Thursday, February 6, 2025

2016 City Politics Guide

Seasonal Election Disorder, or SED, is a type of distress that’s related to election season. SED begins and ends when the political circus starts. If you’re like most people with SED, you might feel anxiety, a sense of ennui, depression, confusion, existential dread, or worse— fever dreams about moving to Canada.

But SED is related to the issues, and those suffering from SED can overcome the seasonal disorder by becoming informed. We know you have issues. So do we. Learn about local problems, and the candidates hoping to fix them, in our annual City Politics Guide. We can’t promise a remedy for your SED— we aren’t even going to touch Trump or Hil in this—but we hope to provide relief.

Get your vote on

Doing that democracy thing

It’s the most important election of our lifetime.

That’s the mantra. They say it every four years. It seems the importance accelerates, and every election is increasingly the most important election of our lifetime. At this rate, the importance level will make the next election so urgent you’ll have to vote a year early.

Once again, we’re told this year is the be-all end-all Mother of All Elections election. The fate of the nation, the future of democracy, the course of civilization hangs in its balance.

Whatever. Hyperbole aside, there are some other monikers that are probably closer to the truth. The most outrageous, maddening, angst-unleashing election of our lifetime. The fix is in! It’s an international conspiracy! Bring out the torches and pitchforks!

Again we say, whatever.

It’s all about the meme

Here’s the rub. The meme-filled, social media driven madness has led to an unprecedented level of mind-numbed resignation. Folks are turned off by the specter of the anti-establishment hero who brags in private about groping unsuspecting women, and the establishment candidate who seems a bit too establishment. The alt third-party candidates either have never heard of a major international battleground called Aleppo or don’t believe in vaccinations.

Will this lead to voter turnout being even worse than the normally miserable?

Here’s the facts, Jack. To quote the old ball coach, every election is the most important. The most important vote is the one right in front of you. Because democracy is fragile and messy. It only works if folks participate. The top of the ticket vote may have you down, but buck up, make a choice, and do that democracy thing. Stop lamenting the lack of a perfect candidate and vote for your best option.

Election complexion

And don’t forget that choices go all the way down the ballot. There are local races and issues that make a real difference in your neighbors’ lives. Levies for the zoo, library, and children’s services. A tax renewal for police and fire in the city. Election of state representatives and judges and county officials.

Think your vote doesn’t make a difference? These local races are often decided by a thousand votes or less. The county only has a couple hundred voting precincts. That means that local races may be decided by a vote or two per precinct.

That deciding vote in your precinct could be yours.

We know it has been a long, disheartening election season. But for democracy to flourish, it needs you.

Keep calm and get your voting shoes on.


We Got Issues

A brief review of local ballot issues

Issue 2: Renewal of the City of Toledo’s 3/4% income tax. This is a straight renewal of the current three-quarter per cent “temporary” portion of Toledo’s income tax, which means voters must renew it or it lapses. The other one-and-one-half per cent Toledo income tax is permanent and is not voted on. That means that voters decide whether to keep one-third of the income tax every three years. Most of this tax pays for safety services like police and fire, plus capital improvement projects like major road reconstruction. According to city officials, loss of one-third of this revenue would decimate these services. The renewal includes the ability to transfer capital improvement money to help balance the general fund. City officials argue that without that ability, major cuts to safety forces would result.  https://www.keeptoledosafe.com/

Issue 18: TARTA renewal. This is also a straight renewal of 1.5 mills property tax levy for the operation of mass transit buses in the Toledo area.

Issue 19: a renewal of the .7 mills levy for the operation of the countywide 911 emergency call service.

Issue 20: Lucas County Children’s Services. This is a request for a renewal of the current 1.4 mills levy and an increase of an additional .4 mills, or a total of 1.8 mills. LCCS argues that the increase is needed due to the heroin and opiate epidemic in Lucas County, plus increases in cases stemming from mental health needs and domestic violance.  https://www.lucas4kids.com/

Issue 21: Imagination Station.  A renewal of the small, .17 mills needed to continue operations of Toledo’s science museum.
https://imaginationstationtoledo.org/show-your-support

Issue 22: Toledo-Lucas County Library. This is renewal of the 2.9 mills levy that expires in December of 2017 plus an increase of .8 mills for a total of 3.7 mills. Library officials say the levy is vital to maintain current operations and extend hours at some branches.

Issue 23: Toledo Zoo. This is a levy renewal, but with a twist. The zoo has been so successful at financial stewardship and building memberships and attendance that the zoo is actually requesting a, wait for it, DECREASE in millage from .85 mills to .75 mills. The zoo has substantially decreased its reliance on levy funding and is passing along its savings to property owners.
https://www.toledozoo.org/voteforyourzoo/index.html


County Commissioner

michael-p.-bell----toledo-chamber-of-commerce

Michael P. Bell R

Age: 61
Education: Bachelors’ of Education
Experience: Fire Chief of the City of Toledo (16 years); Fire Marshal for the State of Ohio (2 years); Mayor of the City of Toledo (4 years)
Times (previously) run for office: 3
Times you have successfully run for office: 1

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it? My biggest concern is the inability of Toledo Government to maintain a stable budget. The key to any type of stability, within the City of Toledo, is a budget to provide basic services (Police protection, Fire and Emergency care, good drinking water, in addition to a strong infrastructure replacement plan) to be successful and competitive in the region. Without the ability to do this, it destabilizes not only the City of Toledo but potentially the whole region of Lucas County. It is important that the County Commissioners take an active roll as a strong partner to the City of Toledo to leverage the region for economic success. I will develop partnerships countywide to create economic success for all.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character? By becoming and being a good and strong partner to the “22nd Century Plan”, currently being developed by the community and led by the business leadership of the region. The final phases of this plan were just completed in late August. The plan takes into consideration all of the points mentioned in your question while providing tested solutions. What will make this plan successful is that it listened to and respected the ideas of all who attended the multiple planning sessions open to the general public. Sometimes you don’t have to create your own wheel, just assist with the wheel that is already in place.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you? The intent of the services provided is good;  a goal of trying to help the areas within our community that are in need of the greatest assistance. But the problem is money flow. The real issue, is that there are a growing number of problems within our neighborhoods with fewer dollars to deal with the issues. Poverty levels in Lucas County have climbed from somewhere around 13% a little over 10 years ago to over 20% now. So the issue is, where do we find new income for people? How do we put people back to work? It is so important that we address the issues of jobs and stabilizing our economy in the greater Toledo and Lucas County region.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
First, support the current programs that are in place. I believe our current Sheriff is a long way down this road already, nationally, with the way he and Local Law Enforcement in the area are attempting to treat this epidemic. The word epidemic signals that this is more of a medically related issue then an act of pure criminal intent. So the Sheriff is reaching out proactively to address these issues within the county. I believe a Commissioner’s job is to assist with the critical funding, needed to continue this progressive program. In addition, I believe it is important to reach out statewide and nationally for evaluation of other successful programs. Once again, you may not have to create the wheel, just research where else in the United States or in the world  a successful program exist  and can be re-created to address the opiate issue here.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately? I think now, that this issue is currently on everyone’s radar screen that a portion of the battle has been won. Acknowledging that we do have a problem is huge. The question of what we do immediately is not that simple. I believe what can be done is being done now, otherwise, why are the people who are charged with this mission still in position? What a Commissioner can do is keep this in the forefront of priorities in the County and refuse to let it disappear.

What are your priorities for maintenance and replacement of the city’s infrastructure – such as streets, facilities and empty buildings?
From a county stand point about the most you can do, as you would do with all cities, villages and townships’ in the County of Lucas, is be the best partner you can be when needed. The key words here is “when needed” and ” helping the whole county”, not just one entity. Lucas county has 341 square miles of land and 255 square miles of water. I believe if we come together as partners within the county, working together for the greater good of Lucas County, we can raise tide for all ships.

Campaign theme song: “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

Harley-Davidson

Favorite way to unwind: Ride my Harley Davidson long distance (Florida/ New Orleans/ Milwaukee/ etc.)

Secret for staying on task: Remember what the mission was designed to accomplish.

Best advice: That in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies – From my Dad

Best Advice followed: Always be true to yourself – Mom and Dad.

What’s the last book you read: Hole In The Head by Dr. Wilbert Smith

Movie to describe your life: Tombstone

What would the name of your debut album be: “How Dare You”

pete-gerken----electpetegerken.com

Pete Gerken D

Age: 64
Education:
B.S. University of Toledo
Experience: 
Appointed to Toledo City Council in 1996; served for eight years and chaired the Environment, Utilities, and Public Service Committee. He was elected as County Commissioner in 2005 and served as served as President of the Board of Lucas County Commissioners (2009 to 2013).
Times you have run for office:
5
Successful campaigns:
5

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it? Keeping the growth of excitement, investment, and jobs moving ahead. Advancing our strategy public/ private partnerships, increasing our workforce development policies and making our water a safe, clean and affordable resource.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character? We need to advance the housing opportunities by reinvesting in valuable, but slightly worn, building stock.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you? Neighborhood investment and partnership is essential. The Land bank and LISC are the right partners. The decline of stronger neighborhood organization bothers me. Why is community infrastructure important to you? It is the prime tool to reinvestment Resources that come just from the outside will fail without community partners.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?  Continue to fight the epidemic with the partnerships! Groups and agencies working alone will only prolong the epidemic.

What more can, and should, we do  to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately? Declare western basin of Lake Erie impaired and get some enforcements around the policies.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?  Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Water And criminal justice reform!!!!


“Who’s Who” of “Who’s That?”

There are lots of elections on this year’s ballot, most of which feature a powerful incumbent against, well, no one.  Incumbents like County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz and Commissioner Tina Wozniak have no opponent. That means as long as they remember to vote for themselves, they win.  Heavyweight slug fests like incumbent Commissioner Pete Gerken against former Toledo Mayor Mike Bell are the exception. Races like Sheriff John Tharp against nobody are much more common.

Just above the nobodies are the “Who was that agains?” State Rep. Teresa Fedor faces James Nowak, but the latter denizen of Point Place has run for Toledo City Council and state rep before. Marcy’s opponent, Donald Larson, is a Navy vet and business owner from Lakewood. We wouldn’t blame you if you’d never heard of him, given that he’s from Cuyahoga County, but you should realize that the gerrymandering of Marcy’s district means there are more voters from that county in her district than in Lucas. And Larson at least has a slick website to tell you who he is, friendsofdonaldlarson.com.

We’re talking about the real whozats?, the candidates so deep in the weeds they can barely be seen from the road. Take Allison Seney, who opposes Phil Copeland for Lucas County Recorder, for example. We can’t find her on the web or on facebook. We found a mylife profile that could be her, so here’s what we might know. The Allison Seney we found is from Sylvania, has an Associate’s degree from Ohio University, and works at the Lucas County Board of Elections. Sounds plausible, but we still must ask. That you, Allison?

Bernie Quilter has an opponent for Clerk of Courts, one Nickolas Berente. We are pretty sure we found this guy on facebook, facebook.com/Dart2727/about, as well as a very revealing twitter @domination2727. This Nick is from Liberty Center but now resides in Toledo. He’s a ward chairman for the Lucas County Republican Party, which means he’s a friend of party Chairman Jon Stainbrook. Makes sense. It seems he worked for Childers Limousine for a few months earlier this year, after working security at the Hollywood Casino. He currently owns a data recovery business and works in “customer service” at Circle K. Sounds like a clerk to us.

Berente’s credentials for being Clerk of Courts are pretty slim. We think we were better off before we found him.

And perhaps Quilter, Ashford and Copeland are unopposed after all.


Ohio Rep District 44

minsco

John Insco R

Age: 61 
Education: Waite High School grad, some college.
Experience: Executive drug store chain 25+ years
Successful campaigns: 1

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
No comment.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
Once the state gets into the full administrative production of legalized medical marijuana in 2017, I would propose that trained certified doctors recommend for pain a CBD primarily based medical marijuana painkiller (relax people, not with the THC high) first, and see what that does. No one has died from medical marijuana and it is time that we used this valuable resource. Remember, large corporations hate this idea as it takes away from the revenue of pill manufactures and drug stores, but this has to change. Choose non lethal drugs first and then let your doctor decide medication recommendations without repercussions for the physician. This costs the city, county or state nothing and saves hundreds of lives.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Farmers have endured long enough along the Lake Erie basin being condemned for all the algae blooms. I fish every other week next to the intake in Jerusalem Township and everything looks better than it has in years. It’s no longer broken, stop fixing it.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
When you go to a hockey game or a Mud Hens game it breaks my heart to see all these empty buildings that I remember as a kid completely full and all the people that used to come downtown. We have to be known as a town that will do what it takes to bring in and court new businesses and not as a ‘union town’. Tell a business that they have to pay $15 an hour to anyone they hire and they will not even think about coming here. That’s not anti-union, its common sense. Businesses startups cannot afford to pay “Jeep Salaries”.

politics1

Michael D. Ashford D

Age: 61
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from University of Nebraska-Omaha; Master’s Degree from Spring Arbor University
Experience: State Representative Michael Ashford
Times you have run for office: 7
Successful campaigns: 7

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
In 2002, there were 14 community development corporations (CDCs) in Toledo. In 2004, there were eight CDCs. In 2016, there are two. Community development corporations are essential, as they address the blight that exists in many neighborhoods and advocate for more resources to be brought to such disadvantaged areas.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
This is a national epidemic. One community cannot solve the opiate crisis on its own, which is why we need more federal and state dollars allocated to address this widely pervasive issue.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Lake Erie is at risk because of poor regulation of fertilization and industry practices. I see it as necessary to improve our current standards. Recent legislations such as House Bill 61, which prohibits the application of manure in the Western Lake Erie basin on frozen ground and saturated soil, indicate that we are taking steps to meet better environmental standards; however, it is imperative that we take more serious measures to lessen human-caused impact on our water resources.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
It is hard to pin down a single issue because there are so many important challenges that our people face every day. For example, the restoration of local government funds is immensely important because it has implications on our ability to hire police and firemen, and it determines how much we can spend on much-needed infrastructure repairs.

What should be the theme song for your campaign? “What’s Going On?” by Marvin Gaye.

What’s your favorite way to unwind? I love grocery shopping and gourmet cooking.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Being mission-driven to serve people.

fordWhat’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? Jack Ford once told me, “Don’t get in politics unless you want to serve people.”

What’s the worst advice you ever followed, or the best advice you wish you had followed? I bought a used car that I didn’t have checked out.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? I would start a foundation  that helps kids in central-city Toledo. It would fund an after-school program, summer enrichment opportunities, tutoring, and recreation.

What’s the last book you read? The Bible.

What’s the next book you want to read? The Bible.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Hoping that winter doesn’t come.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? I would be a 1970s Cleveland Cavalier player with the throwback short-shorts and tube socks.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? The original Car Wash (1976).

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? I’m a gatherer of people.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? I’m likely listening to Ray Charles, thinking about how talented and extraordinary he was.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Working Hard.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? Electricity.

Ohio Rep District 45

James-Nowak-Vote-oh.org

James S. Nowak R

Age: 64 
Education: Bachelor of Education and Doctor of Juris Prudence, University of Toledo
Experience: Practiced law for over twenty years 
Times you have run for office: 5 
Successful campaigns: 0

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
The neighborhoods are where the majority of people live. Many of us work in those neighborhoods. My district includes the Point Place/Alexis area of Toledo. In Point Place… it is important to make sure that the river is clean and the Ottawa River is available for recreational boating. Point Place succeeds not only because of its citizens but of its many boating and yacht clubs located in the community. Many of those clubs along the Ottawa River have difficulties because of the need to dredge the Ottawa River from its mouth to the I75 bridge. This needs to be accomplished. It has been talked about for far too long with far too many excuses.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
I would support State legislation which would continue to create alternatives to jail and prison for people addicted to various drugs. All too often, people who are addicted end up in jail when a drug alternative/drug court would be the best way to treat them. These uses are far less expensive than jail/prison alternatives we presently use. Treatment and education are the best alternatives to the use of drugs. Fortunately for me, when I was a young man I listened to my teachers in school and stayed away from any potential drug use.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
We need to eliminate open lake dumping of dredged materials. This is a single step that can be used to take the dredged materials and off load them on land, allow for them to dry out and ship the dredged materials back up stream to be used as fertilizer. This is something that can be done immediately. Long term we need to continue to work with our cities, farmers and lakefront property owners to assure that sewage and other particulates don’t drain into the lake. We need to understand that our sewer system is in close proximity to our water treatment. Dumping things into the lake only means it’s coming right back into our drinking water.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Jobs. Our area is aging; the State is aging. We need to have jobs so that our young, educated professional and others, have a reason to stay in this community. Without that, our community is slowly dying. The key answer is three words: jobs, jobs, jobs.

Balb

Campaign theme song: Theme song from ‘Rocky’-“Gonna Fly Now”

Your most appropriate Halloween costume: Former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2015)

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Music

What’s your secret for staying on task? Working with good people and staff.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Things are either growing or they’re dying. High school band director.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Dredge the Ottawa River.

What’s the last book you read? Killing Lincoln.

What’s the next book you want to read? Killing Reagan.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Being elected to office. Haven’t convinced enough voters.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Star Wars.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? One of my pending cases in court.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? ‘Gonna Fly Now’
You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? Food.

fedor

Teresa Fedor

Age: 60 
Education: B.S. Education, University of Toledo 
Experience: Veteran of United States Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard, 18 years as a classroom teacher, 16 years in the Ohio legislature. 
Times you have run for office:
6
Successful campaigns: 6

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
We need to have seamless services that enhance quality of life for all neighborhoods. Bringing together community leaders to work toward the common goal of supporting our most vulnerable is a key element. In my work on the Ohio House education committee, we hope to have more opportunities to advocate for wraparound services for our children.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
This is a true public health crisis.Through education, advocacy and providing resources to help adults and children, we can draw the connections between opiate addiction, human trafficking and other key concerns for our neighborhoods. I support efforts to access more federal assistance, particularly in terms of treatment opportunities.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
The immediate priority is to declare the Maumee watershed a distressed watershed. Additionally we must bring together scientists and the agriculture community region to examine best practices. States that do not participate in the regional efforts to address water quality (Indiana, for example does not participate in some of the regional goals), should be encouraged to join Ohio’s efforts.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Human trafficking is the nexus of issues of poverty and education. I am passionate about the fight against human trafficking because of my determination to protect children, and because it is the civil rights issue of our time, but also because it is a key to fighting poverty.


Recorder

Alison-Seney----Gofundme

Allison Seney R

Age: 29
Education: Ross College, Ohio University
Experience: Health Information Management 
Times you have run for office: First time

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
That there are too many idle politicians representing Lucas County. That’s why I am running for Lucas County Recorder. The county needs an infusion of young talent.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
We have to tackle the enormous blight in downtown Toledo. That starts at the top with elected officials. Our priorities have to be on point.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Incorporate young faces into Lucas County politics. We currently have an abundance of career politicians. A fresh perspective is needed.

Campaign theme song: “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? Satellite Phone.

Phil-Copeland----Lucas-county-website

Phillip D. Copeland D

Age: 71
Education: H.S. Graduate
Experience: Elected Official; City Councilmen; Business Manager
Times you have run for office: 4
Successful campaigns: 3

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
Jobs. Communicating to potential investors.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development
enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
Ensuring projects are done by union workers and the Toledo Historical Society is involved.

What’s your favorite way to unwind?  Listening to music.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Keeping a ‘check list’.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “Work hard and be honest.  My Uncle Bill Copeland.

What’s the worst advice you ever followed, or the best advice you wish you had followed? Best advice was from my friend Dominic Montalvo.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Safety.

What’s the last book you read? Not an avid book reader. Prefer the newspaper.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Traveling to Israel and Italy. Timing.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? A Cavalier basketball player.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Enjoying my music.


Ohio Rep District 46

Diana-M.-Skaff----Facebook

Diana M. Skaff R

Age: 61
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, major: Finance. Some Masters, Series7, etc.
Experience: Small business, financial services industry, taught at University
Times you have run for office: First time

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
I believe that the local church’s role should be primary.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
Continue education programs. Support families.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Sewers should be evaluated for runoff.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I believe that if taxes and regulations are reduced. Private sector solutions and freedom will lead to economic expansion and jobs. Jobs are the highest economic need here in our area.

Michael-Sheehy----Ohiohouse.gov

Michael P. Sheehy D

Age: 68
Education: Graduate University of Toledo 1971, Political Science
Experience: 40 years in the transportation industry; 20 years on Oregon City Council; 3 years in State Government
Amount of times you have run for office: 11
Successful campaigns: 11

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
Transportation is vital to any community; road and bridge infrastructure is currently underway throughout the Toledo area. Neighborhood support services, like Sparrow’s Nest and Cherry Street Mission, the Helping Hands of St. Louis, East Toledo Family Center, the Adelante Center and so many other community groups successfully provide services to many of our citizens in need.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
I think we need to focus more on the decriminalization of this issue and provide funding for help with addiction as a health issue.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Sewers should be evaluated for runoff.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I believe that if taxes and regulations are reduced. Private sector solutions and freedom will lead to economic expansion and jobs. Jobs are the highest economic need here in our area.

Yoda---02

Your most appropriate Halloween costume: Yoda.

What should be the theme song for your campaign?  “We Are the World.” (The song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup United Support of Artists (USA) for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie (with arrangements by Michael Omartian) and produced by Quincy Jones.

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Bicycle or hike, swim, read.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Stay focused and have discipline.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “You cannot beat hard work” from father, John J. Sheehy

Best advice not taken: You should look into foreign service working in the diplomatic corps”

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Re-model / repair many homes in Toledo

What’s the last book you read? “The Big Thirst, the Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water” by Charles Fishman

What’s the next book you want to read? “Out of Order, Stories from the History of the Supreme Court” by Sandra Day O’Connor

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Still working on remodeling our home; more time needed.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Rocky.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Can I be both a gatherer and a hunter? I choose both!


Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas

Bernie-quilter----ourtownperrysburg

J. Bernie Quilter D

Age: 57
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Toledo
Experience: Three years on Oregon City Council including President of Council, Lucas County Clerk of Courts for almost 17 years.
Times you have run for office: 5
Successful campaigns: 4—we’ll see about 5.

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
The heroin epidemic. As Clerk of Courts, I see first-hand individuals coming through our doors and the damage done by this terrible addiction.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
By examining other metropolitan areas and what they have done to maintain the unique and historical architecture of their downtowns and modernizing and renovating the interiors of these buildings to make them more attractive to prospective residents. 

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
More recreation programs for our youth. Years ago, while growing up in East Toledo, the City of Toledo would drop off small sheds containing all sorts of recreation items, such as baseball equipment, footballs, etc. Each city park had a supervisor that ran a mentoring program for our youth. We need to get back to this concept because as is often said, our youth are the future and we must do everything possible to provide positive outlets and activities for them. 

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
Our Court of Common Pleas has established a Drug Court with two Common Pleas judges assigned cases. The goal is to keep individuals out of jail and out of a revolving door with their addictions. This program is designed to help rehabilitate people. They are monitored and reviewed every two weeks. The Clerk of Courts handles all the paperwork for individuals appearing in the Drug Court.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
As one who lives on Lake Erie in the City of Oregon, I have seen firsthand how the the Oregon City Council was proactive in expanding and upgrading the water treatment facility. We need to continue to address the phosphorus runoff entering the watershed and find ways to better circulate the water in and around the City of Toledo water intake.

What are your priorities for maintenance and replacement of the city’s infrastructure— such as streets, services, facilities and empty buildings?
Toledo is an older city like many other metropolitan areas throughout the country. We need to repair and replace our infrastructure, such as our sewers, water lines and streets to name a few, and begin from underground and move upwards. Seek new ways to access federal grant money to assist in modernizing our infrastructure by providing an initial influx of dollars to start the process.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I’m passionate about our rich cultural diversity.

What should be the theme song for your campaign? “America” by Neil Diamond.
What’s your favorite way to unwind? Family, friends and my first grandson.
What’s your secret for staying on task? Being persistent in everything I do.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? My mother, Mary Quilter, instilled in me that no matter who you are, you should be treated with respect and dignity. Never treat anyone with disrespect. Whether or not you like someone, always treat them with the respect they so deserve. Every individual has worth.
Best advice not taken: Best advice I wish I had taken, was to have purchased land on Catawba Island when I was 21-years-old.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? To completely renovate and modernize our aging infrastructure in Toledo and our surrounding communities, and to showcase and promote Toledo and Lucas County as a world-class destination for tourism.

New-Jim-Crow

Next book you’ll read: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.

movie2

Last book you read: The Last Lion by Peter S. Canellos

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Cleaning out my attic. I’m afraid to see what might be up there.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Joe Pesci.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring Jimmy Stewart.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? I am both a hunter and a gatherer.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? What to do next. I’m always gathering my thoughts and weighing the pros and cons of issues and agenda items and their impact on processes and the public.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Life in the Fast Lane.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? My family.

bernete

Nickolas Berente R

No Response— fantastic and revealing Twitter, though. 


Election Night Drinking Game

drink

  • Every time a losing candidate says, “The voters have spoken,” take a drink.
  • Take a small sip every time someone references something the Trump said that is racist or misogynistic.
  • Take two drinks if Wolf Blitzer gets unnecessarily excited about a tiny change in the numbers.
  • Take a sip of chardonnay if a red state goes unexpectedly blue.
  • If Hillary wins, save your drink in the fridge and take little sips over the next four years.
  • Drink a Singapore Sling if Trump wears any color of tie other than red.
  • Do a beer bong hit every time Gary Johnson speculates that he has a chance.
  • Pour some of your drink out if CNN has to apologize for some race they called too soon.
  • Take a shot of Wild Turkey if a blue state goes unexpectedly red.
  • If Trump wins, chug the bottle.
  • Pour some vodka in your drink every time Hillary flashes a fake smile.
  • Do a shot if you see any video with Hillary wearing a pantsuit.
  • Take five drinks if you’re watching your election coverage on Fox News.

To run for President of the United States meet 5 requirements

By David Maxwell Fine

The Lucas County Board of Elections lists 20 candidates registered to run for President and accepted for voting ( including write in) on the November 8 ballot. In addition to notables Clinton, Trump, Johnson and Stein. So what does it take to be an eligible candidate? 

Ohio’s 2016 Presidential Guide, published by Ohio’s Secretary of State, explains. To run for President:

  • Be at least 35 years old.
  • Be a natural-born citizen
  • Be a USA resident for at least 14 years.
  • Collect 15,000 signatures of registered Ohio voters (“electors”) on a petition
  • File a list of 18 electors to represent them in the Electoral College if they win the State of Ohio.

Interesting notes:

  • Each state can enact its own rules for getting on the ballot. Most of the names on Ohio’s candidate list will not be listed on the ballot, but will be eligible as
    “write-ins.”
  • Ohio is one of only 43 states that permit such write-in presidential candidates, according to Daily Kos/Bloomberg.
  • No President in history, has had to provide a copy of a birth certificate to state boards of elections to prove U.S. citizenship. In fact, the legal definition of natural born citizen includes people born in a foreign country to a U.S. Citizen Parent. Presidential candidate Ted Cruz was born in Canada, but he still qualified as a natural born citizen.
  • And lest you be concerned, there is no filing fee to run for President.

Rep – Congressional D9

marcy-kaptur----congress.gov

Marcy Kaptur D

Age: 70
Education: BA History, University of Wisconsin; MA Urban Planning, University of Michigan; Doctoral Studies in Urban Planning, MIT
Experience: Professional urban planner for 15 years prior to election; Urban Advisor to President, Carter Administration; National Consumer Cooperative Bank
Times you have run for office: 17 
Successful campaigns: 17

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
As an urban planner by profession, I believe support structures are critical to the success of neighborhoods.  A mix of employment and educational opportunities, access to fresh and local foods, green space, entertainment access, and safe and affordable housing makes successful neighborhoods.  We are rising to the challenge through efforts to establish businesses in underserved urban areas, the planting of community gardens, an emphasis on improved public space, and targeted investment in schools and housing.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
At the federal level, the Congress must fund the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act passed earlier this year.  My efforts to pass the bill were somewhat stymied when Republicans refused to support efforts to fund its provisions.  Later, I was successful in getting funding included in a bill passed in the final hours before Congress bolted for campaigning. More resources will be needed, but the efforts I led have given us some footing for federal help to communities struggling with this serious public health challenge.

What more can, and should, we do  to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
The problems in Lake Erie are bi-national in scope and require a bi-national solution.  To that end, USEPA, the Great Lakes States and the Canadian government have been working under a collaborative agreement. A co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, beginning in 2002 I initiated interagency and private sector dialogue through the Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership and directed funding to NRCS to bring a $41 million investment in conservation efforts to improve water quality. The federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, launched in 2010 authorizes for a $475 million federal investment, to fund efforts to reduce nutrients, manage invasive species, control sediment erosion, support habitat restoration, and support research and monitoring in the Great Lakes system. Improving the health of our Great Lake is among our highest priorities.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
The spirit of our people inspires me every day. Our citizenry knows that with hard work and determination we can overcome challenges and assure Toledo continues to be a great place to live and to work for generations to come.

movie

Movie that describes your life: Mr. (Ms.) Smith Goes to Washington

Best advice: “Get an education, it can’t be taken away.”  – My parents

What should be the theme song for your campaign? Happy Days are Here Again

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Tending to my garden despite the determination of Toledo’s mole, rabbit and stink bug population to dissuade my efforts.


What’s your secret for staying on task? A healthy lifestyle and having more than 700,000 supervisors!

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Transform our community into the most highly educated place in the world.  

What’s the last book you read? Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder.

What’s the next book you want to read? ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror (Weiss and Hassan)

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Converting hundreds of VCR and other tapes to digital format.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween?  Donald Trump.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Both.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?
Listen to tapes, other media. This week it’s a talk by Fr. James Bacik, treasured Lourdes University Theologian.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Celebrate Life.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? A salt water purifier that doubles as a terrarium.

donald-p.-larson----friends-of-donald-larson

Donald P. Larson

Age: 49
Education: Ohio State (Nuclear Engineering) M.S. Case Western Reserve (Business Administration) M.B.A.
Experience: Over 15 years of in information technology, engineering, and sales. Mr. Larson founded a weekly radio program, Capitalist Cleveland that concentrates on entrepreneurial business development in Northeast Ohio.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
All services have been lacking for a very long time. In some areas, there has been some improvement. Cultural and community infrastructure plays an important role in bringing people together, helping to form friendships and social support networks, and in helping communities to develop life skills and resilience. All these attributes are essential elements in the creation and maintenance of strong communities. Communities can invest more in their infrastructure when their economy is prosperous and I will be a voice for prosperity in Washington D.C..

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
The largest reason we are dealing with the opiate epidemic in America is because we have not secured our borders. I support future President Trump’s efforts to secure our borders.

What more can, and should, we do  to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
My opponent is almost singlehandedly responsible for the harmful algae blooms in the Lake. She sponsored the first bill for a renewable fuel standard that required corn-based ethanol to be mixed into our gasoline. That bill morphed into a Senate bill that is now the current RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard). Every science expert agrees that HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) are caused by heavy rains washing fertilizer into our streams and lakes. Because of corn ethanol and the RFS, farmers have used much more fertilizer than what they would otherwise. Unlike my opponent I want a sensible plan to phase out the RFS mandate. With proper trade policies farmers can survive and thrive once again without the RFS. I will look out for the farmer and the environment in Washington D.C.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Foreign Trade Policy. Because it greatly impacts all of our manufacturing centers. Our most important jobs are our manufacturing jobs. Manufacturing jobs make possible the arsenal that defends our freedoms. We cannot count on globalist forces to defend America’s best interests. Agricultural jobs are of almost equal importance. We must be able to feed ourselves. We have strayed too far in agriculture in producing fuel that our food security is now threatened and we have become more and more dependent on other nations for our food supply. Being dependent on foreign oil and gas has been painful and being dependent upon foreign food can be even more painful.

3P2pg

You can bring only one item to a deserted island, it is: A Navy SEAL (they know how to survive).

Campaign theme song: “I won’t back down” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

Favorite way to unwind? Riding my motorcycle or driving my jeep.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Don’t sweat the small stuff, never micro-manage, treat others how you would like to be treated, and when you think you need a break, take one.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “Pick a task your parents ask you to do and do it every morning. You will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.” – my Grandmother.

What’s the worst advice you ever followed, or the best advice you wish you had followed? The best advice I wish I had followed: “Don’t make a hasty or angry decision, sleep on it.”

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Set up a world-class business incubator and a public bank run by the city that only made loans to small businesses and college students.

What’s the last book you read? To the rest of the world, a dull engineering book.

What’s the next book you want to read? To the rest of the world, a dull economics book.

 

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? A road trip around the world. Because of expense and time.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Indiana Jones.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? What my daughters will need or are doing.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? “When the Lightning Strikes.”

 

 

george-skalsky----wordpress

George A. Skalsky I

No Response


Judge: Court of Common Pleas

Lindsay-Navarre----Lucas-County-Democrats

Lindsay D. Navarre D

Age: 35
Education: Perrysburg High School, Perrysburg, Ohio – National Honor Society (1999). Graduate of Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana (2002); Graduate of the University of Toledo’s College of Law – Dean’s List (2005).
Experience: Over a decade serving the public as a trial attorney with the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office.The Toledo Bar Association’s judicial poll demonstrated that 90% of local lawyers recommended me to be the next Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge.
Times you have run for office: This is my first time.

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
The opiate epidemic is huge and it is scary. People are dying on a daily basis because of this highly addictive poison that is being peddled on our streets. Judges who educated themselves about this epidemic and the most effective ways of combating it can be integral in fighting this battle that has ruined families and taken lives. I am uniquely qualified to do that because of my experience as an Assistant Lucas County Prosecutor and a leader in our community. I am dedicated to thinking outside of the box and exploring methods that help protect our community in the long-term while getting addicts the help they need to climb out of this hole of addiction. I am dedicated to our new drug court in the Common Pleas Court and have advocated for it as a prosecutor. I also think that a strong message must be sent to those who traffic these drugs in our community. If you sell a product that is killing people, your sentence should be reflective of that.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
As a judge, I can promise local business owners and leaders that I will handle civil disputes in my courtroom in a swift manner so that businesses and negotiations are not frozen waiting on decisions from the court. One of the biggest complaints I have heard from civil attorneys and local business leaders is that court proceedings move too slowly and it has a negative impact on progress. Justice delayed is truly justice denied. If elected as a judge, I will not forget that I am a public servant and owe a duty of diligence to the public I serve.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?
I grew up in Toledo and I have very deep roots here. It is important to me that Toledo continues to grow and thrive for generations to come. As an Assistant Lucas County Prosecutor, I have had a direct effect on the safety of our neighborhoods. I have tried over 50 felony jury trials and made sure that murderers, rapists and violent predators have gotten the sentences they deserve. Unfortunately, as a judicial candidate, I’m prevented from elaborating much more than that.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Community safety. Lucas County simply cannot thrive unless its residents feel safe. I have dedicated my career to public service with the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, where I have been a trial attorney for the past 11 years. I’ve tried over 50 felony jury trials, including aggravated murder, rape and complex fraud cases. I was the first prosecutor in Lucas County to achieve a trial conviction on the charge of participating in a criminal gang. I have been the voice for victims who have suffered unimaginable tragedy. I have taken violent and dangerous predators off of our streets. I have protected children who have been abused. I am the candidate that police and fire trust to keep our community safe, as I have been endorsed by the Toledo Police Command Officers Association, the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association, Sheriff John Tharp and the Toledo Firefighters Union. I am the only candidate in this race with the necessary experience for the job.

Alicia-Keys-psd17042

Campaign theme song: Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire”. It’s my favorite.

Next book you’ll read: Broad Influence: How Women are Changing the Way America Works, by Jay Newton-Small.

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Reading books with my son. His favorite right now is “Go Dog Go.”

What’s the the best advice? Trust your gut. It’s never failed me.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Make sure no child ever went hungry.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Cleaning my car. I have a toddler, so there are cheerios and milk splashes decorating the entire back seat.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Daenerys Targaryen, from Game of Thrones. She is the mother of dragons, and my son has the cutest dragon costume for Halloween this year, so it makes sense. And I love her character.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Both. I’m a multi-tasker. All good moms are.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Where I have to be next.

shelly-kennedy----shellykennedyforjudge.com

Shelly Kennedy R

Education: University of Toledo College of Law, University of Cincinnati, Bachelor of Science
Experience: Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Sixth District Court of Appeals, full-time staff attorney
Times you have run for office: 1

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
My biggest concern is a fair and effective system of justice. I will address it by working to efficiently utilize taxpayer dollars and treat all people equally and fairly.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
By supporting candidates I believe in.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?
No comment.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
The independence of the judiciary, because judges are the pillar of our judicial system.

Harleydavidson_sportster

Last book you read: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert M. Pirsig.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

Campaign theme song: “You Get What You Give” by Chuck Ragan

Favorite way to unwind: Pull weeds in my gardens.

Secret for staying on task: Close my door.

Best advice: My father has always told me “Don’t be afraid to fail.”

 

Best advice I never took: I wish I followed my father’s advice more often.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? I would restore the Lucas County Courthouse and the old Court of Appeals building

Task that stayed on your to-do list: Pull weeds in my gardens.

Movie to describe your life: “The Hours.”

 

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? What song I will listen to next.

Your debut album title: Wanderlust.

You can bring only one item to a deserted island, it is: A knife.


Judge: 6th District Court of Appeals

Mayle-Headshot

Christine Mayle R

Age: 40
Education: Notre Dame Law School, cum laude; Providence College, summa cum laude Experience: Partner and elected member of the Board of Directors at Thacker Robinson Zinz in Toledo, where she handles complex commercial litigation, appeals, and arbitrations in venues throughout the country. Prior to this, Mayle has practiced law at the international law firm Dewey Ballantine LLP, and served on many boards.
Times you have run for office: First campaign.

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
My goal is to ensure that Toledo’s courtrooms operate in an efficient, fair, and legally-correct manner. I will do that by bringing my strong work ethic and my private-practice experience to the appellate bench where I will work hard to issue timely, fair, well-reasoned, and legally-sound opinions that are written in plain English.  The law should not be a mystery and courts should write clear opinions so that everyone understands their legal rights and obligations. 

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
My law firm is headquartered in downtown Toledo, and I am excited to see the growth and development over the last several years.  I would contribute to downtown Toledo’s continued success by resolving appeals related to business disputes (as well as all other disputes) in a consistent, timely, and correct manner. A well-functioning judiciary creates a stable environment for economic growth.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?
“No answer supplied by the candidate.”

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
As an appellate judge, I would address the timeliness and quality of judicial opinions. I have spent my career performing complex legal research and writing – the two requisite skills of any great appellate judge. I have been hired by a diverse array of individuals and businesses to solve important legal problems. I often have to juggle competing court deadlines and work within a budget.  I would operate at this same level of intensity as a judge where I would decide cases swiftly and correctly – saving taxpayer dollars and doing the job that the voters sent me there to do.

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Worst advice you ever received: “You should perm your hair” – best friend, circa 1985

Secret for staying on task: A lavender vanilla latte from Maddie & Bella.

  • What should be the theme song for your campaign? “The Walker” by Fitz and the Tantrums
  • What’s your favorite way to unwind? Taking our boys to the Toledo Zoo.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “You should run for Judge of the Sixth District Court of Appeals” – many family, friends, and colleagues.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Give everyone a $1 million and a hug.

What’s the last book you read? Carry On Warrior, by Glennon Doyle Melton.

What’s the next book you want to read? Love Warrior, by Glennon Doyle Melton.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Put up the Halloween decorations— every moment is spent campaigning!

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Wonder Woman.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Rudy. (Go Irish!)

Is The Glass City half empty or half full? Half full!

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Both.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? “Why is Waze taking me this way?”

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Miss Demeanor.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? My debut album.

garycook

Gary G. Cook

Age: 54
Education: University of Toledo College of Law, Juris Doctor, May 1992, University of Toledo Bachelor of Science, June 1989
Experience: Judge, Lucas County Common Pleas Court, 2004-current, Senior Assistant Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, 1993-2004, Attorney/Public Defender, 1993, Legal Intern 1991-1992
Times you have run for office: 4
Successful campaigns: 3

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
As a Judge and former Assistant Lucas County prosecutor, one of my primary concerns is the safety of our community and the protection of individual rights. As a citizen, I am also concerned with the economic stability and growth of Toledo. Although my role would change in the Appellate Court, I would continue to provide the respected judicial services that our community has benefitted from for decades. I would continue to believe that each voice is important and I would continue to provide consistent, well-reasoned judicial decisions.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
While the role of an appellate judge would have limited contact with downtown Toledo development, should a case present before me, I am required to follow and apply the applicable law.  As a lifelong resident of Toledo and the surrounding area, I find Toledo’s unique character of being a “Big Small Town” is one that embraces change while being respectful to its heritage. Toledo has done an impressive job of creating an environment for modern development and for the re-purposing of the existing buildings with a modern flair. The home of the Toledo Mud Hens  (Fifth-Third Field), the development of the Steam Plant, and the re-utilization of the buildings in the Warehouse District are great examples of how downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting Toledo’s unique character.    

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?Over the last several years as our need for more addiction treatment services have become necessary, we have seen agencies and service providers come forward to try to meet an overwhelming demand.  Instead of recreating the wheel, community coalitions are joining services to help those in need and to get information out to the community. This is not directly an Appellate Court issue, however, neighborhood support and services are vital to crime prevention, the reduction of recidivism rates, and for the support for reentry after incarceration.   Appropriate and stable housing, education, mental health services, and substance abuse counseling are critical to the stability of our community.  These services have been vital to me in my current role.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I am passionate about the strides our judicial and law enforcement community has made in making a commitment to address incarceration populations and the greater concern of the revolving door of over incarceration. Through the development of informational tools, educational programs, behavior modification training, and re-entry support services we are working to address needs in order to stabilize an individual. The development and better use of the tools, and the greater understanding of the services needed has made for a better potential outcome.

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Campaign theme song: “Good Riddance (Time of your Life)” by Green Day; or “Good to be Alive” by Andy Grammar. 

Favorite way to unwind: Barn chores and family time.

 

Last book you read: Above the Line by Urban Meyer

Task that stayed on your to-do list: Numerous house maintenance chores, because there is always one more!

Your most appropriate Halloween costume: Frankenstein.

 

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? My to do list, prioritizing what I can get done by the end of the day.

You can bring only one item to a deserted island, it is: My Family, we are very resourceful and would have a blast!   


Voting Records

Ted Strickland and Senator Robert Portman
Source: govtrack.us | votesmart.org

Gov_Ted_Strickland

Ted Strickland D

Prior to being elected Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland served in the House of Representatives representing southeast Ohio’s 6th congressional district for 12 years, until 2007. During that time he voted on many bills and resolutions, including the following:    

Voted for:

  • Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act: Would prevent gun manufactures from being liable in lawsuits for crimes committed with their weapons. There are several exceptions to this rule, including people who transfer a gun to someone they know will use it to commit a crime of violence or drug dealing crime.
  • Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (but voted against an amendment to that bill that sought to give willing State and local law enforcement the ability to detain illegal aliens in the course of their regular duties).
  • Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005: Pass a bill that allows the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that uses human embryonic stem cells.

Voted against:

  • Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
  • USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005: Made permanent some of the spying and surveillance provisions of the USA Patriot Act of 2001.
  • Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005: Prohibits civil lawsuits against food manufacturers or sellers for any injury related to a person’s consumption of food and their resulting weight gain, obesity, or any associated health condition.
  • School Readiness Act of 2005: Amended the Head Start Act, revised Head Start, and funded the Head Start program through 2011. Among many other changes, it revised allowed uses of quality improvement funds to include outreach to homeless families, migrant and seasonal farmworker families, and families with children with a limited English proficiency.

portman

Robert Portman R

Senator Portman is an attorney from Cincinnati and Ohioans elected him to the House of Representatives in 1993 where he represented Ohio’s 2nd Congressional district for twelve years.

Portman won his senate seat in 2010 and his voting record from his time in the U.S. Senate includes the following: 

Voted for:

  • Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act
  • Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. The law requires hospital care and medical services to be furnished to veterans through agreements with specified non-VA facilities if the veterans have been unable to schedule an appointment at a VA medical facility within a certain wait-time, for hospital care or medical services.
  • Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The law establishes a healthy food financing initiative to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities by providing loans and grants to fresh food retailers to overcome higher entry costs in such areas.

Voted against:

  • Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. 
  • Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, provided an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
  • Extending our federal debt limit, the Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act.
  • Amendment 4720, prohibits the transfer of firearms to suspected terrorists.
  • Amendment 3483 – Establishes Standards for Passenger Space on Airplanes: Vote to adopt an amendment that prohibits an airline from reducing the legroom on a passenger aircraft.

Seasonal Election Disorder, or SED, is a type of distress that’s related to election season. SED begins and ends when the political circus starts. If you’re like most people with SED, you might feel anxiety, a sense of ennui, depression, confusion, existential dread, or worse— fever dreams about moving to Canada.

But SED is related to the issues, and those suffering from SED can overcome the seasonal disorder by becoming informed. We know you have issues. So do we. Learn about local problems, and the candidates hoping to fix them, in our annual City Politics Guide. We can’t promise a remedy for your SED— we aren’t even going to touch Trump or Hil in this—but we hope to provide relief.

Get your vote on

Doing that democracy thing

It’s the most important election of our lifetime.

That’s the mantra. They say it every four years. It seems the importance accelerates, and every election is increasingly the most important election of our lifetime. At this rate, the importance level will make the next election so urgent you’ll have to vote a year early.

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Once again, we’re told this year is the be-all end-all Mother of All Elections election. The fate of the nation, the future of democracy, the course of civilization hangs in its balance.

Whatever. Hyperbole aside, there are some other monikers that are probably closer to the truth. The most outrageous, maddening, angst-unleashing election of our lifetime. The fix is in! It’s an international conspiracy! Bring out the torches and pitchforks!

Again we say, whatever.

It’s all about the meme

Here’s the rub. The meme-filled, social media driven madness has led to an unprecedented level of mind-numbed resignation. Folks are turned off by the specter of the anti-establishment hero who brags in private about groping unsuspecting women, and the establishment candidate who seems a bit too establishment. The alt third-party candidates either have never heard of a major international battleground called Aleppo or don’t believe in vaccinations.

Will this lead to voter turnout being even worse than the normally miserable?

Here’s the facts, Jack. To quote the old ball coach, every election is the most important. The most important vote is the one right in front of you. Because democracy is fragile and messy. It only works if folks participate. The top of the ticket vote may have you down, but buck up, make a choice, and do that democracy thing. Stop lamenting the lack of a perfect candidate and vote for your best option.

Election complexion

And don’t forget that choices go all the way down the ballot. There are local races and issues that make a real difference in your neighbors’ lives. Levies for the zoo, library, and children’s services. A tax renewal for police and fire in the city. Election of state representatives and judges and county officials.

Think your vote doesn’t make a difference? These local races are often decided by a thousand votes or less. The county only has a couple hundred voting precincts. That means that local races may be decided by a vote or two per precinct.

That deciding vote in your precinct could be yours.

We know it has been a long, disheartening election season. But for democracy to flourish, it needs you.

Keep calm and get your voting shoes on.


We Got Issues

A brief review of local ballot issues

Issue 2: Renewal of the City of Toledo’s 3/4% income tax. This is a straight renewal of the current three-quarter per cent “temporary” portion of Toledo’s income tax, which means voters must renew it or it lapses. The other one-and-one-half per cent Toledo income tax is permanent and is not voted on. That means that voters decide whether to keep one-third of the income tax every three years. Most of this tax pays for safety services like police and fire, plus capital improvement projects like major road reconstruction. According to city officials, loss of one-third of this revenue would decimate these services. The renewal includes the ability to transfer capital improvement money to help balance the general fund. City officials argue that without that ability, major cuts to safety forces would result.  https://www.keeptoledosafe.com/

Issue 18: TARTA renewal. This is also a straight renewal of 1.5 mills property tax levy for the operation of mass transit buses in the Toledo area.

Issue 19: a renewal of the .7 mills levy for the operation of the countywide 911 emergency call service.

Issue 20: Lucas County Children’s Services. This is a request for a renewal of the current 1.4 mills levy and an increase of an additional .4 mills, or a total of 1.8 mills. LCCS argues that the increase is needed due to the heroin and opiate epidemic in Lucas County, plus increases in cases stemming from mental health needs and domestic violance.  https://www.lucas4kids.com/

Issue 21: Imagination Station.  A renewal of the small, .17 mills needed to continue operations of Toledo’s science museum.
https://imaginationstationtoledo.org/show-your-support

Issue 22: Toledo-Lucas County Library. This is renewal of the 2.9 mills levy that expires in December of 2017 plus an increase of .8 mills for a total of 3.7 mills. Library officials say the levy is vital to maintain current operations and extend hours at some branches.

Issue 23: Toledo Zoo. This is a levy renewal, but with a twist. The zoo has been so successful at financial stewardship and building memberships and attendance that the zoo is actually requesting a, wait for it, DECREASE in millage from .85 mills to .75 mills. The zoo has substantially decreased its reliance on levy funding and is passing along its savings to property owners.
https://www.toledozoo.org/voteforyourzoo/index.html


County Commissioner

michael-p.-bell----toledo-chamber-of-commerce

Michael P. Bell R

Age: 61
Education: Bachelors’ of Education
Experience: Fire Chief of the City of Toledo (16 years); Fire Marshal for the State of Ohio (2 years); Mayor of the City of Toledo (4 years)
Times (previously) run for office: 3
Times you have successfully run for office: 1

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it? My biggest concern is the inability of Toledo Government to maintain a stable budget. The key to any type of stability, within the City of Toledo, is a budget to provide basic services (Police protection, Fire and Emergency care, good drinking water, in addition to a strong infrastructure replacement plan) to be successful and competitive in the region. Without the ability to do this, it destabilizes not only the City of Toledo but potentially the whole region of Lucas County. It is important that the County Commissioners take an active roll as a strong partner to the City of Toledo to leverage the region for economic success. I will develop partnerships countywide to create economic success for all.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character? By becoming and being a good and strong partner to the “22nd Century Plan”, currently being developed by the community and led by the business leadership of the region. The final phases of this plan were just completed in late August. The plan takes into consideration all of the points mentioned in your question while providing tested solutions. What will make this plan successful is that it listened to and respected the ideas of all who attended the multiple planning sessions open to the general public. Sometimes you don’t have to create your own wheel, just assist with the wheel that is already in place.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you? The intent of the services provided is good;  a goal of trying to help the areas within our community that are in need of the greatest assistance. But the problem is money flow. The real issue, is that there are a growing number of problems within our neighborhoods with fewer dollars to deal with the issues. Poverty levels in Lucas County have climbed from somewhere around 13% a little over 10 years ago to over 20% now. So the issue is, where do we find new income for people? How do we put people back to work? It is so important that we address the issues of jobs and stabilizing our economy in the greater Toledo and Lucas County region.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
First, support the current programs that are in place. I believe our current Sheriff is a long way down this road already, nationally, with the way he and Local Law Enforcement in the area are attempting to treat this epidemic. The word epidemic signals that this is more of a medically related issue then an act of pure criminal intent. So the Sheriff is reaching out proactively to address these issues within the county. I believe a Commissioner’s job is to assist with the critical funding, needed to continue this progressive program. In addition, I believe it is important to reach out statewide and nationally for evaluation of other successful programs. Once again, you may not have to create the wheel, just research where else in the United States or in the world  a successful program exist  and can be re-created to address the opiate issue here.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately? I think now, that this issue is currently on everyone’s radar screen that a portion of the battle has been won. Acknowledging that we do have a problem is huge. The question of what we do immediately is not that simple. I believe what can be done is being done now, otherwise, why are the people who are charged with this mission still in position? What a Commissioner can do is keep this in the forefront of priorities in the County and refuse to let it disappear.

What are your priorities for maintenance and replacement of the city’s infrastructure – such as streets, facilities and empty buildings?
From a county stand point about the most you can do, as you would do with all cities, villages and townships’ in the County of Lucas, is be the best partner you can be when needed. The key words here is “when needed” and ” helping the whole county”, not just one entity. Lucas county has 341 square miles of land and 255 square miles of water. I believe if we come together as partners within the county, working together for the greater good of Lucas County, we can raise tide for all ships.

Campaign theme song: “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

Harley-Davidson

Favorite way to unwind: Ride my Harley Davidson long distance (Florida/ New Orleans/ Milwaukee/ etc.)

Secret for staying on task: Remember what the mission was designed to accomplish.

Best advice: That in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies – From my Dad

Best Advice followed: Always be true to yourself – Mom and Dad.

What’s the last book you read: Hole In The Head by Dr. Wilbert Smith

Movie to describe your life: Tombstone

What would the name of your debut album be: “How Dare You”

pete-gerken----electpetegerken.com

Pete Gerken D

Age: 64
Education:
B.S. University of Toledo
Experience: 
Appointed to Toledo City Council in 1996; served for eight years and chaired the Environment, Utilities, and Public Service Committee. He was elected as County Commissioner in 2005 and served as served as President of the Board of Lucas County Commissioners (2009 to 2013).
Times you have run for office:
5
Successful campaigns:
5

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it? Keeping the growth of excitement, investment, and jobs moving ahead. Advancing our strategy public/ private partnerships, increasing our workforce development policies and making our water a safe, clean and affordable resource.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character? We need to advance the housing opportunities by reinvesting in valuable, but slightly worn, building stock.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you? Neighborhood investment and partnership is essential. The Land bank and LISC are the right partners. The decline of stronger neighborhood organization bothers me. Why is community infrastructure important to you? It is the prime tool to reinvestment Resources that come just from the outside will fail without community partners.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?  Continue to fight the epidemic with the partnerships! Groups and agencies working alone will only prolong the epidemic.

What more can, and should, we do  to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately? Declare western basin of Lake Erie impaired and get some enforcements around the policies.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?  Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Water And criminal justice reform!!!!


“Who’s Who” of “Who’s That?”

There are lots of elections on this year’s ballot, most of which feature a powerful incumbent against, well, no one.  Incumbents like County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz and Commissioner Tina Wozniak have no opponent. That means as long as they remember to vote for themselves, they win.  Heavyweight slug fests like incumbent Commissioner Pete Gerken against former Toledo Mayor Mike Bell are the exception. Races like Sheriff John Tharp against nobody are much more common.

Just above the nobodies are the “Who was that agains?” State Rep. Teresa Fedor faces James Nowak, but the latter denizen of Point Place has run for Toledo City Council and state rep before. Marcy’s opponent, Donald Larson, is a Navy vet and business owner from Lakewood. We wouldn’t blame you if you’d never heard of him, given that he’s from Cuyahoga County, but you should realize that the gerrymandering of Marcy’s district means there are more voters from that county in her district than in Lucas. And Larson at least has a slick website to tell you who he is, friendsofdonaldlarson.com.

We’re talking about the real whozats?, the candidates so deep in the weeds they can barely be seen from the road. Take Allison Seney, who opposes Phil Copeland for Lucas County Recorder, for example. We can’t find her on the web or on facebook. We found a mylife profile that could be her, so here’s what we might know. The Allison Seney we found is from Sylvania, has an Associate’s degree from Ohio University, and works at the Lucas County Board of Elections. Sounds plausible, but we still must ask. That you, Allison?

Bernie Quilter has an opponent for Clerk of Courts, one Nickolas Berente. We are pretty sure we found this guy on facebook, facebook.com/Dart2727/about, as well as a very revealing twitter @domination2727. This Nick is from Liberty Center but now resides in Toledo. He’s a ward chairman for the Lucas County Republican Party, which means he’s a friend of party Chairman Jon Stainbrook. Makes sense. It seems he worked for Childers Limousine for a few months earlier this year, after working security at the Hollywood Casino. He currently owns a data recovery business and works in “customer service” at Circle K. Sounds like a clerk to us.

Berente’s credentials for being Clerk of Courts are pretty slim. We think we were better off before we found him.

And perhaps Quilter, Ashford and Copeland are unopposed after all.


Ohio Rep District 44

minsco

John Insco R

Age: 61 
Education: Waite High School grad, some college.
Experience: Executive drug store chain 25+ years
Successful campaigns: 1

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
No comment.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
Once the state gets into the full administrative production of legalized medical marijuana in 2017, I would propose that trained certified doctors recommend for pain a CBD primarily based medical marijuana painkiller (relax people, not with the THC high) first, and see what that does. No one has died from medical marijuana and it is time that we used this valuable resource. Remember, large corporations hate this idea as it takes away from the revenue of pill manufactures and drug stores, but this has to change. Choose non lethal drugs first and then let your doctor decide medication recommendations without repercussions for the physician. This costs the city, county or state nothing and saves hundreds of lives.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Farmers have endured long enough along the Lake Erie basin being condemned for all the algae blooms. I fish every other week next to the intake in Jerusalem Township and everything looks better than it has in years. It’s no longer broken, stop fixing it.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
When you go to a hockey game or a Mud Hens game it breaks my heart to see all these empty buildings that I remember as a kid completely full and all the people that used to come downtown. We have to be known as a town that will do what it takes to bring in and court new businesses and not as a ‘union town’. Tell a business that they have to pay $15 an hour to anyone they hire and they will not even think about coming here. That’s not anti-union, its common sense. Businesses startups cannot afford to pay “Jeep Salaries”.

politics1

Michael D. Ashford D

Age: 61
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from University of Nebraska-Omaha; Master’s Degree from Spring Arbor University
Experience: State Representative Michael Ashford
Times you have run for office: 7
Successful campaigns: 7

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
In 2002, there were 14 community development corporations (CDCs) in Toledo. In 2004, there were eight CDCs. In 2016, there are two. Community development corporations are essential, as they address the blight that exists in many neighborhoods and advocate for more resources to be brought to such disadvantaged areas.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
This is a national epidemic. One community cannot solve the opiate crisis on its own, which is why we need more federal and state dollars allocated to address this widely pervasive issue.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Lake Erie is at risk because of poor regulation of fertilization and industry practices. I see it as necessary to improve our current standards. Recent legislations such as House Bill 61, which prohibits the application of manure in the Western Lake Erie basin on frozen ground and saturated soil, indicate that we are taking steps to meet better environmental standards; however, it is imperative that we take more serious measures to lessen human-caused impact on our water resources.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
It is hard to pin down a single issue because there are so many important challenges that our people face every day. For example, the restoration of local government funds is immensely important because it has implications on our ability to hire police and firemen, and it determines how much we can spend on much-needed infrastructure repairs.

What should be the theme song for your campaign? “What’s Going On?” by Marvin Gaye.

What’s your favorite way to unwind? I love grocery shopping and gourmet cooking.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Being mission-driven to serve people.

fordWhat’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? Jack Ford once told me, “Don’t get in politics unless you want to serve people.”

What’s the worst advice you ever followed, or the best advice you wish you had followed? I bought a used car that I didn’t have checked out.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? I would start a foundation  that helps kids in central-city Toledo. It would fund an after-school program, summer enrichment opportunities, tutoring, and recreation.

What’s the last book you read? The Bible.

What’s the next book you want to read? The Bible.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Hoping that winter doesn’t come.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? I would be a 1970s Cleveland Cavalier player with the throwback short-shorts and tube socks.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? The original Car Wash (1976).

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? I’m a gatherer of people.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? I’m likely listening to Ray Charles, thinking about how talented and extraordinary he was.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Working Hard.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? Electricity.

Ohio Rep District 45

James-Nowak-Vote-oh.org

James S. Nowak R

Age: 64 
Education: Bachelor of Education and Doctor of Juris Prudence, University of Toledo
Experience: Practiced law for over twenty years 
Times you have run for office: 5 
Successful campaigns: 0

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
The neighborhoods are where the majority of people live. Many of us work in those neighborhoods. My district includes the Point Place/Alexis area of Toledo. In Point Place… it is important to make sure that the river is clean and the Ottawa River is available for recreational boating. Point Place succeeds not only because of its citizens but of its many boating and yacht clubs located in the community. Many of those clubs along the Ottawa River have difficulties because of the need to dredge the Ottawa River from its mouth to the I75 bridge. This needs to be accomplished. It has been talked about for far too long with far too many excuses.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
I would support State legislation which would continue to create alternatives to jail and prison for people addicted to various drugs. All too often, people who are addicted end up in jail when a drug alternative/drug court would be the best way to treat them. These uses are far less expensive than jail/prison alternatives we presently use. Treatment and education are the best alternatives to the use of drugs. Fortunately for me, when I was a young man I listened to my teachers in school and stayed away from any potential drug use.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
We need to eliminate open lake dumping of dredged materials. This is a single step that can be used to take the dredged materials and off load them on land, allow for them to dry out and ship the dredged materials back up stream to be used as fertilizer. This is something that can be done immediately. Long term we need to continue to work with our cities, farmers and lakefront property owners to assure that sewage and other particulates don’t drain into the lake. We need to understand that our sewer system is in close proximity to our water treatment. Dumping things into the lake only means it’s coming right back into our drinking water.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Jobs. Our area is aging; the State is aging. We need to have jobs so that our young, educated professional and others, have a reason to stay in this community. Without that, our community is slowly dying. The key answer is three words: jobs, jobs, jobs.

Balb

Campaign theme song: Theme song from ‘Rocky’-“Gonna Fly Now”

Your most appropriate Halloween costume: Former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2015)

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Music

What’s your secret for staying on task? Working with good people and staff.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Things are either growing or they’re dying. High school band director.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Dredge the Ottawa River.

What’s the last book you read? Killing Lincoln.

What’s the next book you want to read? Killing Reagan.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Being elected to office. Haven’t convinced enough voters.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Star Wars.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? One of my pending cases in court.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? ‘Gonna Fly Now’
You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? Food.

fedor

Teresa Fedor

Age: 60 
Education: B.S. Education, University of Toledo 
Experience: Veteran of United States Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard, 18 years as a classroom teacher, 16 years in the Ohio legislature. 
Times you have run for office:
6
Successful campaigns: 6

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
We need to have seamless services that enhance quality of life for all neighborhoods. Bringing together community leaders to work toward the common goal of supporting our most vulnerable is a key element. In my work on the Ohio House education committee, we hope to have more opportunities to advocate for wraparound services for our children.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
This is a true public health crisis.Through education, advocacy and providing resources to help adults and children, we can draw the connections between opiate addiction, human trafficking and other key concerns for our neighborhoods. I support efforts to access more federal assistance, particularly in terms of treatment opportunities.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
The immediate priority is to declare the Maumee watershed a distressed watershed. Additionally we must bring together scientists and the agriculture community region to examine best practices. States that do not participate in the regional efforts to address water quality (Indiana, for example does not participate in some of the regional goals), should be encouraged to join Ohio’s efforts.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Human trafficking is the nexus of issues of poverty and education. I am passionate about the fight against human trafficking because of my determination to protect children, and because it is the civil rights issue of our time, but also because it is a key to fighting poverty.


Recorder

Alison-Seney----Gofundme

Allison Seney R

Age: 29
Education: Ross College, Ohio University
Experience: Health Information Management 
Times you have run for office: First time

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
That there are too many idle politicians representing Lucas County. That’s why I am running for Lucas County Recorder. The county needs an infusion of young talent.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
We have to tackle the enormous blight in downtown Toledo. That starts at the top with elected officials. Our priorities have to be on point.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Incorporate young faces into Lucas County politics. We currently have an abundance of career politicians. A fresh perspective is needed.

Campaign theme song: “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? Satellite Phone.

Phil-Copeland----Lucas-county-website

Phillip D. Copeland D

Age: 71
Education: H.S. Graduate
Experience: Elected Official; City Councilmen; Business Manager
Times you have run for office: 4
Successful campaigns: 3

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
Jobs. Communicating to potential investors.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development
enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
Ensuring projects are done by union workers and the Toledo Historical Society is involved.

What’s your favorite way to unwind?  Listening to music.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Keeping a ‘check list’.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “Work hard and be honest.  My Uncle Bill Copeland.

What’s the worst advice you ever followed, or the best advice you wish you had followed? Best advice was from my friend Dominic Montalvo.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Safety.

What’s the last book you read? Not an avid book reader. Prefer the newspaper.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Traveling to Israel and Italy. Timing.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? A Cavalier basketball player.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Enjoying my music.


Ohio Rep District 46

Diana-M.-Skaff----Facebook

Diana M. Skaff R

Age: 61
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, major: Finance. Some Masters, Series7, etc.
Experience: Small business, financial services industry, taught at University
Times you have run for office: First time

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
I believe that the local church’s role should be primary.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
Continue education programs. Support families.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Sewers should be evaluated for runoff.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I believe that if taxes and regulations are reduced. Private sector solutions and freedom will lead to economic expansion and jobs. Jobs are the highest economic need here in our area.

Michael-Sheehy----Ohiohouse.gov

Michael P. Sheehy D

Age: 68
Education: Graduate University of Toledo 1971, Political Science
Experience: 40 years in the transportation industry; 20 years on Oregon City Council; 3 years in State Government
Amount of times you have run for office: 11
Successful campaigns: 11

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
Transportation is vital to any community; road and bridge infrastructure is currently underway throughout the Toledo area. Neighborhood support services, like Sparrow’s Nest and Cherry Street Mission, the Helping Hands of St. Louis, East Toledo Family Center, the Adelante Center and so many other community groups successfully provide services to many of our citizens in need.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
I think we need to focus more on the decriminalization of this issue and provide funding for help with addiction as a health issue.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
Sewers should be evaluated for runoff.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I believe that if taxes and regulations are reduced. Private sector solutions and freedom will lead to economic expansion and jobs. Jobs are the highest economic need here in our area.

Yoda---02

Your most appropriate Halloween costume: Yoda.

What should be the theme song for your campaign?  “We Are the World.” (The song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup United Support of Artists (USA) for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie (with arrangements by Michael Omartian) and produced by Quincy Jones.

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Bicycle or hike, swim, read.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Stay focused and have discipline.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “You cannot beat hard work” from father, John J. Sheehy

Best advice not taken: You should look into foreign service working in the diplomatic corps”

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Re-model / repair many homes in Toledo

What’s the last book you read? “The Big Thirst, the Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water” by Charles Fishman

What’s the next book you want to read? “Out of Order, Stories from the History of the Supreme Court” by Sandra Day O’Connor

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Still working on remodeling our home; more time needed.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Rocky.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Can I be both a gatherer and a hunter? I choose both!


Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas

Bernie-quilter----ourtownperrysburg

J. Bernie Quilter D

Age: 57
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Toledo
Experience: Three years on Oregon City Council including President of Council, Lucas County Clerk of Courts for almost 17 years.
Times you have run for office: 5
Successful campaigns: 4—we’ll see about 5.

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
The heroin epidemic. As Clerk of Courts, I see first-hand individuals coming through our doors and the damage done by this terrible addiction.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
By examining other metropolitan areas and what they have done to maintain the unique and historical architecture of their downtowns and modernizing and renovating the interiors of these buildings to make them more attractive to prospective residents. 

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
More recreation programs for our youth. Years ago, while growing up in East Toledo, the City of Toledo would drop off small sheds containing all sorts of recreation items, such as baseball equipment, footballs, etc. Each city park had a supervisor that ran a mentoring program for our youth. We need to get back to this concept because as is often said, our youth are the future and we must do everything possible to provide positive outlets and activities for them. 

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
Our Court of Common Pleas has established a Drug Court with two Common Pleas judges assigned cases. The goal is to keep individuals out of jail and out of a revolving door with their addictions. This program is designed to help rehabilitate people. They are monitored and reviewed every two weeks. The Clerk of Courts handles all the paperwork for individuals appearing in the Drug Court.

What more can, and should, we do to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
As one who lives on Lake Erie in the City of Oregon, I have seen firsthand how the the Oregon City Council was proactive in expanding and upgrading the water treatment facility. We need to continue to address the phosphorus runoff entering the watershed and find ways to better circulate the water in and around the City of Toledo water intake.

What are your priorities for maintenance and replacement of the city’s infrastructure— such as streets, services, facilities and empty buildings?
Toledo is an older city like many other metropolitan areas throughout the country. We need to repair and replace our infrastructure, such as our sewers, water lines and streets to name a few, and begin from underground and move upwards. Seek new ways to access federal grant money to assist in modernizing our infrastructure by providing an initial influx of dollars to start the process.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I’m passionate about our rich cultural diversity.

What should be the theme song for your campaign? “America” by Neil Diamond.
What’s your favorite way to unwind? Family, friends and my first grandson.
What’s your secret for staying on task? Being persistent in everything I do.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? My mother, Mary Quilter, instilled in me that no matter who you are, you should be treated with respect and dignity. Never treat anyone with disrespect. Whether or not you like someone, always treat them with the respect they so deserve. Every individual has worth.
Best advice not taken: Best advice I wish I had taken, was to have purchased land on Catawba Island when I was 21-years-old.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? To completely renovate and modernize our aging infrastructure in Toledo and our surrounding communities, and to showcase and promote Toledo and Lucas County as a world-class destination for tourism.

New-Jim-Crow

Next book you’ll read: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.

movie2

Last book you read: The Last Lion by Peter S. Canellos

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Cleaning out my attic. I’m afraid to see what might be up there.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Joe Pesci.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring Jimmy Stewart.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? I am both a hunter and a gatherer.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? What to do next. I’m always gathering my thoughts and weighing the pros and cons of issues and agenda items and their impact on processes and the public.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Life in the Fast Lane.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? My family.

bernete

Nickolas Berente R

No Response— fantastic and revealing Twitter, though. 


Election Night Drinking Game

drink

  • Every time a losing candidate says, “The voters have spoken,” take a drink.
  • Take a small sip every time someone references something the Trump said that is racist or misogynistic.
  • Take two drinks if Wolf Blitzer gets unnecessarily excited about a tiny change in the numbers.
  • Take a sip of chardonnay if a red state goes unexpectedly blue.
  • If Hillary wins, save your drink in the fridge and take little sips over the next four years.
  • Drink a Singapore Sling if Trump wears any color of tie other than red.
  • Do a beer bong hit every time Gary Johnson speculates that he has a chance.
  • Pour some of your drink out if CNN has to apologize for some race they called too soon.
  • Take a shot of Wild Turkey if a blue state goes unexpectedly red.
  • If Trump wins, chug the bottle.
  • Pour some vodka in your drink every time Hillary flashes a fake smile.
  • Do a shot if you see any video with Hillary wearing a pantsuit.
  • Take five drinks if you’re watching your election coverage on Fox News.

To run for President of the United States meet 5 requirements

By David Maxwell Fine

The Lucas County Board of Elections lists 20 candidates registered to run for President and accepted for voting ( including write in) on the November 8 ballot. In addition to notables Clinton, Trump, Johnson and Stein. So what does it take to be an eligible candidate? 

Ohio’s 2016 Presidential Guide, published by Ohio’s Secretary of State, explains. To run for President:

  • Be at least 35 years old.
  • Be a natural-born citizen
  • Be a USA resident for at least 14 years.
  • Collect 15,000 signatures of registered Ohio voters (“electors”) on a petition
  • File a list of 18 electors to represent them in the Electoral College if they win the State of Ohio.

Interesting notes:

  • Each state can enact its own rules for getting on the ballot. Most of the names on Ohio’s candidate list will not be listed on the ballot, but will be eligible as
    “write-ins.”
  • Ohio is one of only 43 states that permit such write-in presidential candidates, according to Daily Kos/Bloomberg.
  • No President in history, has had to provide a copy of a birth certificate to state boards of elections to prove U.S. citizenship. In fact, the legal definition of natural born citizen includes people born in a foreign country to a U.S. Citizen Parent. Presidential candidate Ted Cruz was born in Canada, but he still qualified as a natural born citizen.
  • And lest you be concerned, there is no filing fee to run for President.

Rep – Congressional D9

marcy-kaptur----congress.gov

Marcy Kaptur D

Age: 70
Education: BA History, University of Wisconsin; MA Urban Planning, University of Michigan; Doctoral Studies in Urban Planning, MIT
Experience: Professional urban planner for 15 years prior to election; Urban Advisor to President, Carter Administration; National Consumer Cooperative Bank
Times you have run for office: 17 
Successful campaigns: 17

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
As an urban planner by profession, I believe support structures are critical to the success of neighborhoods.  A mix of employment and educational opportunities, access to fresh and local foods, green space, entertainment access, and safe and affordable housing makes successful neighborhoods.  We are rising to the challenge through efforts to establish businesses in underserved urban areas, the planting of community gardens, an emphasis on improved public space, and targeted investment in schools and housing.

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
At the federal level, the Congress must fund the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act passed earlier this year.  My efforts to pass the bill were somewhat stymied when Republicans refused to support efforts to fund its provisions.  Later, I was successful in getting funding included in a bill passed in the final hours before Congress bolted for campaigning. More resources will be needed, but the efforts I led have given us some footing for federal help to communities struggling with this serious public health challenge.

What more can, and should, we do  to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
The problems in Lake Erie are bi-national in scope and require a bi-national solution.  To that end, USEPA, the Great Lakes States and the Canadian government have been working under a collaborative agreement. A co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, beginning in 2002 I initiated interagency and private sector dialogue through the Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership and directed funding to NRCS to bring a $41 million investment in conservation efforts to improve water quality. The federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, launched in 2010 authorizes for a $475 million federal investment, to fund efforts to reduce nutrients, manage invasive species, control sediment erosion, support habitat restoration, and support research and monitoring in the Great Lakes system. Improving the health of our Great Lake is among our highest priorities.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
The spirit of our people inspires me every day. Our citizenry knows that with hard work and determination we can overcome challenges and assure Toledo continues to be a great place to live and to work for generations to come.

movie

Movie that describes your life: Mr. (Ms.) Smith Goes to Washington

Best advice: “Get an education, it can’t be taken away.”  – My parents

What should be the theme song for your campaign? Happy Days are Here Again

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Tending to my garden despite the determination of Toledo’s mole, rabbit and stink bug population to dissuade my efforts.


What’s your secret for staying on task? A healthy lifestyle and having more than 700,000 supervisors!

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Transform our community into the most highly educated place in the world.  

What’s the last book you read? Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder.

What’s the next book you want to read? ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror (Weiss and Hassan)

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Converting hundreds of VCR and other tapes to digital format.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween?  Donald Trump.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Both.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?
Listen to tapes, other media. This week it’s a talk by Fr. James Bacik, treasured Lourdes University Theologian.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Celebrate Life.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? A salt water purifier that doubles as a terrarium.

donald-p.-larson----friends-of-donald-larson

Donald P. Larson

Age: 49
Education: Ohio State (Nuclear Engineering) M.S. Case Western Reserve (Business Administration) M.B.A.
Experience: Over 15 years of in information technology, engineering, and sales. Mr. Larson founded a weekly radio program, Capitalist Cleveland that concentrates on entrepreneurial business development in Northeast Ohio.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful? Why is community infrastructure important to you?
All services have been lacking for a very long time. In some areas, there has been some improvement. Cultural and community infrastructure plays an important role in bringing people together, helping to form friendships and social support networks, and in helping communities to develop life skills and resilience. All these attributes are essential elements in the creation and maintenance of strong communities. Communities can invest more in their infrastructure when their economy is prosperous and I will be a voice for prosperity in Washington D.C..

Considering the limited resources, what will you do to address our area’s opiate epidemic?
The largest reason we are dealing with the opiate epidemic in America is because we have not secured our borders. I support future President Trump’s efforts to secure our borders.

What more can, and should, we do  to protect Lake Erie? What changes should be made immediately?
My opponent is almost singlehandedly responsible for the harmful algae blooms in the Lake. She sponsored the first bill for a renewable fuel standard that required corn-based ethanol to be mixed into our gasoline. That bill morphed into a Senate bill that is now the current RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard). Every science expert agrees that HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) are caused by heavy rains washing fertilizer into our streams and lakes. Because of corn ethanol and the RFS, farmers have used much more fertilizer than what they would otherwise. Unlike my opponent I want a sensible plan to phase out the RFS mandate. With proper trade policies farmers can survive and thrive once again without the RFS. I will look out for the farmer and the environment in Washington D.C.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Foreign Trade Policy. Because it greatly impacts all of our manufacturing centers. Our most important jobs are our manufacturing jobs. Manufacturing jobs make possible the arsenal that defends our freedoms. We cannot count on globalist forces to defend America’s best interests. Agricultural jobs are of almost equal importance. We must be able to feed ourselves. We have strayed too far in agriculture in producing fuel that our food security is now threatened and we have become more and more dependent on other nations for our food supply. Being dependent on foreign oil and gas has been painful and being dependent upon foreign food can be even more painful.

3P2pg

You can bring only one item to a deserted island, it is: A Navy SEAL (they know how to survive).

Campaign theme song: “I won’t back down” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

Favorite way to unwind? Riding my motorcycle or driving my jeep.

What’s your secret for staying on task? Don’t sweat the small stuff, never micro-manage, treat others how you would like to be treated, and when you think you need a break, take one.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “Pick a task your parents ask you to do and do it every morning. You will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.” – my Grandmother.

What’s the worst advice you ever followed, or the best advice you wish you had followed? The best advice I wish I had followed: “Don’t make a hasty or angry decision, sleep on it.”

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Set up a world-class business incubator and a public bank run by the city that only made loans to small businesses and college students.

What’s the last book you read? To the rest of the world, a dull engineering book.

What’s the next book you want to read? To the rest of the world, a dull economics book.

 

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? A road trip around the world. Because of expense and time.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Indiana Jones.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? What my daughters will need or are doing.

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? “When the Lightning Strikes.”

 

 

george-skalsky----wordpress

George A. Skalsky I

No Response


Judge: Court of Common Pleas

Lindsay-Navarre----Lucas-County-Democrats

Lindsay D. Navarre D

Age: 35
Education: Perrysburg High School, Perrysburg, Ohio – National Honor Society (1999). Graduate of Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana (2002); Graduate of the University of Toledo’s College of Law – Dean’s List (2005).
Experience: Over a decade serving the public as a trial attorney with the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office.The Toledo Bar Association’s judicial poll demonstrated that 90% of local lawyers recommended me to be the next Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge.
Times you have run for office: This is my first time.

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
The opiate epidemic is huge and it is scary. People are dying on a daily basis because of this highly addictive poison that is being peddled on our streets. Judges who educated themselves about this epidemic and the most effective ways of combating it can be integral in fighting this battle that has ruined families and taken lives. I am uniquely qualified to do that because of my experience as an Assistant Lucas County Prosecutor and a leader in our community. I am dedicated to thinking outside of the box and exploring methods that help protect our community in the long-term while getting addicts the help they need to climb out of this hole of addiction. I am dedicated to our new drug court in the Common Pleas Court and have advocated for it as a prosecutor. I also think that a strong message must be sent to those who traffic these drugs in our community. If you sell a product that is killing people, your sentence should be reflective of that.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
As a judge, I can promise local business owners and leaders that I will handle civil disputes in my courtroom in a swift manner so that businesses and negotiations are not frozen waiting on decisions from the court. One of the biggest complaints I have heard from civil attorneys and local business leaders is that court proceedings move too slowly and it has a negative impact on progress. Justice delayed is truly justice denied. If elected as a judge, I will not forget that I am a public servant and owe a duty of diligence to the public I serve.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?
I grew up in Toledo and I have very deep roots here. It is important to me that Toledo continues to grow and thrive for generations to come. As an Assistant Lucas County Prosecutor, I have had a direct effect on the safety of our neighborhoods. I have tried over 50 felony jury trials and made sure that murderers, rapists and violent predators have gotten the sentences they deserve. Unfortunately, as a judicial candidate, I’m prevented from elaborating much more than that.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
Community safety. Lucas County simply cannot thrive unless its residents feel safe. I have dedicated my career to public service with the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, where I have been a trial attorney for the past 11 years. I’ve tried over 50 felony jury trials, including aggravated murder, rape and complex fraud cases. I was the first prosecutor in Lucas County to achieve a trial conviction on the charge of participating in a criminal gang. I have been the voice for victims who have suffered unimaginable tragedy. I have taken violent and dangerous predators off of our streets. I have protected children who have been abused. I am the candidate that police and fire trust to keep our community safe, as I have been endorsed by the Toledo Police Command Officers Association, the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association, Sheriff John Tharp and the Toledo Firefighters Union. I am the only candidate in this race with the necessary experience for the job.

Alicia-Keys-psd17042

Campaign theme song: Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire”. It’s my favorite.

Next book you’ll read: Broad Influence: How Women are Changing the Way America Works, by Jay Newton-Small.

What’s your favorite way to unwind? Reading books with my son. His favorite right now is “Go Dog Go.”

What’s the the best advice? Trust your gut. It’s never failed me.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Make sure no child ever went hungry.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Cleaning my car. I have a toddler, so there are cheerios and milk splashes decorating the entire back seat.

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Daenerys Targaryen, from Game of Thrones. She is the mother of dragons, and my son has the cutest dragon costume for Halloween this year, so it makes sense. And I love her character.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Both. I’m a multi-tasker. All good moms are.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? Where I have to be next.

shelly-kennedy----shellykennedyforjudge.com

Shelly Kennedy R

Education: University of Toledo College of Law, University of Cincinnati, Bachelor of Science
Experience: Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, Sixth District Court of Appeals, full-time staff attorney
Times you have run for office: 1

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
My biggest concern is a fair and effective system of justice. I will address it by working to efficiently utilize taxpayer dollars and treat all people equally and fairly.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
By supporting candidates I believe in.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?
No comment.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
The independence of the judiciary, because judges are the pillar of our judicial system.

Harleydavidson_sportster

Last book you read: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert M. Pirsig.

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Hunter.

Campaign theme song: “You Get What You Give” by Chuck Ragan

Favorite way to unwind: Pull weeds in my gardens.

Secret for staying on task: Close my door.

Best advice: My father has always told me “Don’t be afraid to fail.”

 

Best advice I never took: I wish I followed my father’s advice more often.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? I would restore the Lucas County Courthouse and the old Court of Appeals building

Task that stayed on your to-do list: Pull weeds in my gardens.

Movie to describe your life: “The Hours.”

 

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? What song I will listen to next.

Your debut album title: Wanderlust.

You can bring only one item to a deserted island, it is: A knife.


Judge: 6th District Court of Appeals

Mayle-Headshot

Christine Mayle R

Age: 40
Education: Notre Dame Law School, cum laude; Providence College, summa cum laude Experience: Partner and elected member of the Board of Directors at Thacker Robinson Zinz in Toledo, where she handles complex commercial litigation, appeals, and arbitrations in venues throughout the country. Prior to this, Mayle has practiced law at the international law firm Dewey Ballantine LLP, and served on many boards.
Times you have run for office: First campaign.

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
My goal is to ensure that Toledo’s courtrooms operate in an efficient, fair, and legally-correct manner. I will do that by bringing my strong work ethic and my private-practice experience to the appellate bench where I will work hard to issue timely, fair, well-reasoned, and legally-sound opinions that are written in plain English.  The law should not be a mystery and courts should write clear opinions so that everyone understands their legal rights and obligations. 

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
My law firm is headquartered in downtown Toledo, and I am excited to see the growth and development over the last several years.  I would contribute to downtown Toledo’s continued success by resolving appeals related to business disputes (as well as all other disputes) in a consistent, timely, and correct manner. A well-functioning judiciary creates a stable environment for economic growth.

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?
“No answer supplied by the candidate.”

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
As an appellate judge, I would address the timeliness and quality of judicial opinions. I have spent my career performing complex legal research and writing – the two requisite skills of any great appellate judge. I have been hired by a diverse array of individuals and businesses to solve important legal problems. I often have to juggle competing court deadlines and work within a budget.  I would operate at this same level of intensity as a judge where I would decide cases swiftly and correctly – saving taxpayer dollars and doing the job that the voters sent me there to do.

politics4

Worst advice you ever received: “You should perm your hair” – best friend, circa 1985

Secret for staying on task: A lavender vanilla latte from Maddie & Bella.

  • What should be the theme song for your campaign? “The Walker” by Fitz and the Tantrums
  • What’s your favorite way to unwind? Taking our boys to the Toledo Zoo.

What’s the best advice you ever received, and from whom? “You should run for Judge of the Sixth District Court of Appeals” – many family, friends, and colleagues.

If you had unlimited resources, what would be the first thing you would do for the Toledo area? Give everyone a $1 million and a hug.

What’s the last book you read? Carry On Warrior, by Glennon Doyle Melton.

What’s the next book you want to read? Love Warrior, by Glennon Doyle Melton.

What task hasn’t made it off of your to-do list and why? Put up the Halloween decorations— every moment is spent campaigning!

What would be the most appropriate costume for you for Halloween? Wonder Woman.

If you had to pick one movie that would best describe your life, what would it be? Rudy. (Go Irish!)

Is The Glass City half empty or half full? Half full!

Are you a hunter or a gatherer? Both.

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? “Why is Waze taking me this way?”

If you were a musician, what would the name of your debut album be? Miss Demeanor.

You can only bring one thing to a deserted island, what is it? My debut album.

garycook

Gary G. Cook

Age: 54
Education: University of Toledo College of Law, Juris Doctor, May 1992, University of Toledo Bachelor of Science, June 1989
Experience: Judge, Lucas County Common Pleas Court, 2004-current, Senior Assistant Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, 1993-2004, Attorney/Public Defender, 1993, Legal Intern 1991-1992
Times you have run for office: 4
Successful campaigns: 3

What is your biggest concern for Toledo and how do you plan to address it?
As a Judge and former Assistant Lucas County prosecutor, one of my primary concerns is the safety of our community and the protection of individual rights. As a citizen, I am also concerned with the economic stability and growth of Toledo. Although my role would change in the Appellate Court, I would continue to provide the respected judicial services that our community has benefitted from for decades. I would continue to believe that each voice is important and I would continue to provide consistent, well-reasoned judicial decisions.

How can you ensure that downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting, Toledo’s unique character?
While the role of an appellate judge would have limited contact with downtown Toledo development, should a case present before me, I am required to follow and apply the applicable law.  As a lifelong resident of Toledo and the surrounding area, I find Toledo’s unique character of being a “Big Small Town” is one that embraces change while being respectful to its heritage. Toledo has done an impressive job of creating an environment for modern development and for the re-purposing of the existing buildings with a modern flair. The home of the Toledo Mud Hens  (Fifth-Third Field), the development of the Steam Plant, and the re-utilization of the buildings in the Warehouse District are great examples of how downtown Toledo’s continued development enhances, without interrupting Toledo’s unique character.    

Evaluate neighborhood support services. What efforts have, or have not, been successful?Over the last several years as our need for more addiction treatment services have become necessary, we have seen agencies and service providers come forward to try to meet an overwhelming demand.  Instead of recreating the wheel, community coalitions are joining services to help those in need and to get information out to the community. This is not directly an Appellate Court issue, however, neighborhood support and services are vital to crime prevention, the reduction of recidivism rates, and for the support for reentry after incarceration.   Appropriate and stable housing, education, mental health services, and substance abuse counseling are critical to the stability of our community.  These services have been vital to me in my current role.

What single issue facing our area are you most passionate about and why?
I am passionate about the strides our judicial and law enforcement community has made in making a commitment to address incarceration populations and the greater concern of the revolving door of over incarceration. Through the development of informational tools, educational programs, behavior modification training, and re-entry support services we are working to address needs in order to stabilize an individual. The development and better use of the tools, and the greater understanding of the services needed has made for a better potential outcome.

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Campaign theme song: “Good Riddance (Time of your Life)” by Green Day; or “Good to be Alive” by Andy Grammar. 

Favorite way to unwind: Barn chores and family time.

 

Last book you read: Above the Line by Urban Meyer

Task that stayed on your to-do list: Numerous house maintenance chores, because there is always one more!

Your most appropriate Halloween costume: Frankenstein.

 

What do you think about when you’re alone in your car? My to do list, prioritizing what I can get done by the end of the day.

You can bring only one item to a deserted island, it is: My Family, we are very resourceful and would have a blast!   


Voting Records

Ted Strickland and Senator Robert Portman
Source: govtrack.us | votesmart.org

Gov_Ted_Strickland

Ted Strickland D

Prior to being elected Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland served in the House of Representatives representing southeast Ohio’s 6th congressional district for 12 years, until 2007. During that time he voted on many bills and resolutions, including the following:    

Voted for:

  • Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act: Would prevent gun manufactures from being liable in lawsuits for crimes committed with their weapons. There are several exceptions to this rule, including people who transfer a gun to someone they know will use it to commit a crime of violence or drug dealing crime.
  • Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (but voted against an amendment to that bill that sought to give willing State and local law enforcement the ability to detain illegal aliens in the course of their regular duties).
  • Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005: Pass a bill that allows the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that uses human embryonic stem cells.

Voted against:

  • Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
  • USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005: Made permanent some of the spying and surveillance provisions of the USA Patriot Act of 2001.
  • Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005: Prohibits civil lawsuits against food manufacturers or sellers for any injury related to a person’s consumption of food and their resulting weight gain, obesity, or any associated health condition.
  • School Readiness Act of 2005: Amended the Head Start Act, revised Head Start, and funded the Head Start program through 2011. Among many other changes, it revised allowed uses of quality improvement funds to include outreach to homeless families, migrant and seasonal farmworker families, and families with children with a limited English proficiency.

portman

Robert Portman R

Senator Portman is an attorney from Cincinnati and Ohioans elected him to the House of Representatives in 1993 where he represented Ohio’s 2nd Congressional district for twelve years.

Portman won his senate seat in 2010 and his voting record from his time in the U.S. Senate includes the following: 

Voted for:

  • Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act
  • Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. The law requires hospital care and medical services to be furnished to veterans through agreements with specified non-VA facilities if the veterans have been unable to schedule an appointment at a VA medical facility within a certain wait-time, for hospital care or medical services.
  • Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The law establishes a healthy food financing initiative to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities by providing loans and grants to fresh food retailers to overcome higher entry costs in such areas.

Voted against:

  • Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. 
  • Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, provided an extension of Federal-aid highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
  • Extending our federal debt limit, the Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act.
  • Amendment 4720, prohibits the transfer of firearms to suspected terrorists.
  • Amendment 3483 – Establishes Standards for Passenger Space on Airplanes: Vote to adopt an amendment that prohibits an airline from reducing the legroom on a passenger aircraft.

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