Tito Brown formally throws hat into mayoral race

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By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

City Council President Jamael Tito Brown said that, if elected mayor, he would focus on improving the quality of life and the neighborhoods.

While Brown told The Vindicator on Monday that he was running in the 2013 Democratic primary for mayor, he had a Thursday press conference with supporters, friends and family to announce his candidacy.

He expects to file nominating petitions Monday with the Mahoning County Board of Elections. Feb. 5 is the deadline to file for the May 7 primary.

During the Thursday event at the V2 Wine Bar Trattoria on West Federal Street, Brown said he wants to develop a plan for each neighborhood in the city, similar to the Youngstown 2010 plan of nearly a decade ago.

As mayor, Brown said, “I’ll be committed to do the right thing. I might not always get it right, but I will be committed to doing the right thing” for Youngstown.

Councilman Nate Pinkard, D-3rd, endorsed Brown for mayor Thursday saying “he would do an excellent job.”

Two candidates have already filed for the Democratic primary: outgoing Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally IV and Matthew Smith.

Mayor Charles Sammarone is thinking about a possible run and said he’ll make a decision by early next month.

Brown has served as council president since Aug. 1, 2011, when Sammarone, who was council president, became mayor. Sammarone succeeded Jay Williams as mayor when the latter resigned to join the administration of President Barack Obama.