Valley leaders share wide range of resolutions

The familiar faces of the Mahoning Valley this year have a wide array of New Year’s resolutions.

STAFF REPORT

Promote economic development.

Take more chances artistically.

Of course, lose a few pounds.

The familiar faces of the Mahoning Valley this year have a wide array of New Year’s resolutions, ranging from the personal to the professional.

Some have legislative goals, while others simply want to eat better. At least one public official just wants to commit to a resolution and keep it for once.

“I believe in New Year’s resolutions, but mine just don’t last long,” said Youngstown Councilman DeMaine Kitchen, D-2nd. “My New Year’s resolution is to keep whatever resolution I make.”

DeMaine is not alone. A Harris Interactive poll of more than 2,400 adults revealed that only about 24 percent of adults have ever made a resolution and that only 6 percent have always keep them.

Among those polled, losing weight was the No. 1 resolution with 63 percent saying they want to do so, according to a press release.

That’s true among leaders in the area as well.

“My New Year’s resolution: eat healthier— exercise more,” said Randal Fleischer, music director and conductor for the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.

Poland Superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn joked that he always loses a few pounds before gaining it right back. So, this year Zorn is resolving to promote a book he wrote about Poland and to travel more. The book will be released on April 12, and the royalties will benefit the Poland Historical Society, Zorn said.

Last year, Lou Zona, director of the Butler Institute of American Art, successfully resolved to not gain weight in 2009. With that under his belt, Zona said he wants to avoid holding on to things for a long time.

“I pledge to simplify my existence and to go lighter,” he said.

Some local law enforcement officials want to be more physically fit in the new year, they said.

“Fitness is a good idea just to deal with the stress of this job,” said Canfield police Chief Chuck Colucci. “Hopefully it’ll give me the opportunity to enjoy many years after policing. This job is hard on your health with poor eating and sleeping habits.”

Boardman police Chief Jack Nichols echoed Colucci, saying he wants “to get back into a fitness routine and keep it in place.”

Although Carol McFall, chief deputy in the office of the Mahoning County Auditor, vows to lose weight every year, she said she wants to more consistently update her calendar to remember birthdays in 2010.

“I just get really busy with my job and home, and I feel like I forget the people that are really important in my life,” McFall said. “Sometimes, I just forget the little details, and so, I want to make sure I do a better job of letting people know that I care about them.”

The Harris Interactive poll said that more people will resolve to save money or change jobs in 2010 after experiencing the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. About 58 percent of adults who make a resolution will choose to save or invest money, according to the study.

“You never know what the state of the economy is going to be and whether we’ll both be working from one month to the next,” said David Ditzler, an Austintown Township trustee.

Ditzler said that he and his wife resolve to pay off all their bills in 2010 and try to save some money, too.

Some state and local lawmakers, though, have more wide-ranging professional plans for 2010. Some have said they want to promote economic development locally while others want to see health care reform.

“From the perspective of a legislator, I want to get several bills passed, including a couple dealing with animal-cruelty laws,” said state Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th.

State Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, said he wants to see health care reform and economic recovery in the new year.

In Columbiana County, Penny Traina, the president of the commissioners, said her 2010 New Year’s resolutions will be the same as in 2009.

“The commissioners’ resolution will be to continue collaboratively with the office holders and elected officials and continue to have an open-door policy to the voters of Columbiana County,” she said.

Traina said that in 2010 she “would like to expand these efforts even more so than before one on one with the taxpayers.”

The commissioners should be more accessible “because we are in deep economic times and a county that works together stays together,” she added.

Still, the common theme among the Valley’s leaders is that they resolve to better themselves personally throughout 2010, rather than waiting for Dec. 31 to come around again.

Anthony Catale, president of the Youngstown Board of Education, said he wants to make himself a better leader, a better representative of the community and a more effective listener.

“Generally I don’t make [resolutions],” said Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams. “I figure, of the things I need to improve, change or begin, why wait until the first of the year?”

rrouan@vindy.com