Trumbull commissioner wins Warren mayoral race

All incumbents running in city council races retained their seats.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Michael J. O'Brien pledges a new era of cooperation in his term as mayor.
"It will be something like has never been seen before coming from city hall," O'Brien said at a victory celebration at DiVieste's Banquet Hall, North River Road.
O'Brien is a Democrat, a Trumbull County commissioner since 1993 and a former city councilman. He handily defeated independent Joe Williams, a former city council president, and Republican candidate Randy Law. His victory came despite an ongoing county purchasing scandal that has already resulted in the indictment of the county's maintenance director.
Commissioners fired the maintenance director late last month, though O'Brien had advocated firing him weeks earlier.
Mayor Hank Angelo, first elected in 1996, didn't seek a third term.
Incumbents win
It was a night for incumbents running for city council races. Council President William Franklin easily fended off a challenge from Republican William B. Maurice.
Charles Burger, a Republican seeking an at-large council seat, fell well below the vote totals of Democratic incumbent councilmen Daniel E. Polivka, Gary Fonce and Robert A. Marchese.
Councilman Alford L. Novak, D-2nd, garnered more than double the votes of challenger Brian M. Cox to win another two-year term.
Democrat Vincent S. Flask defeated James J. Mann Sr., an independent, for the fifth ward council seat. Councilman Brendan J. Keating, D-5th, didn't seek re-election.
Cooperation
O'Brien said he'll begin his goal of cooperation with city council, which sometimes has had a contentious relationship with the present administration.
"From there, it will go to department heads and through all sectors of the city," O'Brien said.
He said he hasn't selected the people he plans to hire as staff members.
"I'll be making an announcement in the next two weeks of my key staff members," O'Brien said.
The mayor-elect acknowledges that he'll be taking over the city's helm at a difficult time with a sluggish local economy and a police department that's come under fire for reported brutality.
But he contends his ability to bring people together, which he's fostered through his years in public office, will help ease the strain.
O'Brien took some criticism from opponents during the campaign for being a "career politician" with 21 years in some elected office.
"I feel the voters have rehired me," he said.
denise.dick@vindy.com