Thank all that’s good and just, the end is near. The interminable campaigning is almost over. And the first primary-less mayoral election in Toledo’s modern history will soon be over.
Before we get to that point, though, let’s take some time to get past the personalities and do the unthinkable. Let’s talk about issues.
The major issues facing Toledo are -—public safety, roads, water, and economic development, not necessarily in that order. Let’s recap the approach of the three candidates that have a mayoral record. How have Carty, Mike Bell, and Paula HH done on the Big Four?
Public Safety
We start with public safety because, frankly, it’s the easiest. One would think Mike Bell, former Toledo fire fighter and State Fire Marshall would clean up. One would be wrong. Those were all before he became mayor, and it’s one of the reasons unions representing safety forces supported his candidacy.
Once in office, he immediately declared exigent circumstances and made changes to their contracts without discussions. His administration got sued by the police union, then sued by the command officers’ union and lost. Then he publicly supported Governor Kasich’s attack on public unions, SB 5. Morale was at an all-time low among public employees, and they actively worked to defeat Bell in his re-election campaign.
Bell talks about how many officers he hired. He doesn’t say that his was the first administration that could do so without an expensive consent decree that hamstrung hiring for decades.
Carty? He laid off seventy-five police officers, plus twenty command officers. His administration also got sued and lost. It’s one of the reasons safety forces were so hot for Mike Bell. Until they weren’t.
Paula has had her challenges. She still hasn’t healed the rift between fire fighters and their chief. But she hasn’t been bellicose, like Carty would have been, nor aloof, like Bell. She is committed to hiring more police for the streets. Competent, behind-the-scenes management.
Roads
Carty talks about how many miles he “paved.” He doesn’t talk about how many he “repaired” because he can’t. His administration was so disjointed that he sometimes “paved “ a street only to dig it up for sewer repairs a year or two later.
Bell served in the tightest budget in recent memory. To his credit, he found creative ways to repair roads. As long-term bonds came off the City’s books he re-issued them to pay for streets. That may not work in the near future, though.
Paula has utilized the City’s newest machine to mill up and fill the most troubled spots, like the AW Trail. She talks frankly about the need for painful solutions to our pothole crisis. Time will tell if Toledoans agree.
Water
Carty kicked the can so far down the road it’s somewhere in rural Pennsylvania. He neglected critical repairs and let the treatment plant crumble.
Bell took up the slack and got City Council to belatedly pass water rate hikes to pay for a complete rebuild of the plant, albeit by ripping holes in the adjacent neighborhood.
Paula has continued the project, added transparency to reporting water quality, and kept drinking water safe through a larger algal bloom than last year.
Economic Development
Bell sold the Marina District to investors who have done nothing with it despite a high-profile ground breaking years ago. He let Southwyck languish, despite a development announcement that lasted about five minutes.
Carty had Southwyck torn down, but attracted no investment despite constant promises.
Paula has a proven developer interested in Southwyck and likely kept Wrangler production in Toledo. She completed the deal to bring Promedica’s headquarters downtown.
So what’ll it be, Toledo? Motor-mouth bullyboy Carty? Try a little, but not quite hard enough, Mike Bell? Or quiet, stable leadership in Paula?
What’ll it be?
