Port authority begins to evaluate candidates for executive director

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Members of the Western Reserve Port Authority board met in executive session Wednesday to discuss the merits of the eight candidates for the authority’s executive-director position.

The board plans to have a special, closed-door meeting June 8 to interview the candidates – either in person or by videoconferencing – and narrow the choices.

There are eight candidates because one person claimed to have emailed his resume by the deadline, but it was not received by the deadline, said Atty. Dan Keating, who received the resumes. Keating indicated he would email the eighth resume to The Vindicator, but it had not arrived by late Wednesday.

Dave Mosure, chairman of the planning committee, which is heading up the selection process, said he was disappointed that only seven applications were received by the deadline.

But he theorized the reason is because the port authority was presenting a poor image of itself last year while several board members were publicly arguing among themselves, leading to several board members resigning and being replaced.

Board chairman Ron Klingle said he hoped a selection will be made at the June board meeting, but Mosure said that may not be possible if there are still two or more legitimate candidates after the first set of interviews.

Some of the candidates indicated they learned of the job opening through the Wall Street Journal and some through the American Association of Airport Executives, Mosure said.

In addition to John Moliterno, interim executive director, there also is one local candidate, Al LeRoy of Vienna. Other candidates are from Mishawaka, Ind.; Morris Plains, N.J.; Richmond, Ky.; Ormond Beach, Fla.; and Hudson, Ohio.

Member John Boccieri, a former congressman, noting that his former chief of staff Anthony Trevena has applied, said he didn’t know whether he needed to abstain from talks regarding the selection because of his association with Trevena. He was chief of staff from 2008 to 2010, his resume says.

Boccieri said he hopes the board will look at hiring someone who can lead the port authority in the direction that some other Ohio communities have gone, including Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo, to capitalize on opportunities to bring together various modes of transportation – highways, rail, air and rivers.

“The reason I’m excited is we can bring all of these facilities together,” he said.