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We have based our decision on two factors. First we believe
that Wilkowski has a better grasp of the issues facing
Toledo. Second, we feel that Bell’s strategic approach to
solving the city’s problems will not enable any real change
to occur in the way the city is operated.
As to the issues, two in particular stand out as we compared
the candidates – the economy and education.
It has become almost second nature for political observers
to state that government cannot create jobs – except for
those created by government expansion.
Fair enough.
However, government has enormous power to foster an
environment in which job creation can be facilitated. Tax
structures, regulations, bureaucracies, aid to small
businesses – governments control many of the mechanisms
which can make the difference when entrepreneurs and
business operators are trying to make decisions about
location and growth.
To say that a mayor does not create jobs is merely to engage
in a useless game of semantics. Yes, the mayor is not going
to open that pizzeria on the corner, but he or she does have
the ability to pave the way for the opening.
Wilkowski’s focus on the economy, especially his emphasis on
solar and alternative energy enterprises, speaks to the fact
that he recognizes the influence a government can have on
developing a favorable environment for growing an economy.
Moreover, we have noted in the past six months of
campaigning that Wilkowski has a keen sense of the
priorities for economic development. Too often we hear
people say that if we build, for example, an entertainment
district, “they will come.”
Wilkowski has correctly observed that a jobless society will
not patronize an entertainment district – that there is a
logical progression in the science of economic development.
As to education, for many years now we have written about
the need to look at education comprehensively, which
includes a community emphasis on early childhood education.
Wilkowski appears to be committed to approaching education
in this manner.
Bell has spoken about the need to create partnerships with
Toledo Public Schools. We have to figure that TPS has about
had it with these fickle partnerships that come and go in a
heartbeat. TPS doesn’t need more partnerships. TPS needs a
clientele that will arrive ready and eager to learn.
That clientele will arrive ready and eager to learn only if
the city embraces a culture of education – if parents learn
how to speak to and read to their children from womb to
three years old, if parents learn to remain involved in the
ongoing educational process, if parents instill in their
offspring the importance of higher education.
A
mayor cannot dictate to TPS how to operate a school system
but a mayor can, through the power of his bully pulpit and
through his ability to reach out to organizations that
already work with parents, nudge a city’s population to
enhance its appreciation of education.
Wilkowski has committed to turn Toledo into a community that
values literacy therefore impacting the quality of education
on every level. We want to see him try that.
The other factor in our decision to urge a vote for
Wilkowski is the fact that he seems committed to changing
the way government operates.
Times could not be more difficult for the Glass City. We are
the eighth poorest city in the nation among the top 300 in
population. The eighth poorest. We are undereducated,
we have relied for too long on a manufacturing base that is
dwindling, we have not created a favorable environment for
luring new businesses or for entrepreneurs to start
businesses here, we are losing population – especially the
best and the brightest.
We can no longer manage our government in the ways we have
in the past. We have to make deep and systemic changes.
Bell continually emphasizes that his style of operating will
focus on building coalitions, bringing people together,
getting a sense for what people need and want.
This is a process that does not lend itself to bold moves.
There is such a thing as too much compromise and coalition
building and we fear that Bell’s approach will lead to
indecisiveness – that the process will take precedence over
the results.
When we look at the public service experience of these two
candidates, as we did at the start of the campaign, we would
have said that the choice is a tossup. But campaigns are, in
essence, job interviews and job interviews matter for those
doing the hiring.
We think that Wilkowski’s job interview has been a slam dunk
and that his vision for the future is more in line with
Toledo’s needs.
Vote for Keith Wilkowski on November 3.
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