Received wisdom has it that no one pays attention to politics until after Labor Day. Of course, such wisdom was received back when the chill’en had to put up the wheat shocks before’n they went back to school after Labor Day. Y’all know them days is long enuff gone.
Here at Hildo Central we pay attention to politics year round and twice on Fridays. But we can understand if more normal folks get their fill of social media posts about which candidate for national office is most likely to be indicted before election day, throw up their hands, and forget the whole thing. So maybe received wisdom still holds true.
The race for the presidency sucks up all the air in the political room, leaving little oxygen for local politics. If you fit into the “fuggettaboutit” category when it comes to the national scene, we get it. That’s why we’re here. You can likewise forget City Politics ‘til after Labor Day. We’ll pay attention for you.
Then, when Labor Day has come and gone, here are the things to watch at the local level leading toward November. ‘Cause trust us, local pols want to use the national spotlight on T-Town generated by the presidential race to their own advantage.
1. Jockeying by local Dems for next year’s race for mayor of Toledo.
Incumbent Paula Hicks-Hudson was already a Hillary delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Her former aide Alan Bannister, is now the statewide political director for the Hillary campaign in Ohio. Rest assured PHH will get top billing any time someone from the Clinton campaign makes a flashy campaign stop in Toledo.
Mayoral hopeful and LC Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz has been on the outside of the national wheelhouse looking in. Wade already fired his first salvo in next year’s mayoral tilt, penning a scathing editorial blasting Toledo leadership for lack of vision. He’ll have trouble competing with PHH when it comes to using the national spotlight to his advantage, however.
Wade will have to make a splash when local dems turn out by the thousands to see Hillary or Bill when they blast into town. Odds are he won’t get a seat on stage after already firing a backhand shot at the mayor, so he’ll have to get creative to jump on the bandwagon.
Phone calls are being exchanged even as we type these words, we bet.
2. Jockeying by local Rs to distance themselves as far as possible from the Trumpster fire.
Anyone with any sense who has ambition to be Toledo mayor was nowhere near the scene of the crime when The Donald came to town in July. Tom Waniewski, the most viable and competent contender on the Republican side, apparently didn’t want to hitch his wagon to the “rough ‘em up, throw ‘em out” loyalists that hang on T. Rump’s every word. Smart move. It is unlikely that voters in Toledo fancy bullyboy nativism and sexism in large enough numbers to carry a mayoral contest.
Likewise, Sandy Spang and Rob Ludeman understand that moderation is more likely to win the day in T-Town than discussions about hand size. What will be interesting is how the R contenders will use the national spotlight to jumpstart their campaigns while still steering clear of the T. Rump trainwreck. Will they have the guts, and political savvy, to publicly repudiate The Donald’s message and tactics, as Guvnah Kasich has done?
3. Mikey P. Bellbottoms’ ongoing slide into oblivion.
Mikey P. should be a true hometown hero. Born to modest means, public school kid who kept his nose clean and played football for the hometown Toledo Rockets. Became a firefighter who rose to become Fire Chief, then State Fire Marshall. A lifelong Democrat, Mike P. had a local approval rating of well over ninety per cent in 2009.
Then he became mayor, unilaterally breached union contracts, and became the public face of the ill-fated SB 5 fight that voters rejected statewide by a two-to-one margin. He lost re-election to D. M. Collins not so much because voters loved D. Michael, but because they rejected Mikey P.
Now he’s turned full around to become a Republican running for county commissioner. He has no practical chance to win in a presidential year, because Dems will turn out in force and back incumbent Pete Gerken. He might have at least saved a bit of dignity in the loss, though.
Nope. Instead he decided it would be a good idea to get some face time with the T. Rump loyalists, while other local Rs found something else to do. Not only did he take the stage at the T. Rump rally. He led the howling throngs in the Pledge of Allegiance.
To think your approval rating once ranked number one among Toledoans, Mikey. You dedicated your life to protect and to serve. Now you’re leading the pledge for those who flock to a message of fear and mistrust. How far the mighty have fallen.
One last thing to watch after Labor Day. Mikey P. gets slowly on his Harley and rides, rides, rides.
