Talking about Youngstown: Interviews with Hagan and Williams
Chris Dugan
Issue date: 11/8/05 Section: pageone
Chris Dugan, contributing writer to the Jambar, interviewed Independent Jay Williams and Democratic Robert Hagan, the two leading candidates in Youngstown's mayoral race. The candidates were asked to give their views on Youngstown issues and their election platforms.
What is the biggest asset, specifically, that you will bring to the office of mayor?
Williams: The biggest asset that I bring to the mayor's office is my directly relevant experience. The mayor of Youngstown is the chief executive of the city. The city is both a government entity and a business.
I am the only candidate that has served in an executive capacity in both government and business. My opponents have never served as executives in either.
Hagan: The greatest asset I will bring to the office of mayor is an open and creative mind. I believe that to improve the city of Youngstown we need a mayor that wants to engage every person, in every neighborhood, to be an active participant in our community so that we collectively can overcome the obstacles that we face. As mayor, I will work tirelessly to unite this city.
What experience has prepared you for the executive nature of the mayor's office?
Hagan: I believe that my nearly 20 years of experience in the General Assembly, specifically as a member of the Senate Democratic Leadership, has prepared me for the mayor's office. It has given me the opportunity to work with officials and citizens from around the city, region, and state, as well as with federal officials to improve our city.
Williams: I have been directly responsible for leading, motivating, and training large groups of employees. I have had to make decisions on hiring, firing, disciplining, and counseling employees when necessary.
I have overseen multiple departments in large and complex organizations. I have been at the top, bottom, and middle of the executive chain of command.
I have shaped the tone and provided direct input to union contract negotiations.
I have set and implemented executive policy. I have had executive responsibility for multi-million dollar budgets.
I have successfully negotiated with private investors to get them to invest in public projects.
I have dismantled entire departments and put them back together in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations. I am intimately familiar with the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that exist in the corporation that we call Youngstown.
I have done these things in the shareholder-driven environment of the private sector. I have done these same things in the citizen/taxpayer driven environment of the public sector.
I understand those who sign the front of the paycheck as well as those who sign the back of one.
Why is there no direct access to downtown from I-680 Northbound, and can Youngstown, and downtown specifically, attract business on a large scale without easy freeway access to downtown from both north and south?
Williams: I honestly cannot answer as to why there is no direct access to downtown from I-680 Northbound. However, the reality is that there will most likely not be one anytime soon. My alternative would be to enhance the South Ave. exit and make it the "de facto" entrance into downtown. While not as ideal as the I-680 Southbound exit, it is much more achievable in the near term. I would clean up the corridor and ensure that there was adequate signage and lighting.
Hagan: Downtown Youngstown has seen a recent renaissance as a result of the opening of Federal St./Federal Plaza, the construction of the Youngstown Convocation Center, the new courthouses, and the expansion of Powers Auditorium. Private business has followed these public investments, and continued the revitalization of our city center. Additionally, Youngstown State University is growing, with the new Andrews Recreation and Wellness Center as the most recent example. These are all fine examples of the citizens of Youngstown displaying the pride they have in their communities. For those who want to travel to our downtown, we have many access routes. There is an entrance/exit to I-680 on Market Street, just a brief trip up/down the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. Easy access to the YSU campus is provided by Route 422/Route 193. While I am open to any idea that will improve Youngstown, I believe that our current access to I-680 is adequate and that any expansion needs to be thoroughly studied.
Should the income tax remain at the current 2.75 percent, or should this tax be scaled back to a level more in line with surrounding municipalities? If so, how will you accomplish this change, and when? If not, please explain why this tax rate should remain intact.
Hagan: As I have stated before during my campaign for mayor, I believe that reducing the income tax at this time is not an appropriate move. Cutting the tax by one-half of a percent would cost the city $7 million. This is money that supports vital city services such as the police and fire departments. With the recent rise in crime, especially violent crime, I do not want to handcuff our city's police department financially. They need every resource at their disposal. Reducing the income tax would reduce our ability to provide city services. Down the road, as our city's improvement continues, I would be delighted to re-examine this position.
Williams: I believe that it is counter productive to have the highest income tax rate in the state. It will be the goal of my administration to reduce the tax in a responsible manner. This will require managing both sides of the income statement simultaneously. We will have to be prudent in managing the City's cost of operation while at the same time continue to engage in productive economic development activities that stabilize and then expand the City's tax base. More detailed discussion of this is available on my website under the "Platform" link titled Economic Development.
What five items will top your mayoral agenda, and would you stake your reputation and re-election on your ability to accomplish these 5 goals?
Williams: Reduce police response times [and the] overall crime rate, help create a sustainable and productive economic environment, implementation of the Youngstown 2010 priorities, fuse the gap between downtown and Youngstown State University, and raise the standards of performance, expectation, and image of elected officials in Youngstown.
I intend to pursue these items no matter what obstacles arise. I will absolutely be willing to stake my reputation and re-election on accomplishing these five goals.
Hagan: I will work tirelessly for the people of Youngstown to unite private investors, state and federal funding programs and all other resources to continue the revitalization of downtown. I will work to provide more shovel-ready developments, move police officers from behind desks to behind the wheel of patrol cars, partner with the Youngstown City Schools and YSU to improve the education of all citizens at all educational levels, and I will develop a one-stop permitting process to speed-up economic development.
What is the biggest asset, specifically, that you will bring to the office of mayor?
Williams: The biggest asset that I bring to the mayor's office is my directly relevant experience. The mayor of Youngstown is the chief executive of the city. The city is both a government entity and a business.
I am the only candidate that has served in an executive capacity in both government and business. My opponents have never served as executives in either.
Hagan: The greatest asset I will bring to the office of mayor is an open and creative mind. I believe that to improve the city of Youngstown we need a mayor that wants to engage every person, in every neighborhood, to be an active participant in our community so that we collectively can overcome the obstacles that we face. As mayor, I will work tirelessly to unite this city.
What experience has prepared you for the executive nature of the mayor's office?
Hagan: I believe that my nearly 20 years of experience in the General Assembly, specifically as a member of the Senate Democratic Leadership, has prepared me for the mayor's office. It has given me the opportunity to work with officials and citizens from around the city, region, and state, as well as with federal officials to improve our city.
Williams: I have been directly responsible for leading, motivating, and training large groups of employees. I have had to make decisions on hiring, firing, disciplining, and counseling employees when necessary.
I have overseen multiple departments in large and complex organizations. I have been at the top, bottom, and middle of the executive chain of command.
I have shaped the tone and provided direct input to union contract negotiations.
I have set and implemented executive policy. I have had executive responsibility for multi-million dollar budgets.
I have successfully negotiated with private investors to get them to invest in public projects.
I have dismantled entire departments and put them back together in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations. I am intimately familiar with the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that exist in the corporation that we call Youngstown.
I have done these things in the shareholder-driven environment of the private sector. I have done these same things in the citizen/taxpayer driven environment of the public sector.
I understand those who sign the front of the paycheck as well as those who sign the back of one.
Why is there no direct access to downtown from I-680 Northbound, and can Youngstown, and downtown specifically, attract business on a large scale without easy freeway access to downtown from both north and south?
Williams: I honestly cannot answer as to why there is no direct access to downtown from I-680 Northbound. However, the reality is that there will most likely not be one anytime soon. My alternative would be to enhance the South Ave. exit and make it the "de facto" entrance into downtown. While not as ideal as the I-680 Southbound exit, it is much more achievable in the near term. I would clean up the corridor and ensure that there was adequate signage and lighting.
Hagan: Downtown Youngstown has seen a recent renaissance as a result of the opening of Federal St./Federal Plaza, the construction of the Youngstown Convocation Center, the new courthouses, and the expansion of Powers Auditorium. Private business has followed these public investments, and continued the revitalization of our city center. Additionally, Youngstown State University is growing, with the new Andrews Recreation and Wellness Center as the most recent example. These are all fine examples of the citizens of Youngstown displaying the pride they have in their communities. For those who want to travel to our downtown, we have many access routes. There is an entrance/exit to I-680 on Market Street, just a brief trip up/down the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. Easy access to the YSU campus is provided by Route 422/Route 193. While I am open to any idea that will improve Youngstown, I believe that our current access to I-680 is adequate and that any expansion needs to be thoroughly studied.
Should the income tax remain at the current 2.75 percent, or should this tax be scaled back to a level more in line with surrounding municipalities? If so, how will you accomplish this change, and when? If not, please explain why this tax rate should remain intact.
Hagan: As I have stated before during my campaign for mayor, I believe that reducing the income tax at this time is not an appropriate move. Cutting the tax by one-half of a percent would cost the city $7 million. This is money that supports vital city services such as the police and fire departments. With the recent rise in crime, especially violent crime, I do not want to handcuff our city's police department financially. They need every resource at their disposal. Reducing the income tax would reduce our ability to provide city services. Down the road, as our city's improvement continues, I would be delighted to re-examine this position.
Williams: I believe that it is counter productive to have the highest income tax rate in the state. It will be the goal of my administration to reduce the tax in a responsible manner. This will require managing both sides of the income statement simultaneously. We will have to be prudent in managing the City's cost of operation while at the same time continue to engage in productive economic development activities that stabilize and then expand the City's tax base. More detailed discussion of this is available on my website under the "Platform" link titled Economic Development.
What five items will top your mayoral agenda, and would you stake your reputation and re-election on your ability to accomplish these 5 goals?
Williams: Reduce police response times [and the] overall crime rate, help create a sustainable and productive economic environment, implementation of the Youngstown 2010 priorities, fuse the gap between downtown and Youngstown State University, and raise the standards of performance, expectation, and image of elected officials in Youngstown.
I intend to pursue these items no matter what obstacles arise. I will absolutely be willing to stake my reputation and re-election on accomplishing these five goals.
Hagan: I will work tirelessly for the people of Youngstown to unite private investors, state and federal funding programs and all other resources to continue the revitalization of downtown. I will work to provide more shovel-ready developments, move police officers from behind desks to behind the wheel of patrol cars, partner with the Youngstown City Schools and YSU to improve the education of all citizens at all educational levels, and I will develop a one-stop permitting process to speed-up economic development.
Be the first to comment on this story