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With both early in-person and
mail-in voting now open, the special general election for
Toledo City Council At-large requires our attention. Katie
Bibish-Moline faces off with challengers Tony Dia and Melvin
Jackson III in what is expected to be a very competitive
race.
I was able to catch up with
Moline, a certified public accountant, appointed to council
in January to replace Sandy Spang, who took a role in the
City of Toledo’s Economic Development Department.
Our discussion concerning her
background, political philosophy and legislative priorities
follows.
Perryman: On November 3,
you’re running in a special election to secure your
temporary at-large council seat. Please describe your
personal and political journey leading to this contest.
Moline: I grew up in west Toledo
in the Blessed Sacrament neighborhood. I subsequently moved
back into when I came back to Toledo. I have been called to
serve, having had great role models, like my mom, who was a
Toledo Public School teacher for 35 years in special
education, primarily spent at Jones Jr. High. My dad worked
for the City of Toledo in the finance department. Between
them, they instilled in me a love of Toledo and serving the
community. My call to serve started with them.
Perryman: Tell us about
your education and subsequent professional life.
Moline: I went to Central
Catholic for high school and then Miami University in
Oxford, Ohio. While there, I studied history and political
science, and I focused on Russian studies, of all things.
They had an endowment in that area, so I was able to do an
honor’s thesis.
Perryman: You eventually
returned to Toledo.
Moline: I came back to Toledo
and worked for Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur for a number of
years in her Toledo office. But after working for
Congresswoman Kaptur, I reinvented my career, and became a
certified public accountant, which is, obviously, a very
different calling. But I am grateful for the experience and
knowledge that I gained working as a CPA because I think it
does enhance my role on city council. I am able to look at
our finances. I’m able to look at our budget, understand the
work being proposed, its cost, and know if it’s being done
properly. I’m able to contribute in a meaningful way to the
city in that area.
Perryman: What do you
believe are the three most significant strengths of the City
of Toledo?
Moline: I’ve always felt as if
I am a daughter of Toledo. So, I think our people are
phenomenal. I always think of, especially when I’m in other
cities, just how diverse Toledo is. There is every possible
background here, and I think it makes our city so vibrant.
Whether it’s different neighborhoods, different ethnicities,
or various religions, we have everything here, and you don’t
see that in every city to the degree we have. We haven’t
enjoyed our festivals this year like we usually do, but you
can see all of this showcased and I’m so proud of that.
Also, my husband’s a local
firefighter. I think we have phenomenal public safety
forces here. I’ve talked to folks in our suburbs, and I
always say: ‘Is your fire department as good as ours?
Probably not. I think we’re the best, and before you buy a
home, you should think about that,’ because sometimes that
gets missed.
And, it’d be silly not to
say a strength of Toledo is our proximity to the Great
Lakes, being on the Maumee River. Our location at the
intersection of I-75, I-80/90, is a true transportation hub
to our entire nation and the world.
Perryman: What areas do you
believe Toledo could improve?
Moline: Well, the one that
comes to mind immediately, we have to do something to
address population decline. As a city council member, I see
the connection between the population of Toledo, our income
collection and our ability to therefore do what we really
want to do as the city. We need more people living and
working here to be the great city we are, so that’s an area
of challenge.
We, obviously, during this
last pandemic, need to make sure that we’re on top of our
city finances. We had to take our revenue estimate down by
$25 million this year, and that’s a huge hit. We’ve been
able to receive money in federal assistance or federal funds
that have helped that. Still, it’s going to take some time
for us to bounce back economically. So, that is a big
challenge, both in terms of individual day to day real life,
but also for our businesses that support the people that
live and work here.
Another challenge that we
see right now is an increase in violence and whether we are
doing everything we can to stem that. I think we have a lot
to do in that area.
Perryman: What do you think
is the best approach to address the violence here?
Moline: I think we really need
to start thinking about some creative ideas between
administration with council and the mayor. I know that some
initiatives have been presented that we can start, and I
encourage that because you don’t know until you try. So,
what can we do? I think we need to support the safety
forces to do their job to help the violence. Finally, I
think, again going back to money, which is my wheelhouse, is
increasing investments in neighborhoods where the violence
is happening. People need to know that they have
opportunities and outlets other than crime or wrongdoing,
that people care about them, there’s a job to go to, and
that there’s something that they could lose by engaging in
violent or criminal activity.
Perryman: Let’s talk about
the criminal justice system, which we know has been
structurally biased against Black and Brown people. Police
reform and refunding have been in the news. What is your
position on the issue?
Moline: In regards to reform and
police, I believe it’s just about accountability. I think
that for every department in the City of Toledo. Anyone who
engages in crimes and represents the City of Toledo, needs
to be held accountable, which goes without saying.
When you talk about the
disparities, it’s horrible, that’s not right either. It
just seems so obvious that the mission of equality and
accountability is paramount to what’s happening right now.
It seems like it should be evident and everybody should be
working towards this. Everybody in a leadership position
should have those values and it should determine what they
do. I think civil discourse on the subject is important
too. I’m continually trying to grow and learn, so us having
this conversation is one way that can make me better in my
role in this as well.
Perryman: You have publicly
questioned a proposed payout for automated water meter
replacement. Let’s talk about your position on water
affordability.
Moline: This piece of
legislation’s still in committee right now, and my concern
is the way it’s being proposed. My focus is that this is
going to generate a lot more revenue in our public utility
system. When you look how that is going to happen, there is
a tiny element that’s related to cost reduction. Still,
primarily its revenue increases and the only way you
increase revenue is by people paying more. And so, my
question is, are we paying for the system on the backs of
our rate-payers? I haven’t seen how that’s not the case, and
that concerns me greatly, especially when we are suffering
economically.
This is $100 million
project that will affect every Toledo citizen if it is
implemented. It’s critical that we have transparency and
that the public has the opportunity to weigh in on an issue
that will affect them for 20 years and beyond.
Perryman: Your position on
Issue 3, the temporary income tax renewal of 0.75 percent to
fund general fund, capital improvements, and safety forces;
and Issue 4, the additional municipal income tax of 0.25
percent to fund road improvements?
Moline: The 0.75 percent is the
most essential tax levy, in my opinion. I can’t underscore
enough the devastation to the City of Toledo if that issue
does not pass. We need that money in order to keep our fire
department, police department, and our courts. It’s
absolutely imperative that the 0.75 percent fund passes.
The quarter additional tax? It is a hard time to ask people
to pay additional taxes, but consider what that investment
could mean in terms of outcomes and what it means if we
don’t do it.
Perryman: If elected, what
would be your top legislative priority?
Moline: I want to continue the
work I started when it comes to accountability of our
finances and ensuring that we’re doing everything in the
taxpayers’ best interest. That is so paramount to me.
Additionally, I want to ensure that as a city council, we’re
rebuilding public trust. Citizens should know that we are
acting in the highest standards and that we will continue to
serve them by operating transparently and ethically.
Finally, I want to ensure that we have beautiful, safe
neighborhoods, and I cannot express that enough. I’m so
proud of Toledo. That is where I will spend my time and
focus if I am so honored to be reelected.
Perryman: How about
directing more funds into organizations that are usually
left out of the budgeting formula?
Moline: There are two thoughts.
The first is, that we obviously need to make investments in
other areas to curb these disparities and our city can
thrive. But we also have to keep in mind that a lot of what
we fund through our general fund, there’s multiple funds in
the City of Toledo, but our general fund, is limited through
our income tax. A lot of that money goes to public safety by
way of the bargaining agreements that we’re contractually
obligated to pay. So, we have to figure out where we can
make the investments to address precisely what you’re
talking about.
Perryman: Finally, what
should The Truth readers take away from your campaign
message?
Moline: What I hope I can
express is what I truly value: accountability and
transparency. I am working as the watchdog of their tax
money. I’m here to serve and work for them. I want safe,
beautiful neighborhoods and will do anything I can to see
that that happens and that I’m fiscally responsible. I know
that every household has to go home, balance their budget,
and reconcile their checkbook. The City of Toledo has to do
the same thing. So, I take Toledoans’ money just as
seriously. It’s not my money. It’s their money. I take it
as seriously as they do their own bank account.
Perryman: Thank you.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org |
