Election in Warren intriguing

Jim Graham has not suffered politicians or reporters gladly for the past 13 years. (Taken from the idiom “suffer fools gladly.”) He hasn’t had to. As the top labor leader in the Mahoning Valley and a key player in the success of one of the most important employers in the area, Graham has seen others shrug off his displays of arrogance.

But now, the president of United Auto Workers Local 1112 at General Motors Corp.’s Lordstown assembly plant has decided to cross over to the dark side. He is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for mayor of Warren. And, if his announcement at a standing-room-only affair at Sorrento’s Restaurant is any indication, it’s going to be a doozy of a campaign.

What makes next year’s contest for mayor intriguing is that it is wide open. The incumbent, Michael O’Brien, who is in his seventh year as the city’s chief executive, has decided not to seek re-election. That means there should be a slew of candidates — at least on the Democratic side — by the time of the filing deadline in February,

Among those who may throw their hats in the ring are Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin, former mayor and now Councilman-at-large Danny Sferra, another councilman-at-large, Bob Dean, and perhaps other lawmakers.

Graham is obviously gearing up for the political insiders who may run by casting himself as the outsider.

In his address to the large gathering of family, UAW members, officeholders, community leaders and city residents, he laid out the issues he intends to raise, foremost of which is the deterioration of the city.

In an interview with Vindicator reporter Ed Runyan before he announced his candidacy, Graham talked about making Warren more attractive to businesses.

“If they see a decaying city — crime running rampant, prostitution on the street, drug dealers on the street, they’re not going to come,” he said.

He repeated that theme during his announcement speech, putting himself clearly on the opposite side of Mayor O’Brien, who talked about his “achievements” in office when he announced that he would not run again.

O’Brien has 14 months left, and during that time he will hear a great deal about what’s wrong with the city of Warren from the individuals who want to succeed him.

Anyone who has followed O’Brien’s political career knows that he does not take kindly to being criticized by those who have not been on the front lines in the battle to keep the city from imploding.

Painting with broad strokes

In other words, while Graham’s status as a political outsider may endear him to those voters who think that all government is evil, it won’t win him many friends in City Hall if he keeps talking about the streets being overrun by criminals, drug dealers and prostitutes.

O’Brien insisted that his decision not to run for re-election had nothing to do with the UAW president’s candidacy and potential challenge. But, if the mayor remains silent while his record is dragged through the mud, his supporters and detractors will wonder if he was afraid to take on his detractors.

After all, he claimed to have strong support from the people of Warren.

“My polling numbers are high against other candidates,” the mayor said during his press conference to announce his decision step down. “They are very positive, and that made this decision difficult.”

So, why is O’Brien leaving when his term ends? Because after 30 years in public life — 11 as Warren councilman, 11 as Trumbull County commissioner and eight years as mayor — he wants to spend time with his family and pursue other interests.

But given that the O’Brien political machine in Trumbull County is still a force to contend with — the mayor’s mother, Margaret, was a long-time county clerk of courts — the question that must be asked is this: Will the mayor make an endorsement in next year’s race?

And here’s another to add to the intrigue of the election: Did Jim Graham anticipate that O’Brien would support Safety-Service Director Franklin (if he runs), which is why he has decided to take on City Hall?

One thing’s for sure: The president of UAW Local 1112 will soon find what it’s like to be in the political arena where the rules are quite different than the ones he has imposed in the union hall.

Yes, Jim Graham will have to gladly suffer those he thinks of as fools.