The legacy of McKelvey 2-term mayor's policies made lasting impact on city

The mayor's plans aren't known.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- If there is such a thing as a Youngstown mayoral legacy, George M. McKelvey possesses a lengthy one.
McKelvey leaves the mayoral post Saturday after two four-year terms in office. The city's charter didn't permit him to seek a third term.
McKelvey declined to be interviewed in-depth about his political career or legacy, saying he was choosing "to depart with a quiet dignity while allowing the spotlight to shine on my successor."
In a letter to The Vindicator, McKelvey wrote that the record of his eight years as mayor speaks for itself -- he kept his pledge of zero tolerance for public corruption in his administration, and he worked exceptionally well with city council.
Under McKelvey's watch, the city's accomplishments were many.
At the top of that list is the revitalization of the city's downtown highlighted by the reopening in December 2004 of Federal Plaza and the construction of the Chevrolet Centre, which opened in October and is estimated to cost $45 million.
Positive contributions
McKelvey's administration also provided millions of dollars in tax abatements and other economic incentives to businesses to keep them in the city, expand operations or to relocate here.
His administration also developed Youngstown 2010, which will serve as the city's development plan.
"In the eight years he's been here, he's been effective; he's done a good job as far as I can see," said Water Commissioner Charles P. Sammarone, who resigned in 2002 as council president to take over the water department at McKelvey's request.
Sammarone won the November election for council president and returns to the seat Jan. 1.
Councilman Richard Atkinson, R-3rd, said McKelvey excelled when it came to attracting companies to the city, and he provided financial stability.
"He held the line on spending and got us out of the red," the councilman said.
With McKelvey as mayor, however, the city continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates in Ohio, and has the state's highest municipal income tax rate, 2.75 percent.
Criticism
Some neighborhood leaders said McKelvey focused too much on downtown and attracting business and as a result the neighborhoods didn't get enough attention from his administration.
"When he was first elected, he was involved in the community," said Terry Esarco, the president of the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition and an active member of other city community groups. "But that disappeared during the past five years or so. He wouldn't return calls. It was if it happened overnight. I had high hopes for him. I voted for him twice."
Veronica Foster, grant coordinator for the city's Weed and Seed program for six years, said she received no support from McKelvey.
The city could have done so much more with the program that provided federal funds for the South Side, but he had no involvement or interest in it, she added.
Ironically, McKelvey may be best remembered for the construction of the Chevrolet Centre of which the mayor is so proud although he didn't initially support the project.
"He'll be known for all of those things regardless of how much or how little he actually had to do with any of it. That's just the way the system works," said Thomas Humphries, Regional Chamber president, who acknowledges not having a good relationship with McKelvey.
But McKelvey did work well with council.
Cooperation
"He seemed to have the knack to make the mayor/council relationship work when others hadn't been able to do it," said Patrick Ungaro, who served 14 years as mayor before McKelvey and had several run-ins with council during his tenure.
In his letter, McKelvey wrote that every piece of legislation he sponsored was passed by council, and he never vetoed any legislation sponsored and approved by council.
"You could always count on him to give you information to allow you to make an informed decision," said Councilman Michael Rapovy, D-5th. "He was real straight-forward. I think he leaves the city in better shape than when he started."
Along with his professional accomplishments and setbacks, Mc-Kelvey's quirkiness and the Democratic mayor's decision last year to cross political party lines and endorse President Bush, a Republican, also will be remembered.
McKelvey would lash out -- sometimes screaming and pounding his fist -- at his critics and his perceived critics, particularly those in the print media, at public events such as ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies and on talk radio programs. After the event, he could be seen at times joking with the same people he had just criticized.
"Sometimes George's personality in public made me think he needed some pills to calm him down," said Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st. "He really sometimes would go off. As a public official, he made me nervous about how he would react."
Williams on McKelvey
Mayor-elect Jay Williams, who spent about 41/2 years as the city's Community Development Agency director under McKelvey, said the mayor "would go from 0 to 60 in a second-and-a-half and then back down to 0."
Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally, who served for 21/2 years as McKelvey's law director, said the mayor was "very opinionated and not afraid to speak his mind."
"He would shake things up. When he was on the radio or TV, people tuned in to hear what he had to say," McNally added.
McNally and Williams praised McKelvey for making decisions he felt were best for the city.
"Our relationship was one of mutual respect," Williams said. "I respected him as mayor and as my boss. He did very few things where he didn't know the outcome. He was always very open and supportive."
While being wooed by Bush, Mc-Kelvey repeatedly said his endorsement of the president would mean nothing. That didn't stop McKelvey from endorsing Bush in August 2004 and speaking at several political rallies for the president.
McKelvey said his endorsement would help the city -- although there is no concrete evidence it has -- and that he strongly believed Bush was the best man for the job.
"It was a big thing nationwide," said William Binning, chairman of the Youngstown State University political science department. "The questions are why did he do it and what did anyone get? Maybe he did it for the reason he said: Bush was the better candidate. The book's not closed. We'll have to see in the future if anything comes from it for George."
As for his future plans, McKelvey isn't saying anything.
McKelvey previously has said he's received offers to work in government, both on the state and federal levels, and has talked about running for office. But the soon-to-be ex-mayor hasn't talked to the press since the beginning of the year about what he plans to do next.
skolnick@vindy.com