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“Why should voters think
that I’ll be able to bring new leadership and proven results
they so desperately need?” asked the candidate. “Because
I’ve done it before. In my public life I’ve always looked
for ways to move the community forward through innovation
and reform.”
Kapszukiewicz, raised in
west Toledo, is the son of a police officer and a school
teacher. For the past 12 years, he has served as Lucas
County Treasurer – first elected in 2004, following almost
seven years on Toledo City Council representing District 6.
Kapszukiewicz, a Democrat,
will be running against endorsed Democrat, incumbent Mayor
Paula Hicks-Hudson, and Republican City Councilman Tom
Waniewski, among others yet to declare.
“Toledo is at a
crossroads,” said Kapszukiewicz during his press conference.
“In many ways, we are seeing a rebirth of optimism that
hasn’t been seen in 30 years, maybe longer. The private
sector has stepped up. The Metroparks have embraced the
exciting potential of our river. The social service
community is playing an important role. The philanthropic
community is leading the way. The one missing piece of the
puzzle is our city government.”
Promising to “bring
fundamental change to the way our local government operate,”
the mayoral hopeful said, I elected, his administration will
consolidate “significant portions of city and county
government;” work with the city’s neighbors “to develop a
regional water system that is fair;” join the lawsuit to
ensure that Lake Erie is clean; fight blight and strengthen
neighborhoods; provide tools to police and fire fighters to
make the city safer; embrace the arts and landscape for a
more beautiful city and take on “aspirational challenges” to
build a framework “to ensure a universal pre-K education to
every child living in the city of Toledo.”
All the mayoral candidates
will compete in a September 12 primary. The top two vote
finishers will face off in the November 7 general election.
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