Mahoning commissioners want meeting with chamber CEO on SB5

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County commissioners say they want to meet with Tom Humphries, president and chief executive officer of Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, to discuss the chamber’s support of Senate Bill 5 and whether the chamber should remain as the county’s designated economic development agency.

The chamber has “lost its moral authority” to be the county’s economic development agency under Humphries’ leadership, said David Betras, chairman of the Mahoning Democratic Party, at today’s commissioners’ meeting. The chamber should be nonpartisan, he said.

Commissioner John McNally IV, panel chairman, said he would talk to the other commissioners about the chamber remaining the county’s economic development agency and meet with Humphries and chamber board leaders to talk about the board's support of SB5, which the governor was to sign into law today.

Commissioner Anthony Traficanti called for a meeting with Humphries and the Chamber as soon as next week to answer questions.

“This has gone on way too long and it’s growing. Humphries’ silence is becoming deafening,” Traficanti said.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com