Hildo: Election by the Numbers

In case you missed it, there was a primary election in T-Town a few weeks ago. And. . . most of you missed it, considering that less than 8 percent of registered voters cast a ballot.  So for the vast unwashed and uncounted masses, we give you our post primary election breakdown, and now runup to the ballot box in November by the numbers.

First, though, congratulations to newly elected District Six rep Theresa Morris.  In most cases the primary ballot is used to narrow the field of candidates for the general election ballot. Morris was appointed to the District Six seat after previously elected Chris Delaney resigned.  Due to an anomaly in the City Charter, Morris was on the primary ballot for general election to the seat. 

She is a native Toledoan, a lifelong public servant, a thoughtful legislator, and a woman of color. She brings vast experience and calm leadership to council. District Six voters did well to retain her.

Now back to our regularly scheduled column. Election by the numbers!

8.2 million.  That’s the amount of money parked in a forgotten capital fund by the Bell administration.  It was discovered by City Auditor John Jaksetic during the PHH administration, and brought to the attention of city leaders. The city finance director argued vehemently that the funds were already encumbered and included in existing capital improvement allocations. Jaksetic argued otherwise, that the funds were not encumbered and could be used for additional capital improvements.

PHH sided with her finance director, who had been a holdover from the Collins administration, and refused to reallocate the funds. The battle over the money ended with the city auditor proved right, and the finance director resigning in disgrace.  The fiasco played out in public and contributed in part to PHH losing her twenty seventeen re-election.

Oh, we forgot to include the humiliated finance director’s name. It was Georgie Sarantou. Which is a name we thought we’d never have to use again in this column because we assumed his political epitaph was written. 

After his resignation he was hired to work another public job,  working in the county probate court.  Since leaving the court job, he has now left public life altogether.

Just kidding. He is now a candidate for Toledo City Council, where he already served twelve undistinguished years. He has decided to rewrite history and claims that he and Jaksetic jointly found the eight point two extra-large. Conveniently ignoring that he fought Jaksetic over the money. And that he resigned in shame because he was, in a word, wrong.  Yet here we are, after the primary, with Georgie finishing in a strong position for election in November.

4,270.  That’s how many people voted for Sarantou, who finished sixth out of nineteen candidates.  It’s also the number of voters who apparently vote for any yahoo whose name they recognize, regardless of their demonstrated incompetence in public office.

3,323.  That’s how many voters long for the good ol’ days of rotary phones, Radio Shack 32K computers, and other things that have been obsolete for decades. Because that’s how many noodle heads voted for Carty.

2,369.  That’s how many voters decided to vote for someone they’ve heard of, even if it’s mostly for public embarrassment. Like making baseless claims of racial profiling, choking out a constituent at a candidate event, and being federally indicted for strong arming business owners for cash.  We know all this because they inexplicably voted for Larry Sykes.

13,955.  That’s how many of the one hundred eighty one thousand six hundred thirty five eligible registered voters decided to cast a ballot.  Of those, fifty seven decided to throw away their votes on a write in vote for mayor. Which is still far less than those who threw away their vote on Carty. Did w

57. That’s the age threshold of the youngest baby boomers. Anyone that age or older qualifies as a boomer.  Which makes folks like Carty, Georgie, and Larry full on boomers. And likely so are most of the whackadoos who voted for them, too.

1. That’s where young, qualified candidates finished. Wade, smart policy wonk and unabashed progressive, finished first for mayor.  Katie Moline, CPA and cool and knowledgeable voice on council, finished with the most votes of the nineteen council candidates. Nick Komives finished second, appointee Tiffany Preston Whitman finished fourth, and newcomer Michele Grim finished fifth, and all will make council smarter, younger, and more diverse.  

This makes us all number one.

In case you missed it, there was a primary election in T-Town a few weeks ago. And. . . most of you missed it, considering that less than 8 percent of registered voters cast a ballot.  So for the vast unwashed and uncounted masses, we give you our post primary election breakdown, and now runup to the ballot box in November by the numbers.

First, though, congratulations to newly elected District Six rep Theresa Morris.  In most cases the primary ballot is used to narrow the field of candidates for the general election ballot. Morris was appointed to the District Six seat after previously elected Chris Delaney resigned.  Due to an anomaly in the City Charter, Morris was on the primary ballot for general election to the seat. 

She is a native Toledoan, a lifelong public servant, a thoughtful legislator, and a woman of color. She brings vast experience and calm leadership to council. District Six voters did well to retain her.

Now back to our regularly scheduled column. Election by the numbers!

8.2 million.  That’s the amount of money parked in a forgotten capital fund by the Bell administration.  It was discovered by City Auditor John Jaksetic during the PHH administration, and brought to the attention of city leaders. The city finance director argued vehemently that the funds were already encumbered and included in existing capital improvement allocations. Jaksetic argued otherwise, that the funds were not encumbered and could be used for additional capital improvements.

PHH sided with her finance director, who had been a holdover from the Collins administration, and refused to reallocate the funds. The battle over the money ended with the city auditor proved right, and the finance director resigning in disgrace.  The fiasco played out in public and contributed in part to PHH losing her twenty seventeen re-election.

Oh, we forgot to include the humiliated finance director’s name. It was Georgie Sarantou. Which is a name we thought we’d never have to use again in this column because we assumed his political epitaph was written. 

After his resignation he was hired to work another public job,  working in the county probate court.  Since leaving the court job, he has now left public life altogether.

Just kidding. He is now a candidate for Toledo City Council, where he already served twelve undistinguished years. He has decided to rewrite history and claims that he and Jaksetic jointly found the eight point two extra-large. Conveniently ignoring that he fought Jaksetic over the money. And that he resigned in shame because he was, in a word, wrong.  Yet here we are, after the primary, with Georgie finishing in a strong position for election in November.

4,270.  That’s how many people voted for Sarantou, who finished sixth out of nineteen candidates.  It’s also the number of voters who apparently vote for any yahoo whose name they recognize, regardless of their demonstrated incompetence in public office.

3,323.  That’s how many voters long for the good ol’ days of rotary phones, Radio Shack 32K computers, and other things that have been obsolete for decades. Because that’s how many noodle heads voted for Carty.

2,369.  That’s how many voters decided to vote for someone they’ve heard of, even if it’s mostly for public embarrassment. Like making baseless claims of racial profiling, choking out a constituent at a candidate event, and being federally indicted for strong arming business owners for cash.  We know all this because they inexplicably voted for Larry Sykes.

13,955.  That’s how many of the one hundred eighty one thousand six hundred thirty five eligible registered voters decided to cast a ballot.  Of those, fifty seven decided to throw away their votes on a write in vote for mayor. Which is still far less than those who threw away their vote on Carty. Did w

57. That’s the age threshold of the youngest baby boomers. Anyone that age or older qualifies as a boomer.  Which makes folks like Carty, Georgie, and Larry full on boomers. And likely so are most of the whackadoos who voted for them, too.

1. That’s where young, qualified candidates finished. Wade, smart policy wonk and unabashed progressive, finished first for mayor.  Katie Moline, CPA and cool and knowledgeable voice on council, finished with the most votes of the nineteen council candidates. Nick Komives finished second, appointee Tiffany Preston Whitman finished fourth, and newcomer Michele Grim finished fifth, and all will make council smarter, younger, and more diverse.  

This makes us all number one.