Wage issue sparks duel

Both candidates say they support an increase in the minimum wage.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two mayoral candidates -- Democrat Robert F. Hagan and Jay Williams, an independent -- say the other is lying on the issue of minimum wage.
Williams' supporters distributed a flier, paid for by the candidate's committee, at a candidates forum Monday that reads at the top: "Don't believe the lies from Bob Hagan and his supporters! They think you should be satisfied with the minimum wage! That's an insult to our community!"
The flier also reads: "Jay not only wants to increase the minimum wage for working people, he wants to bring better jobs with better pay!"
Hagan blasted Williams on Tuesday, calling him a "liar" who is "distorting the facts about my support for raising the minimum wage by hiding the fact that he is against it."
State amendment
Hagan said he strongly supports a planned November 2006 constitutional amendment to increase the state's minimum wage. The amendment needs 322,899 valid signatures to get on the ballot.
The state and federal minimum wage is $5.15 an hour. That amount hasn't changed since 1997.
The amendment proposes increasing the state minimum wage to $7.15 an hour Jan. 1, 2007.
Williams put out the flier accusing Hagan and his supporters of lying because of a mailing by the Service Employees International Union in support of Hagan. The flier states Williams is opposed to providing a working wage.
Although the union is supporting Hagan's mayoral bid, the Democratic nominee said he had no control over the SEIU flier.
Williams said he can see how people could misinterpret his flier as saying Hagan and his supporters don't want to raise the minimum wage.
But the flier's language is meant to state Hagan and his supporters would be satisfied with people being paid minimum wage, even if it's increased to $7.15 an hour, Williams said.
Trading jabs
Williams said that he supports raising the minimum wage but that as mayor he would focus on bringing jobs to Youngstown that pay more than minimum wage.
"He started this war and when I respond with the truth, he runs to the press and lies about it," Williams said. "He expects people to lie down. I'm not going to do that when he puts out mistruths and cries foul when his ego gets bruised."
Hagan said Williams has never said during the campaign that he supports the minimum-wage ballot initiative, and challenged him to sign the initiative petition.
"Mr. Williams is either flip-flopping to gain votes or playing both sides because he is afraid of alienating his Republican contributors who don't support raising the minimum wage," Hagan said.
Williams said if someone gives him a minimum-wage initiative petition to sign, he would do so.
Each said the other is acting desperate in the final days of the campaign. The two are among six running in Tuesday's Youngstown mayoral race.
Hagan demanded an apology for the flier, and is considering filing a complaint over it with the Ohio Elections Commission.
"He's confused and he's trying to confuse the voters," Hagan said. "That speaks of the desperation of a candidate."
As mayor, Hagan said he would campaign for the minimum-wage amendment. Williams said that it's a state issue, but that as mayor, he would support the amendment.
Skipping forum
Also, Hagan said he wouldn't participate in a Regional Chamber mayoral forum this morning.
Hagan said he already attended a chamber-sponsored forum, and his time is better spent campaigning door-to-door.
"If every organization had two debates, I wouldn't have time to campaign," he said. "There are better things to do than to sit with the business community that obviously doesn't support me."
Hagan said local business leaders, many of whom are Republicans, are supporting Williams' candidacy. Also, Thomas Humphries, head of the chamber, contributed $200 to Williams' campaign.
About 100 area clergy members were to endorse Williams this morning.
When asked for a comment about the clergy endorsement, Hagan said that he is a "big proponent of the separation of church and state" but that he has no problem with clergy members' endorsing Williams.
skolnick@vindy.com