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These are the candidates for the Warren Charter Commission. If the charter is approved by voters, 15 of the 28 candidates seeking election will work over the next year to write a new charter to determine how Warren will be governed. The proposed charter will be placed on the ballot to be voted on by city residents in 2024.
• Henry J. Angelo, 73, of Oak Knoll NE, former Warren mayor and Bedford city manager for four years, sees serving on the commission as an opportunity to fix what he sees as problems in the city. Has been a member of Warren Deserves Better.
"A charter commission will bring to the forefront better ways to run the city. Warren Deserves Better has not discussed the operation of the city. We have sought ways to get information to the public. I don't have anything against anyone in the current administration. We just feel the city can be run better."
• Clarence Artman, 53, of Linden Avenue SE., accuses the city of being infested with corruption, nepotism, racism, incompetence and all manner of the worst-case scenarios of local bureaucracy.
"For too long, residents of Warren have been locked out of the decision-making process and have been made to feel like serfs rather than citizens with no say in their own future. Charter is government of the people by the people for the people. Charter will bring accountability, oversight and empowerment back to the residents who have been disenfranchised and ignored for decades."
• Daniel Crouse, 65, of Crescent Drive NE, a real estate developer and former Warren City Council member from 2006 to 2008. He was part of a group that sought, but failed, to bring about charter government during that time.
"I see charter government as giving Warren residents the opportunity to create the government they want. In my time in council, I saw how poorly qualified some elected and appointed Warren officials were, and I am running to help write a charter that is focused on bringing qualified candidates and department heads to Warren government."
• Michael T. Homlitas, 68, of Beal St. NW, worked for First Energy, is a lifelong resident and would like to give back to the community by serving on the commission.
"Warren has been a good place to live. I would do my best to help the city out."
• Shawn Carvin, 34, of Perkins Drive, Ohio Land Bank executive director, is a lifelong resident of the city.
"If voters approve a charter, I want to be involved with the writing process. I will work to serve the best interests of residents. I think it is important that the people have the right to vote. I am fond of the Democratic process."
• Daniel J. Sferra, 73, of Woodland Street NE, former Warren mayor, emphasized it is not the form of government, but the quality of its people.
"As Mayor Franklin has said, it is the people you have running the city, not the form of government. A charter is not going to provide more money or resources to the city. It might rearrange how things are done. There needs to be good, qualified people doing the work for the city and guide its future."
• Anthony Iannucci Jr., 75, of Butler Road NE, the former executive director of Warren Redevelopment and Planning and a former Warren city auditor.
"I believe my experience working in and with city governments has given me insights on how cities function. This experience will help commission members in the writing of a charter."
• Donald Emerson, 60, of Westwood Drive, is the executive director of Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority. "I have an interest because I was born and raised here. I've worked all my life, both personally and professionally, to make Warren a better place to live. If the electorate believes we should have a charter I want to be part of the process to writing it. I believe we have to get it right the first time."
• John Homlitas, 76, Butler Road, was a former Warren treasurer for 20 years.
"The charter commission should be made up of people looking for what is best for the city. Members should know how governments run. Members should be interested in making what is good in the city even better. My goal is to make sure the commission is well organized. I do not want anything written in the charter because members like or dislike current city employees. I want to see things that will carry the city forward another 100 years."
• Denise M. Rising, 60, Hazelwood SE, community activist.
"I've been to many community and council meetings where I've heard the same complaints and not much changed. I believe people really interested in change should vote. Since the voting turnout in the last election was about 25 percent, I don't believe many people are being heard. The charter will give us an opportunity to be heard. If I am elected to the commission, I will reach out to people and will be willing to listen to the concerns of those that approach me. I will provide the commission what I'm told and work to represent those concerns into the writing of the charter. This will give us the opportunity for everyone to have a voice."
• Dennis Blank, 73, of Adelaide Avenue SW, a community activist and former candidate for Warren mayor. He also is administrator for Fund for Warren's Future, a public-private enterprise working on Warren area development.
"The process of developing a charter is very complex. People serving on the commission should have detailed understanding how the government works and are able to provide a large commitment of time to work on this project. I believe I have a better than average knowledge of how governments work and how businesses operate. If a charter is written, I would like to participate in its writing."
• Sher-ree Glover, 40, of Ferndale Avenue SW, Raymond J. Wean Foundation, a certified organizer and businesswoman.
"I have been involved with various collaborations and projects that tackled blight, along with building bridges in the community. I have organizational skills that will be beneficial in doing something like this. My primary experience is in working in group settings like this."
• Robert Plant, 68, of Adelaide Avenue SW, a retired city employee.
"I've lived in Warren all of my life. I don't always agree with the ideas of Mayor Franklin, but I believe he always does what he believes is best for the city. If a charter is going to be written for the city, I want to be able to do my part for my city. Whatever I can do to make the city a better place to live, I'm all for it."
• Matthew Martin, 46, Washington Street NE, executive director of Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership.
"If there is going to be a group of people sitting down and deciding the direction of city's future government, I want to be a part of that group. I believe the commission members should review what has been done and look at what are ways to make the government's operations better and more streamlined. I believe I have a unique perspective based on the people I've worked with over the last 13 years."
• Margaret A Chiarella, 70, of Foster Drive NE, a community volunteer.
"I have been a lifelong resident of the city and I feel that the state constitution and the way it handles city by city is too restrictive. A charter is more flexible. People are able to help control their local government. Citizens are able to pick how to distribute the power of their local government. We can get more response to our needs under charter than the way it is now. If elected, I will look for what is best for the city. We will look for ways to reduce costs and taxation."
• Kenneth Perrine, of Tod Avenue NW, is a 25 year Warren resident, and the owner of several businesses in Trumbull County. He serves on the GOP executive committee as the budget and finance chairman.
"In 2010, I served on the committee brought up by city council to look at bringing a charter government to Warren city, bringing in people from Kent State University, Youngstown State University and Columbus, educating the committee on the benefits of a charter government. … I want to ensure that we have qualified leaders, ensure that there is accountability and transparency throughout all branches of the city's government departments, ensure there is representation for every ward in the city, to ensure costs of doing work in the city is maintained and ensure that every resident has a voice in this charter process."
• Rhonda J. Williamson-Bennett, 60, of Hoyt Street SW, a businesswoman and community advocate.
"I'm running for this position because I care about my city and my community. Many things have happened on the southwest side of Warren, from taking lights down at intersections that shouldn't have been changed to putting up signage on streets without as much as a knock on the door to ask us as voters for our input. The voters are being forgotten about in the decision-making of the city. We have that right as voters and want to community to know all our rights and voices are important. My role will be to make sure the community has a voice in certain decisions that affect us a voters."
•Tina S. Milner, 59, of Roosevelt Street NW, coordinator of the Charter Government Initiative and Roosevelt Area Neighborhood Watch group.
"I see the need for Warren to experience real, lasting and substantial change in order to modernize and 'save' Warren. What we have right now is a broken, outdated system that is not working. I'd like to see the adoption of real qualifications, certifications and licenses for key positions of leadership, strong charter language that will address the issues of friends and family hiring, caps on city-awarded contracts; regular budget review meetings with the citizens; and development of women-owned and disadvantage businesses."
• Diane Filkorn, 59, of Roosevelt Street NW, librarian, Air Force retiree and community activist.
"I have helped my neighbors by researching issues about the maintenance of city storm sewers, roads, sidewalks and vacant properties, among other issues. I would like to see the city of Warren have an open and transparent government. The city should establish qualifications for several department head positions. The charter will represent all of us, fairly and plainly."
• David Alex McCaskey, 36, of Hazelwood Avenue SE., physical therapist.
"I am seeking to be elected for charter commission to make changes to our government that will allow people of the city to feel more engaged and take greater agency. I also want a say in how the government of the city I live in is structured. I would like to lower the required signatures for referendums and initiatives in the city. Give council another way to pass legislation which doesn't require three readings but still allows citizens to referendum legislation.
"I would like to work with the auditor, treasurer, and the mayor to get the city financials and proposed budgets posted online to increase accessibility to that information."
•David Walker, 56, Homewood Avenue SE, helps student athletes realize their educational potential.
"I am running to be elected to the charter commission because Warren needs a change. For too long we have been holding on to an outdated and inefficient form of government that has collapsed and not provided a way out. This needs to change and I want to help write the path forward for the city. I am seeking election because I want to help create a new and modern way forward for everyone within the city.
"I'd like to see the adoption of real qualifications, certifications and licenses for key positions of leadership. I want to end to or severely limit the hiring of friends and family to positions in the city."
• James Walker, 61, of Belvedere Avenue SE., Warren, IT technician and community/political activist.
"I have advocated for a charter form of government for Warren for more than a decade. … Warren should be a charter to implement term limits. I would like to also implement a rule that no family member of an elected official can be hired by the city. One reason Warren needs a charter is I had to sue the city's board of control to force them to have open meetings. … We would also like to reduce the number of council members from 11 to seven."
• Gary L. Stephens, 72, of Tod Avenue, is a retired steelworkers union representative and contract negotiator who has lived in Warren for more than 50 years.
"I am not for or against a charter. If the charter passes, I would like to be the voice for the common man on the commission. I would provide great assistance in the writing of new contracts that are fair for everyone. Regardless of the form of government, people must be involved and hold their council members accountable. Governments are only as good as the people who are served. I currently go to council meetings to observe and am a precinct committee representative."
•Kathy A. Moody, 65, of Meadowbrook Avenue SE,, retired from General Motors.
"I am running to be on the commission because I believe in checks and balances. The best thing would be for people on each side of this to be elected on the commission. We want the right people willing to work together to make this work. What I don't want is Warren's charter to create a situation like in Newton Falls. As a member of the United Auto Workers, I was sent to specialized training to learn how to effectively work with all types of people with varying ideas and beliefs. They taught us how to negotiate. I am interested in listening to all sides of a topic and then doing what is best for all. I believe these skills may be beneficial in doing a project like this."
• Steve Duran, 55, Willard Avenue SE, moved to Warren three years ago and immediately began attending council meetings and joined the South East Community Association and the Kenmore Neighborhood Association.
"I believe a charter government can help turn this city around by having experienced personnel put in place to run a more efficient city and help attract new businesses and new residents. I believe (with) the guidance of an experienced charter attorney, the 15 recommended people can make a difference in this great city."
• John Woods, 65, of Perkinswood NE, a community activist.
"I am running because I have not been involved directly in city government before and (this is) a chance to give back to Warren. I think a charter government will improve Warren. … I think it will open up more communication from citizens to the city leaders, and find efficiencies so more of the budget can be spent on improvements to the city."
• Dimitrios Aggelis, of Hollywood Street NE, could not be reached.
• Steven Turner, of Parkwood Drive NW, could not be reached.