Warren mayoral hopefuls promote economic plans

WARREN

Like his opponent in the race for Warren mayor, Doug Franklin has proposed an economic development plan that he hopes will attract more business to the city.

Among his proposals is to form a Warren-Trumbull County Economic Renewal Team comprised of business owners, community leaders, financial experts and government officials that will develop business-growth strategies.

He also proposes utilizing the “best and brightest talent to employ innovative 21st century marketing techniques that would sell our city and region globally, including revamping our web site with a special section dedicated to doing business in Warren.”

Franklin, Warren’s safety-service director for the past 7 1/2 years and longtime council member, has said he’d meet with every business owner in the city during his first year as mayor “to find out what we can do or offer to help their business thrive.”

In his written proposal, Franklin says he will “work closely” with the citizens committee formed to implement the city’s 2009 strategic plan and the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative in carrying out the recommendations of its Citywide Vacant Property Survey.

Franklin said he might use a request for proposal process to get ideas from the marketing and advertising agencies in the area regarding a marketing plan for the city and would consider paying them.

His opponent in the Democratic primary, Jim Graham, after looking over Franklin’s plan, called it “brilliant.”

“I love these ideas, but it’s very familiar because it’s my idea, and the idea of bringing it out one week before the election is questionable,” Graham said.

Graham, president of a United Auto Workers union at Lordstown’s General Motors plant, proposed his own “Grow Warren” business initiative on March 4.