Historic swearing in of mayor is only part of story in Warren

The city of Warren’s first black mayor has been around politics long enough to know this truth: Residents aren’t going to give him a pass just because of the color of his skin. Indeed, the expectations could be higher for Mayor Doug Franklin — because he has been involved in city government since 1990 when he took over as 4th Ward councilman.

Franklin, who was sworn in Saturday in a ceremony attended by a large crowd that reflected the board coalition he put together during last May’s Democratic primary election, also served as president of council for six years before becoming director of public service and safety.

It is that solid record in government that enabled him to win the Democratic nomination in the hotly contested May 2 election that featured Jim Graham, well-known president of United Autoworkers Local 1112. Warren residents rightly concluded that there would be a seamless transition from Mayor Michael O’Brien’s eight-year tenure to the new administration with Franklin at the helm.

Like all other older, urban centers, Warren is at a crossroads and the decisions made today with regard to government’s budget, job creation and neighborhood revitalization will have long-term consequences.

O’Brien, also a veteran of Trumbull County politics, has left the city is relatively good shape. We use the word relatively because the national economic recession and the reduction in state funding for local governments have necessitated some tough choices.

O’Brien, who appointed Franklin to head the public service and safety office, persuaded the unions to agree to givebacks and an increase in contributions for health care coverage. There also is a wage freeze through 2013. The concessions made by city employees resulted in savings of $1.9 million between 2009 and 2010. During that time, the city lost $3 million in revenue because of the economic down turn and had to lay off police officers, firefighters and others to balance the budget.

Contrast that to the 2012 general fund budget approved by city council on Dec. 28, three days before Franklin’s swearing in as mayor. The $27.4 million spending plan reflects an additional $1.4 million in revenue over 2011. It means the city will be able to add three road, maintenance and park workers.

Additional income taxes

Last year, the administration and council were also able to increase the projected revenue stream because of additional income taxes from RG Steel, formerly Severstal, and General Motors Corp.’s Lordstown auto manufacturing complex. Improved collections of inheritance taxes also boosted the budget’s bottom line.

O’Brien has laid a solid financial foundation for his successor to build on. We’re confident that Franklin, who knows that the secret to governance is avoiding the political mine fields, will be up the challenge of leading a city in transition.

During his swearing in, he offered this observation to WFMJ-Channel 21, The Vindicator’s news partner:

“This has been a work in progress. I still have my sanity and most importantly I still have my love for the city and it’s greater than ever and I’m just proud to serve this great city.”

To be sure, history was made when Franklin became the first black to be elected mayor, but in the end he will be judged not by the color of his skin, but on his record of serving the residents of Warren.