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VanSuch and Jackson meet again in Campbell mayoral race
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
CAMPBELL
In 2011, Lewis F. Jackson Jr. lost the mayoral race to William J. VanSuch by just a handful of votes.
Two years later, Jackson, who served as city administrator from 2008 through February 2011 and also was a 4th Ward councilman, is trying again.
But this time, in this year’s rematch against VanSuch, Jackson said he’s sure he’ll be more successful.
Last time, despite winning the walk-in votes, Jackson lost the absentee votes. This was his downfall, he said, adding that he still won’t resort to what he feels are unethical means, such as campaigning in nursing homes.
“When I go door-to-door, people are trying to figure out why I lost last time. I’ll never win anything if that’s what it takes,” Jackson said. “[Now], I’m just making myself known. A lot of people know who I am and what I do.”
Jackson, 68, who lives on Homestead Place, added that he wanted to get involved with city government again because many of the grants he helped the city to secure have been delayed for various reasons. He said he simply wants to see these projects finalized.
One of his top priorities is concluding the cleanup and restoration of 40 acres of former Youngstown Sheet & Tube property with the $1.9 million Clean Ohio grant.
“I want to be around to see this area completed and the city get back to what I remember it being,” Jackson said.
Jackson indicated, too, that he wants to pursue additional grants for street resurfacing, which he said is “badly needed,” and get younger age groups involved in “all aspects of running the city.”
Also important, he said, is once again allowing the city’s department heads “to run their departments and do their jobs” without interference, which he said doesn’t currently happen in city hall. Jackson said he learned that “the person doing the job knows the best way to get things done the easiest way” while working as a supervisor at Cold Metal Products.
VanSuch, 72, who lives on Camvet Drive, said he has similar views on the matter, and that all entities that make up the city’s government — including employees, department heads and city council — worked together to relieve the city from the state’s oversight.
After nine years, it was released from fiscal emergency Oct. 3.
“There’s no room in administration for ‘one,’” VanSuch said. “It’s ‘we.’”
He added that his policy is to allow department heads the opportunity to work through problems within their respective departments first, then approach him only if they’re unable to handle them.
Before taking the mayor’s oath of office Jan. 5, 2011, after the resignation of former Mayor George Krinos, VanSuch was president of council, a position he assumed in 2004. He previously was president of council from 1990 to 2000.
Since 1974, VanSuch has been with the city either as a legislator or an administrator. That year, he was elected 2nd Ward councilman — a seat he held for eight years. He ran for mayor in 1982, but lost, and also has served as the city’s litter-control director and city administrator.
If re-elected, VanSuch said he plans to continue the many projects his administration has implemented, such as the street resurfacing program, and also to work on bringing more businesses into the city. He added that he always has the best interests of the city in mind.
“I’m relying on people who’ve been there for me,” he said. “There were a lot of things that were against me [in the last election], and I am going to do things the right way [this time].”
In addition, two candidates are each running in the Campbell City Council 4th Ward and the Struthers City Council 4th Ward.
In Campbell, the race is between incumbent Robert P. Yankle and former councilwoman Juanita Rich. Both previously served as the president of council.
In Struthers, the 4th Ward council seat held by incumbent Robert D. Carcelli III, who is in his third term, is being challenged by Thomas A. Skovira. It’s the only race in Struthers that isn’t unopposed.