|
Mayor Mike Bell raised few eyebrows when he
held a fundraiser for Republican George Sarantou, current
city councilman and candidate for the Lucas County Board of
Commissioners, at El Camino Real a few weeks ago. Bell ran
for mayor as an independent, in spite of his Democratic
affiliations of the past. Yet there he was helping a
card-carrying Republican. This will pay off for the mayor
when he runs again and needs Republican assistance.
Former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner is keeping his
hand in the political game. He is part of the brain trust
for State Rep. Edna Brown in her quest for the State Senate.
Finkbeiner is also doing some major fundraising for Gov. Ted
Strickland’s re-election campaign and for Lt. Gov. Lee
Fisher in his race for the U.S. Senate.
Let me say this again – Edna Brown’s race is
an historic opportunity. No African-American has ever served
as a state senator for Toledo so the elevation of Brown
would be a huge achievement if she can pull it off.
There are not many Dems in the Senate to
begin with so Brown would instantly be given plum committee
assignments and a ranking leadership post.
I cannot emphasize how important this seat is
to Toledo’s future. Do not sit on the sidelines for this
contest.
And, of course, pay attention to the election
of our governor, state auditor and secretary of state. These
three positions represent the power positions in the
apportionment process in which legislative lines are
re-drawn every 10 years after the census is completed.
This process determines, in large part,
whether Republicans or Democrats control the Ohio House and
Senate chambers. Control dictates the political agenda for
the next few elections, if not for the entire decade.
Concerned about your PERS or SERS pension?
Concerned about abortion rights? Concerned about K-12
education financing? What about gay rights? Higher
education? Jobs? Crime?
All of these issues are in the hands of the
Ohio legislature. So it means something when these folks
campaign, fundraise and play politics. Your life is at
stake.
As I travel the Toledo community, I see lots
of signs for Cosme, Brown and Mandros. It seems as if the
GOP does not want to be visible in Toledo’s black and
Hispanic communities. Big mistake.
Jon Stainbrook, chairman of the Lucas County
Republican Party, would be smart to place some big boards
touting “R” candidates front and center in the central city.
Likewise, Republicans should hit the churches and social
service organizations like Carty now knows how to do.
If Sarantou wins his county commissioner
race, it will be in large part due to his past ties with the
black community. Sarantou was a social worker early on at
BVR and he served on the Frederick Douglass Community
Association and the Neighborhood Health Service boards.
People remember that service.
Look for that county commissioner board to go
Republican over the next few years. Sarantou may get there.
City Councilman Rob Ludeman may try again. City Councilman
Tom Wisniewski may go for it if he loses his senate bid to
Edna Brown.
Contact Jack
Ford at
jack@thetruthtoledo.com |
