Graham blasts Franklin, O’Brien

April 30, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

WARREN

Jim Graham said his Democratic primary campaign for Warren mayor has left him “disillusioned with Mahoning Valley politics.”

But Graham said he doesn’t regret running for the seat.

At a Friday press conference, Graham criticized city Safety-Service Director Doug Franklin, his opponent in Tuesday’s primary, and outgoing Mayor Michael O’Brien. O’Brien supports Franklin’s candidacy.

“Everything they’ve been doing the past two weeks has been political,” said Graham, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1112 union at the Lordstown General Motors complex.

“More’s been done in the last” two weeks than the seven-plus years of O’Brien’s administration, he added.

“It’s been one fumble after another” during O’Brien’s tenure, Graham said.

He also quipped that perhaps the best way to get anything accomplished in Warren is to have a mayoral election annually rather than every four years.

Besides O’Brien’s endorsement, seven of the 10 members of city council are endorsing Franklin.

An executive with a company that manufactures energy-efficient lights announced Thursday that the business is considering an expansion in Warren, praising Franklin for his assistance.

O’Brien recently said the city’s finances are in such good shape that now is the time to borrow about $15 million to build a one-stop government building.

“It’s laughable,” Franklin said of Graham’s statements.

“It sounds like a candidate grasping for straws. The whole campaign, we’re focused on solutions, the city and the people. My opponent is focused on me,” Franklin said.