FORUM Mayoral candidates see room to improve

The candidates were asked about health, family and youth issues.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The mayoral candidates agree that there is much room for improvement when it comes to rehabilitating or demolishing abandoned houses, lowering the city's infant death rate, and reducing the number of buildings with lead paint.
Five of the six mayoral candidates running in the Nov. 8 general election discussed those issues and others related to health, families and youths at a forum Thursday. The Mahoning County Family and Children First Council sponsored the event at the county children's services office on West Federal Street.
Brendan Gilmartin, running as an independent, was the only candidate who did not attend.
Lead-based paint
There are about 170 rental properties in the city identified as having lead-based paint, a heath hazard, said Matthew Stefanak, first council head and the county's health commissioner.
"We're killing our kids," said Maggy Lorenzi, an independent candidate. "Enforcement is the answer to this question. We also need to make this a priority."
Jay Williams, also an independent candidate, said enforcement is important, but so is education.
"We can't keep going back to the same houses for lead problems," he said. "We need to make sure people know the dangers of lead."
Robert F. Hagan, the Democratic nominee, said there needs to be a greater focus on houses with lead-based paint.
"We are threatening the future of our children when we allow houses with lead, asbestos and mold to go untreated," he said. "We are clearly ignoring the health of our children."
Robert Korchnak, the Republican nominee, said the city needs to focus on obtaining federal and state money for lead-based paint remediation programs. More attention also is needed to be sure property owners don't violate the city's housing code, he said.
Joe Louis Teague, running as an independent, blamed city officials for not being more aggressive in tackling this problem.
Infant mortality
Youngstown's infant death rate is high, 19 deaths for every 1,000 babies born, Stefanak said.
"The infant mortality rate is shameful," Williams said. "If you didn't know better, you'd think it's a statistic for a Third World country."
Williams also agreed with Lorenzi's earlier assessment that early intervention, and better and more accessible prenatal care for pregnant mothers, especially those in their teens, are important.
Korchnak said pregnant teens need information about the dangers of smoking cigarettes, drinking alcoholic beverages and taking illegal drugs and what it can do to their unborn children.
When Hagan, now a state senator, began his first term in the Ohio House in 1987, he said he talked to then-Mayor Patrick Ungaro and city Health Commissioner Neil Altman about reducing the infant death rate, which was 14 per 1,000 babies born. A grant of about $300,000 was obtained, and the rate declined. Hagan said another strong push to reduce the rate is needed.
Teague said illegal drugs taken by pregnant mothers are the main cause for infant deaths.
The candidates agreed that the mayor and city council need to work closely with the Youngstown schools superintendent and board of education for the betterment of the city's children and their education.
skolnick@vindy.com