Warren mayoral race gaining interest among residents, opponent says

WARREN

In the race for Warren mayor, incumbent Democrat William “Doug” Franklin faces a challenge from political newcomer and independent candidate Dennis Blank, a former marketing executive who recently moved back to the area after retirement.

Blank had a 34-year career in the media business, much of it in management positions with Time Inc. magazines such as Fortune and Money.

In Warren, he created a website and commented on the city, then founded an organization that tried to improve a 22-block north side neighborhood he branded the Garden District.

When he announced his candidacy for mayor last spring, he said one reason was to make sure Franklin would have an opponent so that the community would get to hear a debate of the issues.

But since entering the race, Blank says people have expressed to him that his candidacy is more than that.

Read more about this race in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.