Monday, January 26, 2009
YOUNGSTOWN — One of the first things Jay Williams did after becoming Youngstown mayor was decide to not keep Robert E. Bush Jr. as the city’s police chief even though Bush wanted to stay in the mayor’s Cabinet.
Now Bush is thinking of challenging Williams in the Democratic mayoral primary on May 5 and has taken out nominating petitions for the post. The deadline to file nominating petitions for elected positions in the primary is Feb. 19.
Bush, who finished second to Robert F. Hagan in the 2005 Democratic mayoral primary, said he wouldn’t run for the job in the primary out of spite. [Williams, who ran as an independent, beat Hagan and four others in that year’s general election for mayor.]
“I have no hard feelings toward the mayor,” Bush said.
Hired as a Mahoning County assistant prosecutor less than a week after Williams chose to not keep him on the city payroll, Bush said he hasn’t made a “firm decision” about running again for mayor.
“I know Mr. Bush and I’m confident [I’ll] make [my] case” for re-election, Williams said.
Frank Bellamy, disqualified as a 1st Ward city council independent candidate in 2007, says he’ll “definitely” challenge Williams for the Democratic mayoral nomination.
Also up for re-election in Youngstown this year is longtime council President Charles P. Sammarone, a Democrat who already filed nominating petitions with the elections board.
For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com