Majority of Warren council backs Franklin for mayor

WARREN

Seven of the 10 members of Warren City Council will announce their support today for Doug Franklin for Warren mayor in Tuesday’s primary election.

Councilmen Al Novak and Vincent Flask said they felt strongly enough about supporting Franklin that they asked their fellow council members to sign a letter of support.

Novak said that in the 20 years he’s been on council and in the years before that he can remember, council members have never formally endorsed a mayoral candidate in this way.

“I think basically Doug knows the ropes and how to deal with things,” Novak said. “In negotiations, things go better when you know the person.”

Franklin’s opponent in the Democratic primary is Jim Graham, president of Local 1112 of the United Auto Workers union at GM Lordstown, who is running for government office for the first time.

Novak said the years to come will be critical for the city, the state and the country.

“It’s going to take unity with our elected officials, and Doug is basically a peace-maker,” Novak said.

A press conference will be held at 1 p.m. at the gazebo on Courthouse Square to make the announcement, Flask said. He would not identify the seven supporting Franklin or the three who declined to sign the letter.