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Yvette Brown is a charming, quite attractive black woman who
can be expected to appeal to urban Ohio voters. She is a
member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Soroirity, Inc so she
understands women club movements. Brown is the sister-in-law
of Leo Brown, a former great football player at The Ohio
State University all the way back in 1954 – Woody Hayes
first great team.
Another brother-in-law is James Brown, the
newly minted Grand Master of Prince Hall Masons in Ohio who
took over for our own Rev. James Willis, immediate past
Grand Master.
We can expect to see Yvette Brown in our
churches and at other community events in the months to
come. Please note that the Democrats have two
African-Americans on the statewide ballot – Brown and
Treasurer of State, Kevin Boyce. No blacks are on the
Republican slate this year after having had Ken Blackwell
for the posts of Secretary of State, treasurer and governor
in years past.
It seems to me that State Rep. Edna Brown is
running a lackadaisical campaign for the Senate. Brown needs
to gear up and compete for the news stories as her primary
opponent, Toledo City Councilman Joe McNamara is doing.
Joe Mac is speaking out on everything from
the old United Way building demolition to the city’s budget
crisis. Brown needs to follow suit so she can match the
coverage that Joe Mac is receiving.
The lay-offs in the City of Toledo are quite
painful to consider but are the inevitable result of the
pension pick-up granted by Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and City
Council in 2005-2006. No one who voted for these pick-ups
should be returned to office. It was known at the time that
there was not enough money for such an extravagant benefit
yet only a few councilmen had the courage to vote no.
Kudos to Earl Murry, Ph.D., and Judge Keila
Cosme for getting their yard signs out early. They are
trying to win and they want you to know it right now. Murry
may be the sleeper in the race for commish in that he has
the most government experience of anyone running for office
today. Murry is a former civil service commissioner, former
executive director of Dayton Public Schools and a former
college professor and administrator at The University of
Toledo. Do we need that kind of experience in the ranks of
the county commissioners?
Yes, we do.
I also like Art Jones, a good friend, in the
race. Jones is a former Toledo City Councilman and worked
for four years in the water department. Prior to his
government service, Jones worked for 35 years in the VAN at
AP parts. When you add Sylvania Township’s Carol Contrada to
the mix, you can easily see that voters have a strong field
from which to choose this year.
Ben Krompak is a former student of mine and
Michael Zychowicz is a local attorney. We need some debates
to separate these five candidates.
The field is also getting crowded for the
federal judgeship being vacated by Judge Carr who is moving
to senior status thereby taking on a limited workload.
Ban Konop is said to want it and may have the
backing of the publisher of The Blade. Judge Jack
Puffenberger, a probate judge, also wants it badly.
Common Pleas Court Judges Stacy Cook and Gary
Cook have quickly rounded up support from area labor unions.
Some in the black community are supporting Neema Bell, a
local attorney and partner in the law firm of Shumaker, Loop
& Kendrick.
Whom do you support? Did you get on the phone
and tell Senator Sherrod Brown?
Contact Jack
Ford at
jack@thetruthtoledo.com |
