Brown refuses to reply to Wolford’s criticism

Since Mayor Larry DeJane is not seeking re-election, the office is up for grabs.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — Clyde Brown, the Democratic candidate for mayor, said he won’t respond to criticism from Jerry Wolford, his Republican opponent.

“I won’t have any comment on it now,” Brown said Tuesday — adding that he may never respond.

Wolford had issued a statement about job creation after city council last week approved measures to try to ease traffic congestion on the city’s east side.

One project would be an extension of East Pershing Street east of Southeast Boulevard. That will occur south of East State Street. North of East State, the second project will extend Cunningham Road north of its present end to Bentley Drive, which runs east and west.

“Salem builds a road and new jobs are created, you can’t beat that,” said Wolford, a Perry Township trustee and former Salem councilman.

The plan calls for tax increment financing, which is the designation of a portion of property taxes from new businesses to help pay for the needed infrastructure. The city would get income tax from the jobs that are created.

Wolford added, “Clyde has been telling everyone he is against this; he just doesn’t understand how this creates jobs for Salem.”

The Republican criticized Brown for casting a lone no vote on part of the package.

Brown said he wanted council to talk more about the plan. The East Pershing extension, he said, lacks a turnaround required by city ordinance.

Service Director Joe Julian said after council’s meeting that instead of a circle, there would be two short drives where motorists would be able to back up and turn around.

Brown said he was unaware of the drives.

Different campaign styles

Wolford praised the Democrats and Republicans on council for approving the plan, adding, it’s “the way I plan to act when I am elected mayor.”

Brown said he’ll continue to campaign door to door, which he noted he’s done successfully twice in the last two years.

Mayor Larry DeJane is not seeking re-election.

Brown went door to door when he ran for council two years ago and won. The councilman also won the Democratic primary earlier this year in a crowded field.

The councilman also has a list of 50 people he regularly e-mails to get opinions and feedback.

Wolford also fired a shot about one of Brown’s efforts in January to lure a Rolls-Royce plant to Salem or Columbiana County. “It’s fun to dream about Rolls-Royce, but this is how jobs are created — forward thinking and progressive ideas,” Wolford said.

Ohio is one of eight states courting the company. Brown asked Gov. Ted Strickland in January to consider the Salem area as the site. Brown found out about the site hunt on the Internet, which hadn’t been publicized locally. He said at the time the city had to go after every possible opportunity.

wilkinson@vindy.com