The Honorable William D. Franklin

William “Doug” Franklin was elected the 35th Mayor of the City of Warren in May 2011. Mayor Franklin has been a community activist for many years, both as an elected official and a private citizen.

Prior to January 2004, Doug was employed as an Hourly Production and Alternate UAW Benefits Representative at General Motors Corporation for twenty-five years. His public service career spans thirty years, beginning when he was elected a Precinct Committee Person on the Democratic Central Committee. In 1989, he was elected and served two terms on Warren City Council as Fourth Ward Councilman. Doug was successful in his first City-wide election for Council-at-Large in 1993, serving three terms in that role. In 2000, Doug was elected to serve as President of Council. He was appointed Director of Public Service and Safety in 2004.

Since becoming Mayor, Doug has focused on several initiatives including a Capital Replacement Plan that encumbers the purchase of new Police cruisers and detective vehicles, a multi-purpose pumper and rescue truck, new hardware and software for the enhancement of the City’s website and IT projects, and the resurfacing of many roads. Warren’s Downtown and Parks revitalization efforts continue to move forward.

Born and raised in Warren, Doug has deep roots in the community and makes promoting volunteerism throughout the area one of his priorities. He has served on the following boards: Someplace Safe, Sunshine Inc., Trumbull County UMADAOP, Warren Grows, Trumbull County Action Program (TCAP), Trumbull County Red Cross, and the Warren Area Council. For his lifelong commitment to public service, Doug has earned honors from various organizations: a Community Leadership award from the Marcus Garvey Institute of Awareness, induction into the Trumbull County African American Hall of Fame, and the “Man of the Year” title from the Psi Omicron/Zeta Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi.

Doug is an alumnus of Warren Western Reserve High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and American Government from Kent State University. In 1993, he graduated from the Leadership Mahoning Valley Program.