YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Crime, the police department, transparency and strengths were some of the topics debated Thursday evening between two candidates for Youngstown mayor.
Incumbent Democrat Tito Brown and Independent Derrick McDowell spoke before the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition, with Brown defending his tenure and McDowell, at times, being critical of that tenure.
One of the questions asked during the debate was to list some of the issues facing Youngstown. it gave the audience a good idea of where Brown and McDowell stand.
“I started telling you that we reduced the homicide rate by 56% in the City of Youngstown over the last four years under Chief Davis’s leadership; a 20% reduction in overall crime,” Brown said. “But also, if you want to live in the city, we’ve created a homeownership program that if you want to invest in the City of Youngstown, we have that.”
“When it comes to the way we preserve the history of the mills, the way we still talk about the mob, the murdering, that is still plaguing us. That is a challenge for us with our reputation,” McDowell said. “We need much more transparency. We need much more accountability for the things that are happening in City Hall.”
The issue of maintaining the police department and how it’s been hard to recruit new officers was also brought up.
“We used to have a line out the door to be a law enforcement officer in the City of Youngstown. We would only compete with cities like Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and now, we’re competing with McDonald,” McDowell said.
“We have one of the top cadet programs in the state of Ohio right now. You’ve seen them out in the community. So, we’re figuring out how to grow our own,” Brown said.
Each candidate was asked about their strengths. Brown said he can get along with anyone.
“I think I’ve been well put together where I don’t care what room I’m in, I can get along with individuals,” Brown said.
McDowell said his wife describes him as a machine.
“I am a person that is very driven to fix things, solutions-oriented. That is how I made my career so successful,” McDowell.
Both candidates were also asked about their weaknesses. McDowell said he can be long-winded. Brown said he can’t turn down any peanut butter dessert.
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