DEAR EDITOR:

The Nov. 18 Vindicator story on Mayor-elect Derrick McDowell was very encouraging. McDowell has demonstrated wisdom in your choosing to consider keeping Community Planning and Economic Development Director Nikki Fields, Law Director Lori Shells Simmons, Finance Director Kyle Miasek, Police Chief Carl Davis and Fire Chief Barry Finley in their current positions. They can hit the ground running on Day One with no learning curve to tackle.

I hope McDowell considers doing the same with other department heads who are already proven to be qualified and competent, doing good work for the people of Youngstown.

He can motivate them with the passion and drive needed to accomplish his vision to do great things for this struggling city, and he needs good, capable people to help accomplish those things. McDowell has stated he has a huge learning curve and needs to use every available resource.

Keeping Community Planning and Economic Development Director Nikki Fields focused on Youngstown’s economy is essential. Distracting her with the additional duties of a chief of staff would be a disservice to her, the city and our region. I hope McDowell encourages her to utilize existing resources in our region to their maximum potential before “reinventing the wheel” with duplicated efforts.

Our Western Reserve Port Authority is uniquely able to finance major industrial site development and construction, with bonds and specific tax advantages. Sophisticated communities (like New York City) have used Port Authorities for decades to develop and manage major projects. Our Regional Chamber is a natural for marketing our available sites and buildings, because being a Chamber of Commerce gives them instant credibility with businesses.

McDowell can start with the vacant Chill Can site and buildings, which should be turned over to our Port Authority to be managed and improved while being marketed with our Regional Chamber

The new Lake to River organization is linked to Gov. DeWine’s Jobs Ohio program and other resources. Their VP of Economic Development, Sarah Boyarko (as a guest columnist in the Sept. 12 Vindicator) explained the advantages of developing “shovel-ready” sites and move-in-ready “spec buildings” with necessary infrastructure and amenities.

Chief of staff is a vital, full-time position that is necessary to help the mayor-elect accomplish his vision. McDowell will need someone with deep institutional knowledge and the ability to manage and motivate department heads. He will need to rely on this person to give insightful advice whenever necessary.

My recommendation is Jamael Tito Brown. Remember that he assembled the department heads whom McDowell respects enough to keep. In the years that I have known him, Brown has earned my respect for his effective “servant leadership” style. He excels working behind the scenes and is dedicated to the needs of his community.

Appointing the man McDowell ran against and defeated would be unusual and unexpected, but McDowell’s style is unexpected and unusual, which is how he was elected.

JAMES J. PIRKO

Youngstown