In mayor's race, O'Brien prepares to stress unity

The Democratic nominee faces opposition from four opponents in November.
& lt;a href=mailto:dick@vindy.com & gt;By DENISE DICK & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Michael J. O'Brien says he'll reach out to the supporters of his Democratic opponents before the November election to focus on repairing the city.
"Our city is in need of repair of not just our streets, but repair of positive attitude," O'Brien said after handily winning the Democratic nomination for mayor.
He believes that by pulling different factions -- starting with city council and the administration -- together, some of the separation and gridlock that's gripped the city in recent months can be alleviated.
O'Brien defeated four others, Fred Harris, safety-service director; Patricia Leon-Games, former city treasurer; Manuel Michelakis, former water department head; and James Nutt, a former interim fire chief, to win the Democratic nomination. Harris, who came in second in the race, garnered less than half the votes O'Brien drew.
Law director
Greg Hicks, law director since 1992, staved off a challenge from Democratic challenger Koula Glaros-King, an attorney in private practice who also challenged Hicks four years ago.
No Republicans or independents filed for the law director's post.
"It's always gratifying and humbling to see the number of people who supported me," Hicks said.
He pointed to his running a positive campaign as a factor in his win.
"My opponent decided to go negative," Hicks said. "We promised to not go negative and to give the voters what they deserve -- four more years of excellent legal service."
General election foes
O'Brien, a Trumbull County commissioner since 1993 and a former city councilman, faces opposition in the general election from Republican Randy Law and independents Lee DeJacimo, a city water department employee and president of the AFSCME chapter that represents city workers; Joe Williams, a former city council president who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1999; and Dominic Venetti Sr.
He believes his message of addressing deteriorated streets and opening city parks resonated with voters, and he plans to continue with that message in the general election campaign.
"It was a reaction to hard work not just for the last three months but over the last 21 years," O'Brien said.