Brown mulls run for office

He received the most votes in the 2003 Youngstown school board race.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Youngstown school board member who served as Jay Williams' mayoral campaign manager is giving "strong consideration" to running as an independent candidate for Mahoning County commissioner.
If Jamael Tito Brown runs, he plans a strategy similar to the one successfully used by Williams during the mayor's victory last year as an independent. That includes reaching out to Democrats, Republicans and those with no political affiliation as well as blacks, whites and Hispanics, and persuading voters to put their trust in a relatively young but energetic and promising candidate.
Brown, 34, proved he can win an election when he was the top vote-getter in the 13-candidate 2003 Youngstown school board race. It was Brown's first time running for elected office.
May 1, the day before the partisan primary, is the deadline for independent candidates to file for the November general election.
Brown started circulating nominating petitions for commissioner last week. He needs 869 valid signatures to get on the ballot.
Ludt-McKelvey race
Commissioner David Ludt, a two-term incumbent, is being challenged in the May 2 Democratic primary by ex-Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey. The Republicans aren't fielding a candidate in the race.
Brown, a registered Democrat, said he's doesn't understand why the Ludt-McKelvey race is so low-key.
"I would have loved to see more energy in this race," he said.
Brown said Williams' victory in the mayor's first bid for elected office inspired him to run for office.
Williams said he's taking a "hands-off approach" to political races at this time.
Brown has served as a community organizer for Youngstown State University's Center for Urban and Regional Studies since July 2002. He previously worked as a caseworker for Mahoning County Children Services for seven years.
skolnick@vindy.com