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3 others consider run for mayor
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Warren Mayor Michael J. O'Brien
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Jim Graham
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Dan Sferra
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Doug Franklin
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Bob Dean
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Voters who had no option but to re-elect Michael O’Brien mayor three years ago could have significantly more choices in 2011.
O’Brien, who ran unopposed three years ago, has announced he won’t seek re-election, and United Auto Workers President Jim Graham has announced he will run.
But as many as three other Democrats also are thinking about getting their names on the ballot in the May 3 primary.
Former mayor Dan Sferra, 61, a councilman at large, said he is considering a run for mayor but won’t decide until after the holidays since the deadline to file is Feb. 2.
“I’m seriously considering it,” said Sferra, who served as Warren’s mayor from 1980 to 1995 and then was a state representative from 2000 to 2004.
Sferra was elected to council last November after a five-year retirement from elective office.
When asked why he’s thinking of running for mayor despite statements a year ago that he had no intention of doing so, Sferra said: “The reason I would run is for love of the city, just love of the city. I know I could contribute to the city.”
Another at-large city councilman, Bob Dean, said he will run for Warren mayor only if the current safety-service director, Doug Franklin, declines to run.
Dean said the most-likely scenario is that he will run for council president and believes he and Franklin would make a good team. Dean said he is encouraging Franklin to run for mayor.
Franklin said last week he had not decided whether to run, though Dean says he expects Franklin to announce on Monday that he will.
Franklin, service director under O’Brien since January 2004, had considered running for Warren mayor in 2003 but did not.
Franklin was a member of city council for 14 years before becoming safety-service director — including terms as president of council and 4th Ward councilman.
Franklin also worked 25 years at GM Lordstown.