WARREN Council president resigns for new position

As safety service director, William Franklin will earn $73,635 a year.
By STEPHEN SIFF
and PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- William Franklin will resign his position as city council president to become safety service director in the incoming administration of Michael O'Brien.
Franklin, 46, who goes by Doug, cruised to re-election to a third term as council president in November. He will take office after O'Brien is sworn in as mayor in January.
The Democratic Party will select a replacement for Franklin, officials said.
Franklin, a 25-year General Motors employee and lifetime Warren resident, also served three terms as a councilman-at-large and three terms as a 4th Ward councilman.
He began as a 4th Ward councilman in 1990.
"I hope to really be a reflection of the spirit of cooperation that is really needed in the city," Franklin said, after O'Brien announced the appointment Friday.
As safety service director, Franklin will earn $73,635 a year, about $3,000 less than the mayor, according to the city's human resource department. He will be in charge of all city departments, including police and fire. Franklin and O'Brien both emphasized how well everyone will work together once they take office.
In past elections, Franklin has said that his top priority as an elected official is to let citizens have input in the legislative process and to bring government closer to the community.
"I'm very confident that the O'Brien-Franklin administration will bring in a new spirit of cooperation the city has never seen before, O'Brien said.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos, who has frequently clashed with outgoing safety services director Fred Harris, said he has always had a good relationship with Franklin.
"We have always worked real well together, and I don't see a reason for that to change," Mandopoulos said. "He knows an awful lot about the city -- how it runs and where it is going to be needed. He knows what the people want."
A Homewood Avenue resident, Franklin grew up in Warren and graduated from Warren Western Reserve High School. He also earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Kent State University.