YOUNGSTOWN — With Youngstown council President Tom Hetrick not seeking reelection, two council members — Mike Ray and Anita Davis — said they are interested in succeeding him.

Ray, D-4th Ward, and Davis, D-6th Ward, said they plan to file nominating petitions for council president by Wednesday’s deadline to file for the May 6 Democratic primary.

The president runs city council meetings, but doesn’t get a vote under any circumstances.

The president also becomes mayor and fills out the unexpired term if a vacancy occurs. That happened once in the city’s history when Jay Williams left in August 2011 to work for the administration of then-President Barack Obama and Charles Sammarone, council president, became mayor.

Hetrick said he is choosing to not seek reelection after serving one term as council president “because I had different personal circumstances than I did four years ago. It doesn’t fit with my life where it is right now. It’s not a decision I came to lightly. I thought about it all year, and I ultimately decided I wouldn’t run this year.”

Hetrick said Ray and Davis would both make fine council presidents.

But Hetrick also said he’d recommend eliminating the position as a separate elected office and have members of council select a president from among themselves.

“I’m second in line to be mayor but have no authority except to call for motions at council meetings,” he said. “There should be more to it.”

Ray is the longest-serving council member, holding the position since 2010, and is council president pro tempore. He unsuccessfully ran for council president in the 2017 Democratic primary.

“I’ve enjoyed my time as a legislator and as council president, I would be able to serve as a bridge between council and the administration,” Ray said. “I’ll be able to focus on bigger picture things that affect the city as council president. I have the perspective during four terms on council to give a unique look at policies and issues.”

Davis is serving her second four-year term, reelected in the 2023 general election. During the Democratic primary for her ward seat, Davis finished in a 223-223 tie with Janet Tarpley, a former councilwoman, but was declared the victor after winning a coin flip.

A retired Youngstown police detective sergeant who spent 36 years with the department, Davis is chairwoman of council’s finance committee.

“As president of council, it’s more of an independent voice,” Davis said. “I see myself bringing more to the table. I will be more effective being outside the body, but still part of city government. Some people look at it as a step down. I don’t. I look at it as a step up.”

Council president is paid $28,117 a year, a little bit more than the $27,817 annual salary of a council member.

Also, there are term limits for council members that took effect with the 2023 election. Everyone elected in 2023 can run for reelection in 2027 and then have to sit out a four-year term before they could run again.

But council president and mayor don’t have term limits.

Hetrick got into the 2021 Democratic primary for council president as a write-in after DeMaine Kitchen, who was the incumbent, failed to gain enough valid signatures to get his name on the ballot. At the time, Kitchen was the only Democratic candidate to file for council president.

Hetrick beat Kitchen during the 2021 Democratic primary with both running as write-in candidates. Hetrick then went on to beat two independent candidates in the November 2021 general election to serve a four-year term.

“It has been a great honor to serve the city as president of council and I truly appreciate the support I’ve received, particularly from those who showed me the ropes at the beginning of my term,” Hetrick said. “I intend to finish out the term and I commit to helping the next president of council get trained and ready to start in 2026.”

Hetrick listed his highlights as “working closely with residents to keep dangerous, polluting operations out of our neighborhoods, working with members of council to ensure significant (American Rescue Plan) funding went to improvements to city parks for our youth, and lastly, an unforgettable visit to Youngstown’s sister city in Slovakia — Spisska Nova Ves.”