout of taint hanging over him.
McNally needs to come clean as far as how much money and gratuities he has taken from the Cafaro's over the years.
I've been thinking the same thing, Flick . . i use to like McNally....but yes, he's involved with " Mr. C" which to me , is scary, , , , they swept everything under the rug , , as per usual with politics in this area . . . and i decided he'll never get my vote. You sure hit the nail on the head!
Really?! It is so common knowledge that Sammarone has his hand out constantly. For decades now. Contractors, Developers, Employees. You name it just ask around. How many retired school teachers do you know drive around new Caddies and are members at Tippy? Its common knowledge around town. And stealing time? How does his YMCA trips fit into that. He lives down there. Everyone sees him he dont even try to hide it.
Oh don't worry the voters will most definately decide his fate!
Vindy,"We have unequivocally endorsed his agenda"
Beautiful.
The Mayor has done a great job saving the city tons money. He's done this while being a hypocrite. Its ok for him to have 3 pensions and make tons of taxpayer money while doing very little, but that is the exact thing he has fought against during his time as Mayor.
Compared to Jay Williams, he looks like the greatest mayor the city has ever had. But he has to look in the mirror every day and live with the hypocrite he has become.
Im afraid for the city and what the next four years may be like. Do we have a potential mayor that can the lead the city through the most important four years since the closing of the mills? I think Sammarone would do a decent job, but will he stay the entire four years? Probably not. Probably would just insert his cronie Tito after a few years. Tito is dumb enough to believe we need 3 judges, so he doesn't have the mental capacity to be mayor.
This leads me to one person i would have faith in voting for, but he hasn't declared yet and he would only run as an independent. Phil Kidd. The man that i've seen cleaning the side of the road when theres no cameras on him and when nobody was watching. The man that believes so much in the downtown revival that he moved to a downtown apartment and opened a downtown business.
The next four years are so important, we need someone who cares and will work every minute to improve the city. That is Phil Kidd.
I would like to see a contested primary and to support an independent like Phil Kidd. It is certainly appropriate to thank Mayor Sammarone for his public service as he retires or serves as a consultant. Youngstown is at a crucial crossroads developmentally and it is time for positive, dynamic leadership!! (I will never say the words "hope and change" ever again).
A McNally- Kid general election would give voters two qualified canditates next November.
let's think outside the circle . Let's dispense with the Primary & the smoke filled rooms . Let everyone who wants run as an Independent . It will soon become obvious which candidate has the best public support base & the best electibility . At that stage , Parties can decide whether they wish to offer an endorsement & candidates can decide whether to accept endorsement - all done in public view . I mean ... nobody wants a Mayor who is only a party hack or corporarte crony , do they ?
Sammarone's a great drill serjeant , but a poor brigadier . Youngstown needs vision & the ability to communicate it . It needs to modernise its processes . This takes someone "tech savvy" rather than someone who is proud of his inability to use a computer .
Maybe he could be a deputy of some sort ?