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Franklin wins mayoral nod
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Doug Franklin
The Vindicator
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Doug Franklin won the Democratic nomination for Warren mayor Tuesday and celebrated at Enzo’s Restaurant. Among them was current Mayor Michael O’Brien, center. Franklin, who would be Warren’s first black mayor, defeated Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112.
By ED RUNYAN
runyan@vindy.com
WARREN
Doug Franklin won the Democratic nomination for Warren mayor Tuesday and gave a joyous acceptance speech, giving credit to his family, God and all of his supporters for the historic victory.
“My heart goes out to each and every one of you. You’ve all done so much,” Franklin said during his party at Enzo’s Restaurant.
Franklin, who would be Warren’s first black mayor, defeated Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Union Local 1112 at the Lordstown General Motors, by a surprisingly wide 57 percent to 43 percent margin. There is no Republican mayoral candidate in November.
Franklin, 54, safety service director under Mayor Michael O’Brien the last 71⁄2 years, gave a special thank you to O’Brien, as well as the small boy who starred in a local Franklin television commercial.
Hundreds enjoyed the moment, including Bob Faulkner, a Warren Board of Education member, who said the victory is historic, not because Franklin is black but because his race didn’t matter — only his character.
Franklin dismissed race as an
issue in the race in an interview with The Vindicator, and it was never openly discussed during the campaign.
Graham, meanwhile, said he was disappointed in the outcome.
He said the results indicate that residents “liked the way the city was run for the last eight years, and I wish Doug good luck.”
Graham had focused his campaign on his confidence that he could restore a sense of pride to the once-mighty industrial city, citing the success of union and management at GM Lordstown to secure a new product for the plant — the Chevrolet Cruze.
Graham, 63, who had never run for political office before, said this may be his only attempt.
O’Brien surprised many by announcing last year that he was not running for re-election as Warren’s mayor. O’Brien has not announced what he will do next.
In the race for Warren council president, Councilman at-large Bob Dean unseated incumbent council President Bob Marchese, winning 55 percent of the vote. Dean will not have an opponent in November.
Marchese, 58, has been council president since 2003. Dean, 69, has been a councilman at large since 2004.
In the at-large Warren council race, veteran legislator Helen Rucker and former mayor Dan Sferra were the clear winners, setting up a race between newcomers James Valesky Jr. and Bill Kruppa for the third seat. Their vote totals were similar, but complete and unofficial results showed Valesky with a slight edge.
In the contested Warren council races, incumbent Fiore Dippolito held off a challenge from two opponents — Ronald White Sr. and Clyde Wilson — for 1st Ward councilman. Dippolito has no opponent in November.
In the 4th Ward, newcomer Greg Bartholomew, a downtown business owner, defeated incumbent Marti Morn in a close race. Bartholomew, whose ward includes the downtown and southeast areas, will have no opponent in November.
In the 7th Ward, Eddie Colbert has been re-elected to a second term, defeating a challenge from Susan Hartman, who served as 7th Ward councilwoman before Colbert.