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Chamber chief holds steadfast on SB 5
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Tom Humphries, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
‘WE’RE MOVING ON,’ HUMPHRIES ASSERTS
By Karl Henkel
YOUNGSTOWN
Tom Humphries says he does not want to spend any more time rehashing the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s pro-Senate Bill 5 stance.
Humphries, in an interview with The Vindicator, said he respects those with opposing views, quelled any questions regarding the future of his position as president and CEO, and said the organization is moving forward and standing by its decision.
“I respect everybody — every single person’s opinion. I don’t care who you are,” he said. “But we’re moving on.”
Humphries said the internal decision won’t be reversed and that he doesn’t perceive the second- guessing negatively.
“I don’t look at this as a fight,” he said. “I look at this as people having a difference of opinion.”
The difference of opinion has caused the chamber to lose about a dozen businesses, a statement Humphries refuted based on the chamber’s current records.
He said “a little more than a handful” of businesses have rescinded their memberships after the chamber’s agreeing with SB 5, which curbs some collective- bargaining rights for public employees.
Humphries said the chamber will know the member count in the next couple of months, but reiterated that numbers won’t be shared publicly because it’s a private organization.
The chamber has about 2,700 members.
He also said the chamber has too much to gain to look back and reconsider discussions about its political stance.
“Where would you rather spend the time?” he said. “I’d rather spend it on trying to make sure there’s a job for that kid that graduates high school or finishes college.”
The second-guessing, however, doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
Aside from those businesses leaving the chamber, there’s also an anti-chamber movement sparked by the Ohio State Penitentiary, Chapter 5041. In April, it sent 250 letters to chamber members informing them that members of Chapter 5041 would no longer conduct business at their establishments.
Penitentiary President Doug Sollitto said he received an overwhelmingly positive response from up to 30 businesses that sent return letters.
Sollitto, along with the Trumbull County Correctional Institute, will mail today an additional 250 letters to chamber members, this time informing them of potential protests and also asking for Humphries’ resignation.
Humphries said he has no plans to resign and that he’s “not going anywhere.”
The anti-chamber letters also have put strains on some businesses that become chamber members for perks such as health insurance. Some businesses, such as Credit Union One, which quit last month, said one factor it needed to consider before leaving the chamber was the loss of those perks.
And now, some have to deal with a boycott from nonmembers of former members.
Humphries said the chamber decided to remove its membership list from its website to protect members from what he termed “misuse” by people such as Sollitto.
“When you come out and make opinions, trying to do what you think is right, you’re going to create a difference of opinion,” he said. “It’s not intended to hurt anybody. It’s not intended for someone to take it [personally].”