Jason Whitehead resigns to take position on Williams' Cabinet

By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The head of the city's downtown redevelop agency is leaving his post, effective Dec. 31.
Jason T. Whitehead is resigning as Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp.'s executive director to take a Cabinet-level job in the incoming administration of Mayor-elect Jay Williams, sources say.
The same sources say Whitehead would be Williams' right-hand man in a position that could be called chief of staff.
Williams recently said the job, currently called secretary to the mayor, which pays $63,413.74 annually, would be renamed, probably as chief of staff, and the person selected for the position would have significant responsibilities in his administration. Williams hasn't determined the job's annual salary.
Williams declined to comment on Whitehead's appointment Monday, saying he anticipated announcing who would be his chief of staff sometime in the next week.
Whitehead, CIC head since June 2003, also declined to discuss going to work for Williams. Whitehead said he will tell the CIC board next Tuesday about his future plans.
Campaign involvement
Whitehead was involved in Williams' successful campaign for Youngstown mayor.
As of Oct. 19, Whitehead gave $1,500 to Williams' mayoral campaign, making him one of its largest individual donors. Contributions given between Oct. 20 and last Friday will be filed this Friday with county election boards.
Before leading the CIC, Whitehead spent 10 years as corporate administrative manager at the Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church, Williams' church. Whitehead remains an associate minister at the church on Oak Hill Avenue and works on its management team.
Williams, 34, and Whitehead, 40, attended Calvary Christian Academy. Williams said they have known each other for 25 years.
"He has strong administrative skills," Williams said of Whitehead.
Whitehead said he has a great deal of respect for Williams.
Monday was Williams' deadline for those interested in seeking seven Cabinet positions to submit cover letters, r & eacute;sum & eacute;s and six professional references. The secretary to the mayor/chief of staff job wasn't among the seven positions.
60 applicants
Williams said he got about 60 applicants for the seven jobs, and a few for the unadvertised secretary to the mayor/chief of staff position.
Williams said he is organizing the applications and will turn them over shortly to his transition team to evaluate the qualifications.
The mayor-elect won't reveal the team members and won't disclose the names of those applying for the jobs.
Whitehead's impending departure will leave the Regional Chamber, which manages the CIC staff, looking for its fourth executive director in about 41/2 years.
Whitehead replaced Robin Rogers, fired in March 2003 and found guilty a year later of one count of theft for improperly taking $51,260 from the CIC. Rogers replaced Alden Chevlen, who left the CIC job in July 2001.
Reid Dulberger, chamber executive director who oversees the CIC, will run the agency beginning Dec. 31 until a replacement can be found.
CIC President G. Richard Pavlock and Dulberger point to the Mahoning County Children Services Board addition to the George V. Voinovich Government Center and the construction of the 7th District Court of Appeals building, both on West Federal Street, as the agency's major accomplishments with Whitehead at the helm.
During Whitehead's CIC term, he was unable to resolve the agency's long-standing problem of having to cancel and postpone meetings because of failure to obtain a quorum of its 25 members.
The chamber is advertising for Whitehead's replacement. Applicants must have at least five years' experience in marketing, sales, finance or real estate as well as four years of college, and strong computer, writing and verbal skills. Also, experience working with public officials and a board of directors is preferred.
skolnick@vindy.com