43
3 face ouster from Dem Party committee for not backing Brown
YOUNGSTOWN
Three Youngstown council members who back Sean McKinney, an independent mayoral candidate, will be removed early next week from Mahoning County Democratic Party’s executive committee because they don’t support Jamael Tito Brown, the party’s nominee.
“If you’re in leadership and actively support another candidate, you can’t hold your leadership position in the party,” said David Betras, party chairman.
Youngstown council members Julius Oliver, D-1st, Lauren McNally, D-5th, and Basia Adamczak, D-7th, are supporting McKinney, the city’s former buildings and grounds commissioner, in his independent bid for mayor.
The three council members marched with McKinney in the Memorial Day parade in Boardman.
Betras appointed the city council members to the party’s executive committee. Executive committee members get to vote on party endorsements along with those on the central committee.
“Betras called [Wednesday] and wanted me to back off from what I believe to back the party’s candidate,” Oliver said. “If I don’t believe in a certain candidate, I’m not going to back” him.
Oliver said the county party is weak as shown by its endorsed candidates losing in last month’s primary for mayor, council president and municipal court judge in Youngstown. That included incumbent Mayor John A. McNally, endorsed by the party, whom Brown defeated.
“The party is in bad condition, and I’m not going to back down from my support,” Oliver said. “There are young Democrats trying to make a difference and [Betras] is trying to quiet us.”
But the councilman said he doesn’t want to resign.
“I’m not trying to quiet anyone, but when you accept a leadership position in the party, there are certain expectations,” Betras said. “One [expectation] is to support the party’s nominees or at least not openly support another candidate. I’m going to remove those who cannot support the legitimate winner of a primary campaign. It isn’t a personal thing.”
Attempts Thursday by The Vindicator to reach McNally and Adamczak were unsuccessful.
“The party needs to come together, and they’re not helping,” Betras said.
The chairman said he’s spoken to the three council members and will do so again shortly. He doesn’t expect them to change their minds and said he will take them off the executive committee early next week.
“I completely understand [Betras’] position, but I don’t have to support that candidate. My convictions are not the same as Dave Betras’. I’m not going to submit or bow down to what he wants me to do.”
Betras also removed from the executive committee council members who backed DeMaine Kitchen, an unsuccessful independent mayoral candidate four years ago, over McNally, the Democratic nominee.