Warren’s mayor and safety director take oath of office for new term

By Ed Runyan | January 1, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

WARREN

Doug Franklin began his second term of office as mayor Thursday with a speech full of references to his religious faith, as well as a reiteration of his faith in the city and the strength that comes from unity.

“There is no black, there is no white. There is no East Side or West Side. We are one. This city must be good for all of us,” he said after taking the oath of office in city council chambers.

His safety-service director, Enzo Cantalamessa also took the oath of office. He was safety-service director throughout Franklin’s first term. Administering the oaths was Judge Terry Ivanchak of Warren Municipal Court.

“We must remember always that we are God’s children, and we are all each other’s family,” Franklin said. Progress comes “by adding each other’s gifts and dreams and building a future brick by brick that’s big enough for all of us.”

The mayor continued: “God has blessed this city since its founding. We are special, we are exceptional, and we are Warren, so I ask you for your prayers, and I promise you mine. We go forward hand in hand, ready to do our duty as God gives us the light to do that duty.”

Franklin spoke positively of where the city is headed.

“Warren is always a city that is looking forward. We are constantly adapting, changing to different circumstances. We’re continually building.”

Franklin became the city’s first black mayor four years ago after serving on city council 24 years and serving as safety-service director for eight years. He worked as a laborer at the General Motors plant in Lordstown for 25 years, until 2004. He defeated independent Dennis Blank in a hotly contested general election this year.

Council President Jim Graham emphasized the strength of the people of Warren in his remarks.

“We’ve been hit with the most negative things you can be hit with, but we’ve survived,” Graham said, repeating a phrase he’s used since his days as union president at GM Lordstown before his retirement: “Tough times don’t last; tough people do.”