Sferra decides not to run for mayor

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Dan Sferra

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Jim Graham

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Doug Franklin

Staff report

WARREN

Dan Sferra, the longtime Warren mayor and now at-large councilman, says he decided not to run for mayor against UAW President Jim Graham and Doug Franklin, Warren’s safety-service director.

“After talking with my wife, Deana — and she says she’s going to retire in a year — I felt I didn’t have the energy to do it again,” Sferra said.

“There’s a lot of duties as mayor, a lot of things outside of the office — banquets and events at night. I think at my age, I don’t have the energy.”

Sferra, 61, said he’ll file to run again as councilman at large.

The filing deadline is 4 p.m. today.

Sferra was mayor for 16 years from 1980 to 1995 and was state representative from 2000 to 2004.

He was elected councilman at large in November 2009 after a five-year retirement from elected office.

Meanwhile, the two men who declared months ago they were interested in succeeding Michael O’Brien as mayor — Graham and Franklin — have filed their nominating petitions and expect to be on the ballot May 3 in the Democratic primary.

A third candidate, Vincent Heflin of Wick Street Southeast, also has filed for the race as a Democrat.

Filing for council president are Bob Dean, a current councilman at large, and Robert Marchese, the incumbent council president.

Susan Hartman, who lost to Eddie Colbert in the Democratic primary two years ago for 7th Ward Warren council, has filed petitions to face off again with Colbert.

In Girard, Mayor James Melfi will have competition in the spring, as former councilman Myron A. Esposito has filed to oppose Melfi in the Democratic primary.