'Superstar' mayor pays visit to pupils

The mayor wants to ensure that the city and the schools have a voice in Columbus.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- "Did you come in a limousine?" an excited pupil asked Mayor Jay Williams.
"Me? A limousine? No," Williams said. "Limousines are for superstars."
Williams drove himself to Mary Haddow Elementary on the East Side on Thursday. He noted during his speech that earlier in the day he was eating a fast-food hamburger while driving when two girls recognized him as he stopped at a traffic light. He set aside the hamburger and rolled down the window to greet them.
Judging by the reception Williams received, however, the pupils in kindergarten through fourth grade believe him to be limo-worthy. So do many of their parents.
"We welcome you to our school," one pupil wrote on a construction paper place mat the classes created. "I hope you like our school, because it is cool, just like you, Jay Williams."
Williams greeted parents, pupils, teachers and staff during a spaghetti dinner before the start of parent-teacher conferences. He spoke briefly about his vision for the city and his commitment that city and school officials work together.
Life lessons
"Most of the important things I learned in life were from my parents and my teachers," Williams said. "I grew up just down the street on Early Road. Youngstown is my home. I hope that in four years I can say it is better."
Williams said he has been married five years and he and his wife don't have any children yet. When he was elected mayor, however, he said he instantly adopted about 9,000 children or more -- the children of Youngstown.
"We're working on the budget now, and I'm committed to jobs, safety and quality of life, just like I said during the campaign," Williams said. "All of those things are for the children -- the future of Youngstown."
Williams wants to ensure that Youngstown and the city school system have a voice in Columbus. He said mention of Youngstown in Columbus is mostly about the bad things that happen.
He wants to change that, and plans to meet with the state Department of Education officials in about two months.
"Being mayor is a tough job, but Dr. Webb's job is tougher," he said, speaking of Dr. Wendy Webb, city schools' superintendent.
Hard to leave
Williams spent most of his time at the school greeting pupils, parents and staff. He talked to children, accepted praise and listened to concerns. Amid all the handshaking and posing for photographs, he had a difficult time leaving the building.
"You can tell the class tomorrow that you shook the mayor's hand," one teacher told an excited pupil.
"I can tell my staff tomorrow I shook your hand," Williams told the boy.
"We tried to be careful today to keep the whole school clean," said fourth-grader Alicia Figueroa.
Tammy Spradlin and her daughter, Makala Shultz, a third-grader, talked to Williams about their shared East Side heritage. Spradlin and her brother grew up on the East Side and attended Mary Haddow.
Makala said she loves everything about her school, especially art and music classes. Spradlin said her daughter is to be honored at an assembly soon for her academic record of all A's and for perfect attendance.
Excited but nervous
Nicholas Mostella, a third-grader, greeted Williams excitedly, but said he was nervous.
"He said 'I want to meet the mayor and shake his hand,' said his mom, Victoria Martinez. She had a letter in hand to show his teacher. Recent test results confirm Nicholas is eligible for gifted education.
"I like social studies, and science and math," he said. "I like to draw flowers and nature and buildings. I want to be a famous artist someday. I get on the honor roll. I want to get all A's."
Nicholas, 81/2, had his chance to meet the mayor and shake his hand.
"I wanted to vote for you," he said.
"Did you?" Williams said.
"No," Nicholas said, giggling.
"You have to wait about 10 years," Williams said. "If I do a good job, maybe you'll vote for me then."
tullis@vindy.com