Well-wishers pack rare event

The $35-a-ticket gala was a sellout.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mayor Jay Williams says he will do everything he can to live up to the name of his inauguration celebration, "A New Beginning."
If Friday's event is any indication, Williams, serving his first week as the city's 47th mayor, will have a lot of people there to help and encourage him.
Close to 800 people packed Stambaugh Auditorium's ballroom, the largest crowd for a dinner event at the historical building, gala organizers said. Also, more than 200 people who wanted to attend the $35-a-ticket event were turned away.
"It's a humbling experience," Williams said. "I'm absolutely surprised with the turnout. For the people who had their money returned, I apologize for that, but we had only so much room."
The inaugural ball is the first for a Youngstown mayor in more than 25 years. Because of the success of Friday's event, Williams said he wants to have a mayor's ball every year or two.
Profits from the gala will go to charitable causes benefiting city children, he added.
Contributions
Besides ticket sales, the inaugural celebration committee received $25,000 from various businesses, agencies and citizens to help defray the event's cost.
Among those giving $1,000 include the Cafaro Co.; businessman Bruce Zoldan and his wife, Rori; the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown; Brilex Inc.; National City Bank; MS Consultants; and Butler Wick Corp.
The diversity of those attending Friday's event was hard to miss. There were people of all colors, Democrats and Republicans, members of the clergy, business leaders, city officials, and residents of the city and the suburbs.
Williams is the city's first black mayor and the first independent candidate elected to the office in about 80 years.
Williams said he will focus the next four years on making Youngstown a better and safer place to live and work.
"It's a lot of pressure because there's a lot of responsibility," he said. "I want to be realistic with the challenges we face. It's very daunting."
Anticipating collaboration
Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien, who attended the gala, said he is excited about working with Williams on issues that will benefit not only the area's two most populous cities but the entire Mahoning Valley.
O'Brien said he wants to give Williams some time to get his feet wet as mayor, and then wants to meet with him to discuss regional issues.
"We'll finally be able to reunite the two cities to energize the area," O'Brien said. "A working relationship between the two cities has been missing for years."
State Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. of Youngstown supported state Sen. Robert F. Hagan, the failed Democratic candidate, in the November mayoral election. At Friday's event, Patton said he will do whatever he can to help Williams succeed as mayor.
"He's a great person, and I think he's going to do a super job," Patton said.