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In White House, Jay Williams puts top focus on reviving economy
YOUNGSTOWN
In his nearly one year of working in the president’s administration, ex-Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said he is “exceptionally satisfied” with the work he is doing.
In an exclusive interview with The Vindicator, Williams said the most gratifying part of his work is helping communities — particularly struggling ones such as Youngstown — connect with the proper federal agencies and offer assistance to those in need.
Williams resigned Aug. 1, 2011, as Youngstown mayor to be executive director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers.
In that position, he often traveled to areas affected by the auto industry, especially to places that had car plants close to help them receive federal support.
On June 8, Williams was selected as deputy director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, a position that has him working in the White House.
“There’s nothing like walking into the front gate of the White House each day knowing we’re doing everything we can to move the economy forward,” Williams said from his office.
In his new job, Williams heads a unit that oversees President Barack Obama’s relationship with elected officials from cities, towns and counties.
Williams said David Agnew, who held that job until the president promoted him to be the office’s director as well as a deputy assistant to Obama, specifically asked the former Youngstown mayor to take his place.
“You don’t turn down the opportunity to work in this administration in the White House,” Williams said.
The Democratic administration is working to “rebuild the economy,” he said.
In his first federal job, Williams did a lot of traveling, something he said he enjoys. There is some travel involved at intergovernmental affairs, but not as much as his previous position.
One thing that hasn’t changed, Williams said, is having the opportunity to talk to local officials about their concerns and issues, and connect them to the correct federal agencies to “help them resolve” their problems.
Williams said the best gauge of his office’s success is the positive feedback it gets from mayors and other elected officials on the president’s policies on infrastructure and manufacturing.
When asked if he is interested in moving again to another higher position in the White House, should Obama be re-elected, Williams said, “I can’t even begin to speculate.”
He added that working with “local elected officials is a passion,” and that he could stay in this job and “be exceptionally satisfied.”
Williams, Youngstown’s mayor from Jan. 1, 2006, to Aug. 1, 2011, said he returns to his hometown on a “semi-regular basis.” Williams still has a home in the city and family here.
“I look to represent the Mahoning Valley in any way I can in D.C.,” he said.
Regarding the job performance of Charles Sammarone, who replaced him as mayor, Williams said, “Chuck is doing well. He’s been around for a long time. Chuck is a no-nonsense, straight-forward mayor.”