Democrat McKelvey plans to attend GOP convention

The mayor sees himself as the president's 'go-to guy' in the Valley.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey, who crossed party lines to support the re-election of President Bush, said he will attend next week's Republican National Convention, would deliver a speech if asked, and is willing to film commercials to help the campaign.
Wooed for months by Republicans to endorse Bush, McKelvey, a Democratic mayor of one of the state's most Democratic cities, officially did so Monday in the office of the Manchester, Bennett, Powers and Ullman law firm.
McKelvey had repeatedly stated that his endorsement for Bush would be rather meaningless, and he had no intention to endorse either Bush or Democrat John Kerry. When asked about that Monday, McKelvey said, "The only thing constant in life is change. I changed my mind."
The mayor of the eighth largest city in Ohio also said it remains to be seen if his endorsement will mean anything. But former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, Bush-Cheney's Ohio Valley regional chairwoman, said the campaign doesn't see McKelvey's support as a meaningless endorsement.
"It's a courageous thing for him to do," she said. "It's very exciting that he asked to help the campaign."
To attend convention
McKelvey said he would interrupt a family vacation next week to the Caribbean to fly to New York City for one day, Tuesday, to attend the Republican National Convention and participate in an Ohio caucus meeting. McKelvey said he was invited to the convention by Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett, who he expects to foot the travel bill for the one-day trip to the convention. If asked, McKelvey would also speak at the convention.
McKelvey said he would do anything asked of him by the Bush campaign, including commercials. But he has no plans to switch his party affiliation.
"Once George opens his mouth on a commercial, he'll turn voters off," said Lisa Antonini, Mahoning County Democratic chairwoman. "What an amazing piece of work he is."
McKelvey said Republican officials have promised him nothing in return for his support. But he hopes the endorsement will strengthen his relationship with Bush, and benefit the Mahoning Valley.
Sees benefit for Valley
McKelvey said if Bush is re-elected, he would be the president's "go-to guy" on Valley issues. If Kerry wins, he says, local Democrats would have delivered for the presidential nominee, and they would help the Valley through their connections with the victor; essentially saying it's a win-win for the area.
Ohio is a battleground state in the presidential election, and officials with both campaigns say Kerry needs to get more than 60 percent of the vote in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to have a chance to win the state.
McKelvey said he has pondered this decision for several months, and decided to endorse Bush because he views this election "as the most important of my lifetime." McKelvey said he supports Bush's "war on terror" and the president's economic policies.
Bush and Republicans have courted McKelvey for quite some time. McKelvey sat next to Bush at a May 26 White House dinner. A day earlier, Bush was in Youngstown, and specifically praised McKelvey for his work as mayor. Bush had McKelvey greet him on Labor Day 2003 as he stepped off Air Force One on his way to a speech in the Cleveland area.
"Despite the Democrats' demonization of President Bush, he is a kind, caring, God-fearing man," McKelvey said. "This Democrat is proud to call President Bush his friend, and honored to have the opportunity to work with him on his re-election campaign."
McKelvey took a shot at the Democratic presidential nominee.
"Sen. Kerry reminds me of the traditional politician who will say anything you want to here to get elected," he said. "I fear that if I asked Sen. Kerry what he had for breakfast, he would ask me what I had, and then say, 'I had that too.' In my book when you stand for everything, you stand for nothing."
McKelvey said he wasn't asked to stand on the platform with Kerry during the presidential candidate's April visit. Kerry's campaign insists that wasn't the case.
Six local union members protested outside the Commerce Building, where McKelvey made his announcement, saying the mayor was wrong to support Bush.
skolnick@vindy.com