More proof that politicians are more concerned about obtaining power and control and not helping the citizens they're suppose to be serving.
"Democratic leaders ramped up the pressure to reverse that - and install a Democrat - this week, starting at a closed-door lunch meeting of dozens of local elected Democrats and party operatives."
Would this be unprecedented for Toledo? Does the city charter allow this?
"The meeting, on Monday in Toledo's Warehouse District, included harsh criticism of the council president vote from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo and the newly elected state Democratic Party chairman, Chris Redfern, along with calls from several attendees to revisit the decision."
One-party domination, that's what Kaptur and Redfern are after. Apparently, they oppose the democratic process of electing a council president.
"Councilman Frank Szollosi, who voted for Democrats on all four presidential ballots, said he didn't favor a GOP president last week, "and I won't be in favor of one next week." "
The word "Toledo" is Spanish for South Detroit. That's what Szollosi is after.
Here's more proof that Redfern is a fraud and talks out his ass every time he brings up Republican one-party rule in Ohio government.
"Mr. Redfern warned the Monday meeting that if local Democratic factions - the so-called A Team and B Team - can't bridge their differences soon, the state party will set up its own operation for statewide candidates in Lucas County and those candidates, including the Democratic nominee for governor, might curb campaigning here."
Who in the frigging hell does Redfern think he is to threaten Toledo and the county like that? If our local politicians had a spine, they would have told Redfern to go pound sand. We know Ohio is about the three Big C's, so leave us alone. Go muscle Zanesville or Lima.
The Jan 8 Toledo Blade reprinted a Dec 20 article from The Economist. I don't know what the title of the story was in The Economist, but the title in the Blade was "Can Democrats take advantage of Ohio's sputtering GOP machine?"
From The Economist article:
"Talk to young Republicans and they will exude self-confidence. They regard their party as a well-oiled machine: brilliant at developing "farm teams" of volunteers, a master of the art of getting out the vote in suburbia and exurbia. They put their success down to a single all-important fact. They know what they believe in."
"Talk to young Democrats and it is all doom and gloom. The party is an old-boys' club that is better at covering its backside than thinking ahead. Young activists are joining single-issue pressure groups such as Campaign for a New Ohio rather than the Democratic dinosaur. They worry that the Democrats are too fissile -- divided between blue-collar workers and middle class professionals and fractured along all sorts of line of racial and sexual politics -- to produce a clear message."
Fissile means: Possible to split.
So according to this Economist article, this Democrat party division is statewide and not restricted to Lucas County. Maybe it's more obvious here because Lucas County is the canary in the coal mine. And maybe that's why Redfern and Kaptur are going out of their way to overpower Lucas County Democrats because they know that the same divisions are bubbling under the surface elsewhere in Ohio.
Again, referring to Roland Hansen's Nov 9, 2005 comment about Lucas County A Team and B Team Democrats:
"Speaking very generally and with some observations that should not be construed as across-the-board cast-in-concrete, I offer the following: The "A" team has been the "elite" deep-thinkers, the power brokers, the decision-makers, the white collar type democratic party leaders. The "B" team has always been (and still are) hard working Dems who have done much of the work in the trenches."
Hansen's observations about Lucas County Democrats are similar to The Economist's view of Ohio Democrats.
posted by jr at 12:25 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
I spent some time looking over the City Charter,
Section 32A. President of Council.
At the organizational meeting on the first business day of January following each regular City election, the Council shall elect one of its members as President who shall serve as President at the pleasure of Council. The President shall preside at meetings of the Council, perform such duties as presiding officer as may be conferred upon him or her by Council, and shall prepare the agenda for the meetings of Council in consultation with the Mayor, or the Mayor's designated representative, and with the Clerk of Council. In the event of the death, removal, or resignation of the President of Council, the Council shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy. If the President is temporarily disabled from performing the duties of President for any cause, the Council shall elect a President pro tempore to act during such disability.
Then searched for removal..only item I could find was this:
Section 35. Rules.
The Council shall determine its own rules and order of business, and shall keep a journal of its proceedings. It may punish or expel any member for disorderly conduct or violation of its rules No expulsion shall take place without the concurrence of two-thirds of all members elected, nor until the delinquent member shall have been notified of the charge against him or her, and shall have been given an opportunity to be heard.
So it's not really clear on how one would "remove" a City Council President.
posted by psyche777 at 01:28 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
Then they can do it if it's not clear. Bob and Betty are proof of this. Heck, even when it's clearly stated, a few people in Ford's administration violated the charter last fall. So why should we be surprised if Council takes another vote and Szollosi is elected? The People's Republic of Toledo in action. And the general public will remain oblivious to all of this and simply take it up the tailpipe.
posted by jr at 02:27 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
Ya gotta laugh at this comment:
The local party's executive director, Domenic Montalto, said Democrats should compromise soon on another council issue: the appointment of a District 3 councilman to replace Bob McCloskey, who won an at-large seat in November. Mr. Montalto said both factions should support Taylor Balderas, the party's endorsed candidate.
"Here's an opportunity to show some goodwill," he said.
Montaldo, Carty's right-hand-man, thinks that the Carty picked candidate, Balderas, should be supported to show 'good will.'
Sorry, Domenic, but that little tactic is Chicago politics, pure and simple.
The whole problem with this so-called dilema is none other than Carleton Finkbeiner himself. He's the divider. He's the egotist. He's the one who doesn't want 'good will.' Carty wants what he wants, period.
What a joke he is. And we're stuck with him for 4 more years!!
posted by limedrops911 at 03:17 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
I think support of Taylor is more than just related to Carty...
http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/Dec%207%202005/Hispanic%20Latino%20Caucus.htm
I haven't had the opportunity to talk with her but from what I've read and heard from others, I think she would be better than some of the names suggested.
posted by psyche777 at 03:44 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
The Dems are their own worst enemy now. I think most people in Toledo have a positive image of Ludeman, and if he is voted out I see that hurting those who do it. I also see this going to the courts because there is no precedence yet and because the city charter is unclear. It should be interesting to watch.
posted by HeyHey at 05:05 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
This is speculation bases on the wils assumption that the "A" and "B" factions can get along together, make nice, and play nice.
Two words:
Fat Chance...
posted by Hooda_Thunkit at 06:47 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
Last month Frank Szollosi was upset over the political threat made against him by Bill Lichtenwald. Now Chris Redfern makes a political threat against Lucas County Democrats. I'd like to know if Frank agrees with Redfern on this matter.
Kaptur and Redfern, why in the hell are national and state reps meddling with Toledo politics? This is an obscene intrusion.
And why is this even a Lucas County issue, anyway?
"Mr. Kapszukiewicz said 71 people attended the meeting, including Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, local party chairman Jack Wilson, and both Democratic Lucas County commissioners, Pete Gerken and Tina Skeldon-Wozniak."
Skippy, Gerken, and Wozniak have nothing to do with voting for Ludeman as Council president. This is a matter for Toledo City Council not Lucas County politicians.
What does this have to do with Berkey, Harbor View, Holland, Maumee, Oregon, Ottawa Hills, Sylvania, Waterville, Whitehouse, and all the townships in Lucas County?
Oh wait, I forgot. Toledo and Lucas County are one in the same. Nothing else matters in Lucas County but Toledo.
posted by jr at 07:06 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
Again, from the Blade story:
"The meeting, on Monday in Toledo's Warehouse District, included harsh criticism of the council president vote from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo ..."
I assume Marcy represents more than just Toledo.
From a posting on psyche777's blog about the Ohio Democrats' "Contract with Ohio."
"I first contacted Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's office here in Toledo. The staffer I spoke with was not aware of the Contract with Ohio but felt it was "probably a state not a federal issue". I explained to her that there were other Ohio federal candidates who had signed, she then stated it was something that should be addressed to the campaign staff and suggested that I contact Marcy's re-election campaign staff."
So is the vote for Toledo City Council president a federal issue? Does Marcy interfere with the local politics of other communities in her district?
If Marcy is hellbent on bringing havoc to Toledo city politics, shouldn't she be aware of the Democrats' Contract with Ohio, which does include her district?
posted by jr at 08:34 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
Marcy might be aware of it jr, however her staff was not. I do agree it is rather ironic that her staffer would phrase it that way given Marcy decided to criticize the City Council President vote.
I still haven't heard back from her campaign staff as to this issue.
After talking to Paul Ackerman, one of the creators of Contract with Ohio, last night the theme seems to be "unity" however I do believe given how long this whole A and B team thing was allowed to continue it's a bit after the fact for any of these outside politicos to be pointing fingers of blame. It's not like it was a secret. Granted Chris Redfern has just taken over which is another aspect to this issue.
posted by psyche777 at 09:26 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
All Redfern is saying is that his priority is the statewide campaigns this year, and if Lucas County wants to be a part of a succesful campaign, they need to work to get their house in order. I think his comments are totally accurate and appropriate.
posted by downtownj at 09:41 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
the state party will set up its own operation for statewide candidates in Lucas County and those candidates, including the Democratic nominee for governor, might curb campaigning here.
I take that differently, to me that means either knock it off or not only will the state candidates not come visit here but we'll set up our own lucas county operation which means less funding for all of you.
I also think Democratic leaders ramped up the pressure to reverse that - and install a Democrat - this week, starting at a closed-door lunch meeting of dozens of local elected Democrats and party operatives. is the same "backdoor behind the scene deals" that many of them were complaing/accusing happening very recently.
I'm sure they'll figure out a way to throw Rob out and Frank will end up with the Council Presidency. Then Redfern and Kaptur and the State Democratic Party will claim it all fixed and if world war three breaks out between Carty and Frank and nothing gets done because of it? Who will pay the ultimate price for that? Toledo area residents...Then the A team can regain power and demonstrate that Carty didn't "get results".
Call me cynical, but that's what I see as a possible scenario to this given what has happened so far. Rob Ludeman is a Republican but? Hate to remind them all but they are supposed to be Toledoans first....
posted by psyche777 at 10:28 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 11, 2006 #
Hate to remind them all but they are supposed to be Toledoans first....
Wake up! Wake up, psyche, you seemed to have dozed off there at the end.
posted by limedrops911 at 07:51 A.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
You're right limedrops...what was I thinking...
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 08:38 A.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
Frank Szollosi as council prez? He finished 6th in November, which was last for those making it to the council at-large seats. Although not automatic, apparently some tradition exists that finishing first gets the person the inside track for council president. If last place qualifies, then McCloskey at second place should qualify too.
November council at-large results:
Phil Copeland ... 38,044 ... 11%
Bob McCloskey ... 36,421 ... 10%
Mark Sobczak ... 34,895 ... 10%
George Sarantou ... 32,961 ... 9%
Betty Shultz ... 32,044 ... 9%
Frank Szollosi ... 30,253 ... 9%
Two Republicans finished ahead of Frank. How embarassing for Frank. Szollosi was 4th in the September primaries, so he's sliding the wrong way. Forget council experience because how much does Frank have? He finished last. I'd think it would be hard for the other five at-large to take orders from someone who got fewer votes than them.
Finishing behind two Republicans should automatic disqualify Frank for the position of council president. Actually, I think that's a rule in the city charter.
posted by jr at 02:20 P.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
Mr. Redfern is trying to explain this meeting and why he is against R's in Toledo. He is on Bob Frantz's program now, tune to WSPD.
posted by chrismyers at 06:43 P.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
Sorry against R's in Columbus and for D's in Toledo.
posted by chrismyers at 06:44 P.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
Redfern was polite until the last few minutes. He did seem to hint that he likes a strong 2 party system, although he did not admit it. He did say that he would not force his will upon the council. He did admit that he puts politics ahead of the best interest of Toledo in his preference to wish council revote. It was quite an interesting conversation with him talking out of both sides of his mouth.
I wish someone taped the conversation to post as an mp3 or could post a transcript of it. Very interesting.
posted by chrismyers at 06:59 P.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
Thanks for the info, Chris. I didn't listen to Bob's show. I was at the Cold Fusion Creamery in Cricket West this evening for the Community Voices. That's some damn good ice-cream there.
I'd like to lisen to the show. I don't know why WSPD doesn't make the shows available for download. In the "real" world, the public should be able to listen any time we want. I can view the newspaper websites any time I want. Some of the clips for the TV news are available for download any time I want.
With Bob's show, they don't have to edit out traffic, weather, and sports updates. Maybe some rule from management prevents the public from listening. It can't be disk space. We all know disk space is cheap. I'm assuming WSPD/Clear Channel has the money for disk space. Maybe it's some other technical reason.
It's comforting to know that a state rep won't try for a hostile takeover of the city.
posted by jr at 08:10 P.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
Sorry I missed it, I turned it off when I heard Julia Bates...couldn't stand the fact that she wouldn't have the true facts about the case they were discussing.
JR, I think it will end up being Frank, just a gut feeling based on some of the previous events. Possible it might not be given his statements about the "forced" reconciliation but we'll see what happens. I've been wrong before.
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 09:55 P.M. EST on Thu Jan 12, 2006 #
I don't think anyone would be shocked with the People's Republic of Toledo overthrowing a presidency. I'm sure Frank Szollosi has been pegged by some Democrat operatives as an up-and-coming politician. Maybe a successor someday to Marcy Kaptur.
But Frank's recent string of failures don't help his political future. So the national and state rep Democrats must use force to put Frank into a more positive position.
Frank finishing sixth behind two Republicans in an overwhelmingly Democrat city looks horrible. That fact cannot be changed, but being Council president looks good on the resume no matter how the position was acquired. Acquired, not earned.
Frank barely made it back on Council. He was the northwest Ohio campaign manager or whatever for the Reform Ohio Now initiative that went down in a massive ball of flames. And he got snubbed for Toledo City Council president.
Notice something in common with all three of those things? The democratic process decided the outcomes. People voted. But obviously, the democratic process isn't good enough for some Democrats. Brute force is needed to preserve their good 'ol boy network.
Here are a couple of examples of this type of "leadership"
A report from the fall of 2004 showed Toledo ranked 195th out of the 200 largest cities for economic and job performance. The city's ranking in 2003 was also 195th. Don't know what the 2005 ranking is.
A Blade story from last summer:
"Toledo's home county, Lucas, is the only one of Ohio's major urban counties to lose private-sector professional, scientific, and technical services jobs over the latest five-year period."
The five-year period is from 1998-2003. Mostly under Carty's first regime. And of course, entirely under Kaptur. Since Marcy wants to be involved with city politics, how does she explain these numbers?
Blade stats for each county and the % change in employment in engineering, advertising, and other high-paying professional jobs:
Summit (Akron) 45%
Montgomery (Dayton) 16%
Franklin (Columbus) 15%
Hamilton (Cincinnati) 14%
Cuyahoga (Cleveland) 2%
Lucas (Toledo) -11%
% change in these good-paying jobs for a few other area counties:
Hillsdale 70%
Monroe 45%
Erie 44%
Hancock 40%
Wood 23.5%
Lenawee 9%
Ottawa unchanged
Fulton -20%
Steady as she goes, Toledo. Maintain the status quo. The rest of Ohio is enjoying your accomplishments. But hey, look on the bright side, Toledo. You have a smoking ban. So all is well.
posted by jr at 09:30 A.M. EST on Fri Jan 13, 2006 #
some obserevations:
Frank did not spend much time or money on this past campaign, figuring that he would finish just because of name recognition. That's how Betty [I do not Noe the man] and Bob [[I'll bust your chops] got elected. The mindset of the Toledo voter is what jr said above: 'steady as she goes.'
Wilkowski would have made a great mayor because he has the interepersonal skills and brains which Cartytlacks. Further, Keith has actually held a job outside of public office, which gives him insight in the real workforce world which Carty never knew.
Sobczak is nothing but a Carty-boy, a toady who runs to Carty to decide how to vote on issues. Although his election ads touted his 'independent voice on city council,' he's Carty's right-hand boy.
Ludeman if you remember, quickly ran to the Carty tent right after he was eliminated from the primary. These two are tight and Rob will do pretty much what Carty wants him to do. I watched Carty on the evening of the 4 ballots for council president. he beamed with excitement when Rob was elected. A fox in the hen house indeed.
posted by limedrops911 at 10:08 A.M. EST on Fri Jan 13, 2006 #
A Jan 13 Blade op-ed also referenced The Economist article the Blade reprinted last week that said Ohio Democrats were divided. For some reason, the Friday op-eds are not on the Blade's website. The one I'm referring to is titled Democrats' crisis not just local.
"Mr. Redfern came to Toledo to try to patch things up between the Lucas County [Democrat] Party's A Team and B Team. But how can that noble goal be achieved when Mr. Redfern suggests that the election of Mr. Ludeman as council president is a political mistake that "can soon be corrected"?"
"Mr. Redfern wears his partisanship on his sleeve. But he has bigger problems than Lucas County alone. Just as there is a fractured Democratic Party in Toledo and Lucas County, so is the state party a splintered conglomeration of single-issue interest groups unable to offer a unified voice or challenge to the Republicans."
The op-ed then talks about The Economist article's view about Ohio Democrats. The Blade op-ed then says:
"Blunt as it sounds, many white Ohioans are tired of being called racist and are weary of a party that makes the enrichment of those in public employment part of its mantra."
"Mr. Redfern will find statewide victories rare as long as the Democrats are perceived as the party of privileged public employees and the party of gays and other groups the mainstream has trouble embracing."
"Had the Ohio [Democrat] Party been paying attention, it might not be in its present predicament. The door will slam in the Democrats' face if they fail to understand that the deep divide between the A Team and the B Team in Lucas County is only part of a far more serious problem."
On Friday evening, I was traveling on the turnpike, well east of here, and so I only got to hear the beginning of Frantz's show before it faded out.
Bob mentioned his Thursday interview with Redfern. He didn't play any actual quotes. Bob said he got Redfern to admit that he did not care about Toledoans or the well-being of the city. Redfern is only concerned about statewide elections. Something like that. Somehow having a Republican as council president in a large Ohio city is bad for Democrats in statewide elections. I'm not following the logic there, but that seems to be what's on Redfern's tiny mind.
posted by jr at 01:16 A.M. EST on Sun Jan 15, 2006 #
Bob commenting on his blog:
"I couldn't believe my ears when Redfern flat-out admitted that he and his party would rather put politics, and the outcome of future elections, ahead of what's best for the citizens."
posted by jr at 01:20 A.M. EST on Sun Jan 15, 2006 #
For those that needed Chris Redfern to tell them what has obviously gone on in people's faces over these last few years, here's a big bucket of "DUH!".
Use it sparingly, you're going to need it during this term.
posted by BrianInFlorida at 04:29 A.M. EST on Sun Jan 15, 2006 #
"I couldn't believe my ears when Redfern flat-out admitted that he and his party would rather put politics, and the outcome of future elections, ahead of what's best for the citizens."
No, Bob Frantz, that GOP cheerleader extraordinaire, couldn't believe his ears! Poor Bob, he is such an unabashed, enthusiastic supporter of all things Republican, that his oh-so sensitive ears could not imagine the Democrats playing 'politics.' Luckily for Bob, he never has to worry about those pure-of-heart Republicans, those darlings of honesty and morality, doing such a dastardly deed as that!
posted by limedrops911 at 08:50 A.M. EST on Sun Jan 15, 2006 #
What if something similar is said about the Democrats by Russ Lemmon, the unabashed, cheerleader extraordinaire for the Democrats?
Shocking admission in Russ Lemmon's Jan 15 column:
"Do Lucas County Democrats realize how petty they will look if they try to remove Rob Ludeman as president of Toledo City Council? Mr. Ludeman, a Republican, prevailed in the voting of council members. And while I question whether he was the best choice, he won, fair and square."
"Lucas County Democrats don't get it. They decry the environment created by one-party rule in Columbus, yet can't see what one-party rule has done to Toledo. It is the height of hypocrisy."
posted by jr at 01:26 P.M. EST on Sun Jan 15, 2006 #
On Monday, Marcy "Cheap Shot" Kaptur in a subtle way used a Martin Luther King event to mention how Toledo City Council wrongly elected a Republican.
Going back to the news immediately following the Ludeman vote where race was brought into the issue:
"Councilman Frank Szollosi accused Mr. McCloskey and Mr. Sobczak of selling out the Democratic Party. He said their desertion of Mr. Ford — the city’s first black mayor — and their failure to support Ms. Brown, one of three black Democrats on council, would turn off black voters."
"Councilman Michael Ashford questioned Mr. Ludeman’s support for civil rights and for government’s role in righting social wrongs. “That’s where we clearly differ. We differ on civil rights,” Mr. Ashford said."
Now the Blade's story about neanderthal Kaptur:
"The divisive vote for Toledo City Council president two weeks ago continues to haunt local politicians, even on the day honoring a man who was known for trying to unite people. Kaptur didn't let the chance pass yesterday at the 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr., Unity Celebration at the University of Toledo's Savage Hall to take a dig at the vote."
"Miss Kaptur never specifically mentioned the council vote. Miss Kaptur said in her speech Ms. Brown and Mr. Copeland were treated unfairly and deserved more respect. She said she felt both were marginalized in the process."
Kaptur tried to explain by saying:
"Wilma Brown has the tenure, and Phil Copeland had the votes. We can't marginalize those things."
Brown has been on Council for nine years while Ludeman has been on Council for 12 years. Once again, proper math escapes people like Kaptur who don't realize that 12 is greater than 9.
More from the Blade story:
"After the program, [Mr. Sobczak] walked up to Miss Kaptur, shook her hand, and gave her a copy of the program's souvenir booklet and circled one of Mr. King's quotes: "There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right." "
I'm sure the thinking behind that King quote was lost on Kaptur.
posted by jr at 08:21 A.M. EST on Tue Jan 17, 2006 #
Today, Jan 17, Toledo City Council will address the issue of a council president revote. Frank Szollosi has commented on his blog about the revote.
Frank said:
1. "A lot of handwringing over the council presidency vote. Glad to have missed the meeting on Monday were the revote idea originated. Sure, I'd prefer to be setting council's agenda rather than my GOP colleague. But Democrats split horribly - we even had an officer of the county Democratic party twisting arms to vote Republican. Disgraceful. At this point I can't predict what will happen next Tuesday [Jan 17]."
2. "That said, I have always worked well Rob. The "revote idea" didn't start with me, and I've done nothing to fuel it."
Hah! Frank "Pontius Pilate" Szollosi is washing his hand of this issue. He said he didn't initiate the revote idea, and he hasn't pushed it forward. Fine. But has Frank done or said anything publicly to derail the idea? Has Frank come out against the revote idea? Hell no. I infer from his lack of opposition to the revote idea that Frank supports the revote.
Frank also said:
"Tomorrow will be much less interesting than expected."
No date stamps on the comments on Frank's blog, so I don't know when he made that comment. I'm assuming he's talking about today's Council meeting that will be less interesting than expected.
posted by jr at 08:35 A.M. EST on Tue Jan 17, 2006 #
I found this La Prensa article via psyche777's new blog called Glass City Jungle.
The La Prensa article is titled:
"Outraged Sandy Isenberg speaks out on new Republican majority in Toledo city council"
Points for a creative title. Republican majority?
The corrupt 'Berg said:
"This never would have happened under my watch. This is self-destructive. This is not doing anything to help bring A and B together. It just sends the wrong message to young people who want to run for public office."
No, people like the 'Berg are the reason people leave Lucas County.
The writer of this hilarious article says:
"It may appear at first blush to be a drastic remedy, but those who have blatantly strayed from party ranks to aid and abet the enemy have in the past been expelled from the Democratic Party. Is that an option to now consider? Isenberg concedes there have been precedents for such drastic action. But no one is calling for those steps to be taken."
"So why is anyone really surprised by Tuesday’s shameful display? It really started with the exclusion of Harry Barlos. Most political observers thought it reached its low point with the abandonment of Jack Ford. But no, that was just the prelude."
"Tuesday’s denial of the council presidency to Wilma Brown, the most qualified candidate on the council dais, ..."
Why is Brown more qualified than Ludeman?
The 'Berg said of the selection of Ludeman:
"... must have lots of old time Democrats spinning in their graves."
The creative writer of this article concludes with:
"The only good upside to this ugly episode is that it resulted in more people than usual paying attention to council business. And that’s not all bad. Because it is going to require a great deal of vigilance to police Toledo’s new Republican administration."
That's funny. The article writer has talent and should probably write drama or comedy.
The scorecard so far:
Redfern admits that he doesn't care about Toledoans and is only concerned about Ohio Democrats winning statewide elections, which is why he wants a revote to boot out Ludeman.
Szollosi admits that his Dad would have never allowed him to vote for a Republican.
Kaptur exploits a Martin Luther King event to express her disdain for a Republican being elected Toledo City Council president.
And the 'Berg said Ludeman's selection has dead yellow dog Democrats spinning in their graves.
It's a shameful mindset that exists in this region. An extremely narrow-minded one that is unfortunately deeply rooted.
posted by jr at 10:59 P.M. EST on Tue Jan 17, 2006 #
Any breaking news on today's meeting?
posted by lloyd at 11:05 P.M. EST on Tue Jan 17, 2006 #
Balderas got appointed McCloskey's old seat temporarily. I think a special election will be held in May. I thought there was something about the GM Powertrain plant, such as approving an incentive plan or something. I haven't heard or seen anything about nuking Ludeman.
posted by jr at 11:23 P.M. EST on Tue Jan 17, 2006 #
No,
11pm news didn't seem to cover this.??
posted by lloyd at 11:32 P.M. EST on Tue Jan 17, 2006 #
Excerpts from a Jan 18 Frank Szollosi letter to the Blade editor:
"Rob is an honorable Republican, but I do believe a Democrat should set our agenda and be a heartbeat away from the mayor's office."
"As Ohioans elect a new governor and U.S. senator next fall, our community needs strong Democratic values now more than ever. My party needs to shape up fast; it's our responsibility to clean up the Republican "culture of corruption" pervasive in state government the past 15 years."
"It's our responsibility to demonstrate our capacity for Democratic leadership if we're going to be successful next fall, which explains rank-and-file Democratic outrage over my colleagues' Bob McCloskey and Mark Sobczak's Republican votes at the insistence of our county Democratic Party's so-called "leaders." "
Rank-and-file, eh? Maybe that's the problem.
posted by jr at 11:17 A.M. EST on Thu Jan 19, 2006 #
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