A Renaissance Man

He was called a lot of names as mayor of Youngstown for 14 years, but I'll bet the name renaissance wasn't one of them.

I was reminded of the term Friday when Liberty Township Administrator Pat Ungaro spoke of growth in the township and said Liberty is poised for a ``renaissance.'

He also spoke a lot about his time as mayor and some of the projects he did and the shots he took for them, but some of those projects -- such as the two prisons and a steel mill on the former Sheet & Tube Brier Hill works -- are still here.

The Salt Springs Road industrial park is also alive and well, and that was also a Ungaro creation.

One thing about Ungaro I've learned in the short time I've covered him in Liberty: He is aggressive and he likes dealing. Those are two traits that are associated with politicians, and being an administrator is a good way to be in The Game without the added pressure of being an elected official.

One thing Ungaro lamented about this morning at the Good Morning Liberty breakfast is that townships aren't allowed to buy land, because he would be buying as much as possible and giving it away for economic development purposes.

Call him what you want, and disagree with him, but at least he tries. And maybe that's what he should be called. ``The Trier.'