YOUNGSTOWN — Ex-Youngstown Mayor Charles Sammarone, convicted of two felonies, was viewed by many city council members as a mentor.

That’s why several of them said they are disappointed in Sammarone, who took a plea agreement to two counts of tampering with records.

Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th Ward, a retired Youngstown police officer, didn’t mince words.

“Now he’s an unmitigated crook,” she said. “He plead guilty. He’s a crook. He violated the public trust. It’s not out of need. It’s greed.”

Sammarone’s sentence of five years of probation and 30 days of supervised community service from Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Maureen Sweeney also didn’t sit well with Davis.

“He got a slap on the wrist,” she said. “He has to be held accountable. He accepted bribes. There’s no cleaning it up. I’m not happy he got probation. I hope his community service is a little humbling. I want him to be visible.”

THE GUILTY PLEA

Sammarone pleaded guilty last Monday to two counts of tampering with records for not reporting rental income derived from owning a condo in Florida on his 2012 and 2013 Ohio Ethics Commission financial disclosure statements and / or for accepting bribe money from a city contractor. John Shultz, Sammarone’s attorney, insisted his client never was bribed.

Raymond Briya, a former MS Consultants Inc. chief financial officer, pleaded guilty in September 2019 to attempted bribery — admitting he gave more than $100,000 in cash, meals, gifts and golf benefits to former city Finance Director David Bozanich, and at least $9,000 in cash to Sammarone to “corrupt” them in their official capacities with the city.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown — who succeeded Sammarone as council president in August 2011 — said he has “respect for the justice system. Mr. Sammarone had his day in court, the judge made her decision and I respect that. I wish the best for him and his family and moving on in the future.”

Asked if the convictions further damage the city’s reputation, Brown said: “I think that’s in the past. For me, the courts looked at it from the past. We’re looking for the future so I look forward to being able to shape the direction that Youngstown is going and the reputation we have now and in the future. The sooner we can get those things in the past behind us that will help us as Youngstown. People will realize there’s a new Youngstown and a new way of thinking.”

Davis sees it differently.

“We’ve had so many black eyes,” she said. “It doesn’t help the public’s faith in us. How much damage has this done to us as a whole? Look around us. How much further would we be along if it wasn’t for all this public corruption?”

MORE VIEWS

Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th Ward, said: “I believe justice was served. I hope this doesn’t leave a bad reflection on the rest of us in government. It’s disappointing every time something like this occurs. It’s all too common in Mahoning County. I hope we can turn a corner in Mahoning County soon.”

Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, said Sammarone “was always full of wisdom and knowledge. He said to do the right thing for the people. He was the only one I took advice from.”

Oliver said Sammarone’s convictions are “disappointing because he’s been a longtime great leader in the Mahoning Valley. But everybody’s fallen at some point. Everybody makes mistakes at times. The thing is Youngstown voters have to get rid of politics as usual. People think this is what we always do.”

Sammarone spent more than 32 years in city government. He was mayor from August 2011 to December 2013 and served as council president, water commissioner and 5th Ward councilman.

Nate Pinkard, who served eight years as the 3rd Ward councilman before his term expired Dec. 31, said he’s known Sammarone for decades.

“He was very helpful when I was on council,” Pinkard said. “He was a mentor to many people on council because of his longevity, his experience and he always gave me solid advice.”

Pinkard added: “I was a little disappointed. I was surprised” by the convictions.

Davis said Sammarone “was important to me. He gave me a lot of background that I found useful.”

That’s what makes Sammarone’s convictions even more upsetting, Davis said.

Sammarone was facing 14 counts: nine for bribery, three for tampering with records and one for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity — all felonies — and a misdemeanor count of falsification.

Sammarone apologized for his crimes, saying: “I made a mistake. I accept my responsibility.”

dskolnick@tribtoday.com