Toledo Mayor
Bell: Probably the most perplexing fall from grace in the history of City Politics. Recruited to beat Carty due to his ninety per cent approval rating in oh nine, he could only muster twenty seven per cent of the vote as an incumbent Mayor in this year’s Primary. This D-turned-Independent is likeable, charismatic, and completely Republican in his policies. With no D in the race, will labor Ds forget his support for SB 5 two years ago?
Collins: His seeming meteoric rise was fueled by the fact that two Ds split over fifty five per cent of the vote to let him sneak into second place in the Primary. Loved by big labor, supported by the state Democratic Party that has no D in the race and that really, really hates Bell for his closeness to Guvnah John Kasich. Will central City Ds forgive his claim that there is no racial profiling in Toledo?
Toledo City Council
Ford: Smilin’ Jack the Sleepy Walrus could stay in bed the whole election season and still win a seat on Council. Sure he got beat as an incumbent in oh five, but that was Carty, this is now. He was deep inside the recent mash up within the Democratic Party that threatened to tear it apart, and openly campaigns with Republicans and Independents, but he has suddenly turned into Teflon Jack. None of this will stick to him.
Ludeman: Has skirted municipal term limits be jumping from a District seat to Councilman At Large, and has thus been on Council for eighteen of the past twenty years. Seems a sure bet for another four. Even though, in all that time, we can’t point to a single accomplishment or initiative coming from his office. Which means nothing he has ever tried has failed.
Spang: The real Primary surprise. Unless you consider that she has been supported by long-time Councilman Rob Ludeman. And that she’s a Republican savvy enough to bolt the Stainbrook-led Party and declare her “Independent”s. She still got enough R votes in a low turnout election that magnified their importance but talked enough like a D to fool a diehard. Also surely got votes from women with no female Ds on the ballot to choose from. Right place, right time.
Sykes: Longtime elected member of the School Board plus lots of other appointed boards in the community, largely because that was one of his roles in his job at Fifth Third Bank before he retired. Now testing his hand at legislating. This former pugilist rarely plays nice in the sandbox, and would add a note of chaos if elected. Which seems likely, unless labor’s push to paint him as anti-labor has any impact. Which it didn’t in the Primary.
Steel: Former School Board President, now member of Council. Supporter of the Arts, author of the Complete Streets policy for the City, champion of sustainability and labor rights. Has somehow won the support of both the progressive and labor sides of the Democratic Party. Mebbe the fact that he teaches critical thinking as his day job helps approach Council business. Just kidding
Gabriel: Carty took his former Chief of Staff and lifelong Republican under his wing and a strong Primary showing was the result. Like Spang, hid behind the “Independent” disguise and benefited from being one of only two women on the ballot. She’s been a lifer in public employment and served as a union president to boot. Sez she wants to help seniors, doesn’t have concrete plans as to how Council can do so. Should probably run for the Area Office on Aging board instead.
Martinez: Pulled a November surprise in oh nine by slipping from seventh in the Primary to sixth in the General Election and winning a seat. Needs to do same this year to keep it, but it’ll be a bit tougher this time ‘round. Most labor unions supported him then, but his anti-labor votes mean most of that support has disappeared. Now favored by big business. Can’t figure out why.
Enright: Labor’s darling, organizer for the electricians’ union, appointed to fill seat vacated by laborers’ union business manager Phil Copeland after he was elected County Recorder. He couldn’t win the District 3 seat two years ago, and has a real challenge to rise from eighth in the Primary to the top six to get elected this year. As in, it has never been done since the current Council format was created in nineteen ninety three. Can he do what’s never been done?
Nowak: Lawyer from Point Place. Has repeatedly blamed the loss of Toledo population over the past four decades on Toledo City Council. Seems to have missed that every city in America has lost population to its surrounding suburbs over that time. Seems to have self-esteem problems, noting in his literature that he doesn’t want your first vote, but begs for your sixth. Jimmy, if you aren’t good enough to be numero uno, you just aren’t good enough, period.
Celusta: Once worked for a carryout and gas station chain, left job when they moved outta town. Blames Council. Drops names of all the politicians his grandpa, Toledo Mayor fifty years ago, knew. Went to the house in North Toledo his family left decades ago to blame Council for abandoning houses in his old neighborhood. It never occurs to him to take responsibility. We wonder who he’ll blame when he loses the election.
Delaney: Former owner of bar notorious for refusing to enforce the state smoking ban. After voters overwhelming passed the ban, he claimed he didn’t trust the voters. Spends lots of time talking about what he is against, doesn’t seem to have much vision of what he’s for. Says he’ll be a perpetual “No” vote on Council. Which is exactly what we trust a majority of voters will say to him on Election Day. “No.”
Nestor: Second time candidate for Council, soon to be a two-time loser, having lost two years ago in the Primary. Says Council should upgrade the water and sewer infrastructure, something they voted to do earlier this year. Basically makes lots of proposals for things that have already been done. We wonder if he intends to take credit for them even though he won’t be on Council.
Toledo School Board
Vasquez: Only incumbent on ballot. President during major budget cuts, pushed the development of the performance audit and transformation plan. Some of those actions angered the teachers’ union, and they succeeded in keeping him from the endorsement of the Democratic Party. It will hardly matter. Finished first four years ago, will again this year.
Henold: Tea Party favorite, homeschooled her kids, now wants to lead the very institution she wouldn’t send them to. Claimed she would support teaching ancient creation mythology in biology classes, now denies she said it. Thinks Romania was Communist when she lived there ten years ago, which was a decade after it became a Democratic Republic. Enough ink wasted on this whackadoo.
Fingers: Somehow got enough signatures to get on the ballot, has rarely been seen or heard from since. We’ve heard rumors he works under Stainbrook on the Republican side of the Board of Elections, but is basically a Democrat in his politics. Doesn’t campaign, doesn’t seem to care if he wins, so why should we?
Taylor-Gerken: The answer to a basic City Politics trivia question. Only twice since ninety three has someone finished in the top six in the Primary and failed to finish in the top six in the General. Who finished sixth in September only to lose in November both those times? Now you know. A lifer employee in TPS, now setting her sights where they have a better chance of success. Endorsed by labor and the Party, should win this time around in a race of mediocrity.
Parker: A minister, gives a great stump speech about children and uplift and neighborhoods and development and the schools. Like most sermons, these speeches make you feel really
good inside. Until you try to figure out the substance behind the rhetoric and are left speechless. A product of TPS, will voters overlook the possibility of church and state separation problems if they elect a minister to the seat?
Lefevre: Head of the teachers' union in Sylvania Schools, lives in South Toledo. Active in his neighborhood association and his kids’ TPS PTO. A champion of curriculum reform, workplace rights and early childhood education. Doesn’t seem to be much of a campaigner, but would most likely make a really good Board member. Which probably means nothing if he doesn’t ratchet it up in the next two weeks ‘til E Day.
Varwig: Longtime leader of parent organization in TPS, strong supporter of the schools, now backed by most major unions. Also longtime registered Republican, so not endorsed by Democratic Party, didn’t seek R endorsement. Well known in her South Toledo base, barely recognized in rest of City. All this throws her election up in the air. Where she lands, nobody knows.
Green: Lost school board race in oh nine, lost Council race two years ago, setting his sights lower again. Should have cut his losses. Ticked lots of people off during the Council race, has received no endorsements from labor and was not endorsed by the Democratic Party this year. Has the same chance of winning as an ice cube in a sauna.
Muni Court
DeBacker: Former owner of Sufficient Grounds coffee shops, now a lawyer. Champion of small business and justice for women, especially victims of domestic violence. Impressive resume, got the highest rating by her fellow lawyers, would add another needed female voice to the Muni bench. If anyone actually paid attention to these races, would have a good chance. Still might win, given she’s the only D and the two Rs might split the vote.
Phillips: Veteran of the US military, now a lawyer extremely active in community organizations. Endorsed by Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association. Barely lost race for County bench last year, should still have a strong voting base. Will it be strong enough to peel votes from Lanzinger? Probably. Strong enough to win? Probably not.
Lanzinger: Veteran, son of Ohio Supreme Court justice, worked in State Attorney General’s office. Lost handily in twenty eleven, appointed to seat by Guvnah Kasich recently, now has the advantage of campaigning as “Judge” Lanzinger. All else being equal, could be a shoo-in for the seat. The presence of fellow Republican Phillips in the race means all things aren’t, in fact, equal. The split R vote might allow DeBacker to sneak in.
We Got Issues!
Port Authority Renewal Levy
The Port Authority is arguably the biggest engine for job creation in the region. Their focus on the transportation assets in the area is only part of the story. They also have a number of funding streams to help businesses start up and grow. Current projects include the reclamation of the former Jeep plant and a new intermodal dock area in East Toledo. A renewal levy is not a new tax, and will not increase your existing tax. Geez oh man, this renewal is important for Toledo’s future!
Board of Developmental Disabilities
Replacement Levy. The Board of DD provides educational and employment opportunities for folks with developmental disabilities, or, as they like to say, they work to improve these folks’ quality of life. The fact that they do good and important work through places like Lott Industries is undeniable. The ins and outs of the levy are a bit murkier. Rather than seek a renewal, this levy would replace an existing millage with a higher one at twenty thirteen rates, which would translate to a significant increase in funding. Whether that is deserved will be up to y’all, the voters.
Toledo Public Schools Renewal Levy
Everyone talks about the importance of an improved public school system for the future of Toledo. Better schools uplift neighborhoods and help drive economic development. The new Superintendent is a dynamic, energetic product of TPS, the transformation plan is slowly being implemented, and the outlook is brightening. This is a renewal, not a new tax, and essential to the future of the schools and the City.
