Tablack: I won't seek office in 2006

'Somebody's got to get in there and get under the hood,' Tablack said.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- George J. Tablack has reasons for returning to the Mahoning Valley as the county's new director of the Office of Management & amp; Budget, but running for office apparently isn't among them.
Tablack, the former county auditor, said Wednesday that he will not be a candidate for that post in the May 2006 Democratic primary.
"I left political life to take a position in government," said Tablack, who resigned last July to be chief financial officer for Palm Beach County, Fla. "I was quite satisfied in doing professional work, as I was as auditor" for nearly 19 years.
Tablack is coming back for two reasons: One, "I miss my family," he said; and two, because Mahoning County Commissioner David Ludt recruited him for the job.
Mahoning County Commissioners voted 2-1 on Tuesday to hire Tablack as budget director, effective immediately. Ludt and Anthony Traficanti voted to hire Tablack.
McNally's objection
Commissioner John McNally IV voted no, saying he disliked the way in which Tablack was hired. Commissioners had interviewed other candidates about two months ago, then decided not to fill the job, McNally said.
McNally said he didn't know Tablack was a candidate for budget director until Ludt gave him Tablack's application Monday.
Tablack said he doesn't understand McNally's objection, since Ludt openly acknowledges recruiting him. It's a matter of "form over substance, and a lawyer should understand that," Tablack said of McNally, who is an attorney.
"But you know what? I intend to gain his faith."
Tablack was in Youngstown last week for the Thanksgiving holiday. He met Ludt for coffee last Saturday before he returned to Florida, he said. That's when he gave his completed application to Ludt.
Tablack doesn't remember when Ludt gave him the application. Tablack has talked to Ludt "often" since he moved to Florida, he said.
Asked if Palm Beach County officials were surprised to receive his resignation Tuesday, Tablack said, "Yes and no."They knew that he had traveled back to Youngstown frequently, he said.
Questions of salary
Tablack railed at suggestions that his employment there was in jeopardy, saying he recently completed a probationary period and had received a $2,500 annual increase, bringing his salary to $122,500.
"Salary is not the driving force" in his decision to move back here, Tablack said. "That isn't my primary consideration. If it was, I would stay in Florida."
Tablack confirmed that he began collecting Public Employees' Retirement System benefits after he resigned as auditor.
Tablack's salary as budget director is still being negotiated, but he thinks it will be comparable to what he made as auditor, he said. When he resigned, his annual salary was $79,745.
The previous budget director, Elizabeth Sublette, earned $62,000 per year. She resigned nearly two years ago, and the job went unfilled until now.
"Somebody's got to get in there and get under the hood," Tablack said.
As auditor, Tablack advised the commissioners on finances. As budget director, Tablack will be working for the commissioners. "I understand the subservient role," he said, and he expects to work "quite well" with all three commissioners.
Tablack isn't saying he'll never run for office again.
shaulis@vindy.com