43
Franklin gains rare council endorsement in run for Warren mayor
Photo
Doug Franklin
Photo
Al Novak
Photo
Jim Graham
By Ed Runyan
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 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 peacemaker,” Novak said.
A press conference will be 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.
Councilman Bob Dean has stated his support for Franklin in the past, and Councilman Dan Sferra said Wednesday he also supports Franklin. Council President Bob Marchese has stated his support for Graham.
When told of the Franklin endorsement, Graham said of the seven council members: “Obviously they’re satisfied with the status quo. I am not.
“Obviously they [the seven council members] have not driven around the city and seen the condition of it and the fact that we’re losing businesses and the condition of the streets.”
Graham has said that as service-safety director the past 71/2 years, Franklin has failed to reduce blight, drug dealing and prostitution.
Sferra and Mayor Michael O’Brien participated in a press conference Wednesday at Franklin’s campaign headquarters to announce their support for Franklin.
“I think Doug will be a good person and a good mayor,” said Sferra, who was Warren mayor for 16 years.