BREAKING NEWS | Mayor confirms White House discussion on auto-czar job

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Mayor Jay Williams has confirmed he’s been contacted by the White House about becoming the nation’s auto czar.

“At this point, I agreed to hear them out,” Williams told The Vindicator this afternoon.

When asked if he was considering the job, Williams declined to comment. But he added: “Perhaps I’ll have additional comments next week.”

Williams, a Democrat serving his second four-year term as mayor, has been a frequent visitor to the White House, lobbying the Obama administration for federal funding for the area and to share his thoughts on urban economic and quality-of-life issues.

Williams met Thursday with White House officials to discuss the vacant auto czar position, officially called "director of recovery for auto communities and workers."

It is not known if the White House is considering other candidates for the job.

Read the full story Sunday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.