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Youngtown mayor-elect’s transition team briefly included felon
YOUNGSTOWN
Jamael Tito Brown’s transition team included a felon who said he has resigned in order to not hurt the reputation of the mayor-elect.
The Rev. William C. King Jr., pastor of Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, said he would prefer to remain on Brown’s team, but “it could hurt him, [so] I decided it was best to leave. For me to stick my head in the sand is not the type of person I am. My past has come up and people want to use that to hurt” Brown.
Brown, a Democrat who won the Nov. 7 election, said he was surprised to learn of the Rev. Mr. King’s criminal history shortly after appointing him to the transition team.
“I didn’t realize I had to do a background check on him,” Brown said. “I asked him if he’d be interested in being on the transition team and he said he would. Once it was announced, he said, ‘I have this issue,’ and he stepped down.”
That “issue” is a 2008 felony theft conviction in Allegheny County, Pa.
Mr. King was convicted of stealing $468,725 from the estate of Bishop Charles H. Foggie, a former African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church bishop. A pastor and an attorney, Mr. King was sentenced to 111/2 to 23 months in the Allegheny County jail and five years’ probation and ordered to pay full restitution.
Mr. King depleted money designated for the bishop’s family and a North Carolina college, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article. He admitted in court he was addicted to cocaine and alcohol at the time of the thefts, according to the article.
Mr. King said Friday he pleaded guilty in April 2008 to theft and served 111/2 months of the sentence, most of it in the county jail with the final three or so months at a halfway house.
He said Friday: “I’ve paid my debt to society. I’ve established myself as a good citizen. What’s more important is how I’ve come out of it. What I did there’s no excuse for, but I don’t have to rehash it because someone is writing about it. Somebody is getting joy saying, ‘Look at the people Tito Brown surrounds himself with’ without looking at the person. Yes, I did mess up, but what I’m trying to say is people mess up and fall off the wagon altogether and their life falls apart. I’m pleased to not have that story.”
Mr. King never attended a transition team meeting. The team first met Thursday. The pastor will be replaced by another clergy representative shortly, Brown said.
Brown said he’s glad that Mr. King agreed to leave the transition team.
“Had I known [about his criminal past], I never would have appointed him,” Brown said. “It was a surprise. I’ve known him for the last five years and he’s been active in the community. This was new to me.”
During the campaign, Brown criticized Mayor John A. McNally, his Democratic primary opponent, for not resigning after he was convicted of four misdemeanors while in office.
Brown’s transition team will help him determine who will be appointed to his Cabinet. Those wanting to apply must submit cover letters and resumes to mayorelectbrown@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Monday. Those wanting to apply should go to mayorelectbrown.com to review job descriptions for open positions.
Brown’s goal is to hire as many Cabinet members by Jan. 1, the day he takes office.