Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Photo
Mayor Charles Sammarone
Photo
Jason Whitehead, Chief of Staff for Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams
Photo
Jamael Tito Brown
Whitehead resigns; 3rd Ward candidates emerge
YOUNGSTOWN
Incoming Mayor Charles Sammarone intends to replace Jason Whitehead, who’s served as chief of staff/secretary to the mayor since January 2006.
Sammarone, who succeeds Jay Williams as mayor on Monday, said Whitehead’s last day likely is Aug. 8, when the latter returns from vacation.
Whitehead said he told Sammarone that he offered to resign if the new mayor wanted because “everyone in that position [of mayor] should bring in their own person.”
Whitehead said he could work with Sammarone, “but I’m definitely Jay’s guy. I want Chuck to be comfortable.”
Sammarone said it was “very nice” of Whitehead to make the suggestion, and the incoming mayor said he “was thinking of replacing” Whitehead anyway.
Whitehead has known Williams for more than 30 years, and was the mayor’s first Cabinet hire when he took office in January 2006. The position was called secretary to the mayor, and its job description, approved in May 1988 by the city’s civil service commission, is largely secretarial, including typing letters and taking telephone messages.
Williams added chief of staff to the job, eliminated the secretarial responsibilities, and considered the position to be his right-hand man.
Whitehead earns $74,186 in annual base pay as well as $540 in an education bonus and $256 in longevity pay, according to the city’s 2010 payroll records. In addition to his duties, Whitehead spent much of his tenure as chief of staff/secretary to the mayor running the parks and recreation commission at no additional pay.
Sammarone said he’s talked to a few people about taking over Whitehead’s duties and should have a decision on a replacement next week.
Sammarone said he may keep Whitehead in his administration but doesn’t know where he’d fit.
“I’m not trying to be unemployed,” Whitehead said. “I’m willing to serve in the administration. How that happens I don’t know because there are only so many positions the mayor can appoint. I don’t know how he’d find another place for me.”
Williams is resigning Monday to be the executive director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. He starts Aug. 8.
With Williams’ departure, Sammarone, as council president, automatically becomes mayor.
Sammarone’s resignation Monday will elevate Youngstown Councilman Jamael Tito Brown, D-3rd, to council president.
That leaves the 3rd Ward council seat vacant.
A number of candidates are interested in replacing Brown.
The 10 Mahoning County Democratic precinct committee members from the 3rd Ward probably will meet Aug. 9 to replace Brown, a Democrat, as the party’s 3rd Ward council candidate on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, said party Chairman David Betras.
Brown is running unopposed for the seat, which represents most of the North Side.
Those interested in replacing Brown include:
Pat Lowry, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s director of outreach/special projects and a 3rd Ward precinct committeeman. Lowry ran unsuccessfully for council president in 2001 against Sammarone.
Lowry said Ryan has given “his blessing” for him to run for the council seat, and he’ll keep his job with the congressman.
Joe Louis Teague, a 3rd Ward precinct committeeman and unsuccessful 2005 mayoral candidate.
Joseph Palermo, a retired city official who served as building inspector, building inspector supervisor and assistant chief enforcement officer. He worked 15 years for the city before retiring in 2001. He’s also the husband of county Recorder Noralynn Palermo.
Mike McNair, a former city school district official who lost the 2005 council president race to Sammarone.
Byron Armour, who operates the Buckeye Neighborhood Youth Center.