SitemapThere were issues between Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and members of city council before the election.
And they seem to be getting worse, particularly in recent weeks. During last year’s mayoral campaign, a majority of council members didn’t back Brown even though they’re all Democrats. Council members Julius Oliver, D-1st; Lauren McNally, D-5th; and Basia Adamczak, D-7th, solidly supported Sean McKinney, the former buildings and grounds commissioner and an independent candidate, who lost a close race to Brown. Also, Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th, supported Janet Tarpley, a former councilwoman from that ward and also an independent, in the general election. Brown spoke of working with all of city council – despite who the members supported – and things seemed to be going smoothly even though McKinney challenged the outcome of the election in court. McKinney ended that legal challenge Jan. 31. But whatever harmony there was between council and Brown didn’t last long after I reported Feb. 17 that the board of control had approved the purchase of a new Ford Explorer for the mayor’s use. The water fund originally was going to pay the entire cost of $28,757.50 for the vehicle, but upon further review by the law department it was determined that about half of the expense would come from the general fund. Council members expressed outrage at their Feb. 21 meeting with McNally saying the purchase “sounds illegal to me.” Adamczak said Brown should “use a vehicle already in the [city’s] fleet.” To read the full story from The Vindicator, click here.