In Warren mayor’s race, Franklin has slight edge

Listen long enough to the two candidates for mayor of Warren and you will conclude that either one would be up to the task of guiding the city through turbulent times.

You will also find that Doug Franklin, who has served as Warren’s director of public service and safety, and Jim Graham, well-known president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, are sincere when they say that serving the community is their top priority, and that the chief executive’s position is more than just a political trophy.

And, it will be clear that the two candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination for mayor in the May 3 primary are just about evenly matched. The primary winner will take the oath of office in January because there is no Republican running.

Thus the question: Who, between Franklin and Graham, is in the best position to ensure a seamless transition from the outgoing administration of Mayor Michael O’Brien?

The Vindicator, after much deliberation and discussion, gives the nod to Franklin, who has been involved in city politics since 1990 when he took over as 4th Ward councilman. He also served as president of council for six years before becoming director of public service and safety.

That said, we are confident that Graham, who has been at General Motors Corp.’s Lordstown assembly plant since 1968, would be able to quickly familiarize himself with city government should he be elected.

While both candidates share a solid understanding of the problems Warren will be confronting in the future, they part company on the issue of the city’s finances.

Graham contends the O’Brien administration has mismanaged government by overspending when it should have been pinching pennies because of the national economic downturn. The result, he says, is that the city’s revenue must grow by 5 percent each year for the next two years or else it will be in financial trouble.

He also criticizes the administration for using federal stimulus money to hire firefighters without looking ahead to what will happen in two years when the funds run out.

But Franklin contends that Graham has a basic misunderstanding of the city’s budgetary process and ignores the fact that Warren cannot legally operate in the red.

Wage freezes

He notes that because of unions agreeing to givebacks and an increase in contributions for health care coverage, the city saved $1.9 million between 2009 and 2010. There is a wage freeze for the next three years.

The director of service and safety also contends that because of the proper management of finances, the city’s bond rating was raised, which means the interest rate for borrowing money will be lower.

Mayor O’Brien has proposed selling bonds to finance the purchase of equipment for various departments and the construction of a $7 million one-stop government building.

Franklin supports the project while Graham strongly opposes it.

It is premature for the candidates to take a position because the mayor has not met with council and other stakeholders to fully explain the project and respond to questions.

We urge O’Brien to come forward with the details so the community can decide if putting Warren in debt — even at an attractive interest rate — is advisable at this time.

The race for mayor is not an easy call because Franklin and Graham have offered strong arguments for their candidacies.

But, given that elections are about making choices, The Vindicator endorses Franklin.