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YOUNGSTOWN -- In the last 22 years, Henry J. Gomez's journalism career has produced many blooms and branches, and perhaps the main harvest came from his Youngstown roots which, he says, places a high emphasis on treating others fairly.
"I try to be nice, I try to listen and I don't judge. I found that you can do a lot by being a human being," Gomez said about core values he upholds as a longtime reporter. "Youngstown shaped my career and life in many tangible and intangible ways."
Gomez, who lives in Medina, was the keynote speaker for the Youngstown Press Club's annual meeting and dinner Wednesday evening in Stambaugh Auditorium.
In his 40-minute presentation, "How Youngstown Prepared Me for a Career in Political Journalism," Gomez shared a series of anecdotes, recollections and stories related to his career. He is now the senior national political reporter with NBC News.
Gomez, a 1999 Boardman High School graduate, recalled for his audience of about 60 media members and others his burgeoning interest in writing, the seeds of which were sown as a student at Boardman Glenwood Middle School, then with the Boardman High Bugle newspaper. While at Boardman High, he also was on the speech and debate team, a decision that further whetted his appetite for pursuing a possible career in politics, he said.
As a child, Gomez envisioned being a movie critic, he remembered.
After high school, he joined the staff of The Jambar, Youngstown State University's newspaper, and was its editor-in-chief. He also worked as a night copy editor for the Tribune Chronicle in Warren, then worked as a reporter, where he began covering city council meetings in Newton Falls.
"The code was, 'Meet me at McDonald's (on nearby state Route 534) if you want a scoop,'" he quipped.
Gomez also became highly intrigued with the political theater, bombast and drama surrounding former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., whose "unpredictability required you to hang onto his every word," he recalled.
Gomez also covered Traficant's trial on federal corruption charges for which the former nine-term congressman served seven years in prison after having been convicted on 10 felony counts that included bribery and racketeering. Traficant was expelled from Congress in July 2002.
Gomez, who also worked four years for BuzzFeed News, where he covered Joe Biden's and Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaigns, recalled Wednesday having been in South Bend Ind., with Buttigieg when he received a tip that former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan announced his bid to run for president. Later, Gomez got a tip from former Mahoning County Democratic chairman Michael Morley that Ryan planned to run for a U.S. Senate seat, he said.
Buttigieg now is the U.S. transportation secretary.
The seasoned reporter also discussed his coverage for the Cleveland Plain Dealer of another colorful political character: former Cuyahoga County Commissioner James C. Dimora.
Dimora, who served in that capacity from 1998 to 2010, was convicted in 2012 on more than 30 charges in a pay-to-play scheme he and the former county auditor had established in local government. Dimora, now 67, received a 28-year prison sentence, though last year, the term was reduced to 23 years.
Gomez also recalled a woman connected to Dimora who worked for a gentlemen's club and whom Dimora considered "a political fixture, but didn't keep regular hours." After inquiring about the situation at the next meeting, the disgraced county commissioner became angered and Gomez was ejected from the session, he said.
Evidence during his trial included a wiretap of Dimora talking to a friend and business associate about rendezvousing with prostitutes during a 2008 trip to Las Vegas, according to www.cleveland.com.