Skeldon - Now, there's a new name in Toledo politics. {rolls eyes}
Endorsed Democrat - That's a code phrase in Toledo, which means "nothing will change except higher taxes or less service".
Sylvania - If you play the GOP card in Toledo, you actually have to play it out of Toledo. The people with money (i.e. Republicans) largely left for the exoburbs. So right away, we can see any Republican scheme for Toledo positions is fatally flawed. Maybe if they bring their money back, then perhaps Toledo's poor legions will see fit for voting for one of them ... yet that would require exposing money to Toledo's TASers (tax-and-spenders). Being exposed to a TASer is just too shocking, generally.
posted by GuestZero at 08:21 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 08, 2007 #
You know what? At the city level of government, it shouldn't matter what your political views on abortion or health care are. Democrat, Republican... Can you fix our roads? Can you attract more businesses to Toledo? Can you balance the budget?
None of those things has anything to do with political affiliation. Politics just gets in the way of governing and it needs to stop being an issue.
-Dan
posted by photodan at 10:11 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 08, 2007 #
More importantly, can Tom build a covered shelter in West Toledo for community events like they have in Sylvania?
I wonder how many Sylvania City Council candidates have held fundraisers in West Toledo?
What do abortion and health care have to do with political affiliation?
Register as an Independent.
posted by jr at 10:31 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 08, 2007 #
Signs are just starting to come out and some of them don't seem to hold all of their fundraisers within their district. Marty Skeldon had a fundraiser at the home of Tina Skeldon Wosniak and it was $50.00 per person. Normally most of the council candidates charge less than that per person, as an example, Ed Cichy's upcoming fundraiser is $30.00 per person and I believe Lindsay Webb's recent one was $20.00 per person, the same with Karen Shanahan's. That is of course the suggested minimum donation. Lindsay and Karen did hold both of theirs within their respective districts.
The Lucas County Democratic Party has gotten much better when it comes to updating their website, but it appears the Lucas County Republican Party is still very slow to update. There was a time when both of them were slow and I wrote quite a few blog posts about outdated material before it was updated.
posted by psyche777 at 11:18 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 08, 2007 #
Has any other Toledo district council candidate held a fundraiser in another town? I could understand if Tom couldn't find a covered shelter in District 5 and had to go to another district in Toledo. But to go to another town, is that normal?
posted by jr at 12:10 A.M. EST on Sat Jun 09, 2007 #
and I've asked them multiple times over the past several months to update the website...oh welll....
Some fundraisers are hosted by others...and when those people make all the arrangements and cover the costs of the event, you tend to accept their selection of location, even if it's outside your jurisdiction...
$100 on down is a good price range for fundraisers for district reps. The dollar amount depends upon who you're inviting to the fundraiser...
Signs in May for a November election are the norm...Signs usually go up when the festivals begin...
posted by MaggieThurber at 07:17 A.M. EST on Sat Jun 09, 2007 #
No Jr, in my limited experience with campaign events it is not normal for a candidate to hold a fundraiser outside of the city limits. Exceptions I have seen is if a union or orgnization is co-sponsoring a fundraiser or an event and it is located outside of the City limits but it is a bit out of the norm to hold an event at Olander.
I haven't been doing this as long as Maggie, but I have not seen many district council fundraising events be at $100.00 per person, I'm sure they happen and she is very correct that it depends on who you are inviting. If you have a group of people that would not think twice about paying $200.00 per couple to attend that would of course help your campaign more than having to have five couples at $40.00 a couple.
posted by psyche777 at 04:56 P.M. EST on Sat Jun 09, 2007 #
I emailed Mr. Waniewski with a link to this thread and asked him directly if he could share his reasoning for holding the event at Olander rather than within the City.
It could be something as simple as with graduations it was the only location he could rent, but if he responds via email I'll update. He could very well decide to address it here.
posted by psyche777 at 05:02 P.M. EST on Sat Jun 09, 2007 #
Tom Waniewski responded via email and he gave me permission to post his response:
Hello Lisa Renee --
I would be happy to address the issue. It was discussed among my committee before we held the event.
One of the main organizers of the fund-raiser...the actual brains behind it...lives in Sylvania. So that is the main reason. We wanted to be sensitive to having it in District 5, but more than anything we wanted it to be convenient and fun. We were also on a particular time schedule since everything in my arsenal of planning is on a pretty tight schedule. Olander Park was the only venue that was available at this time that would accomodate our needs -- a liquor license, a place to heat up food, a park/outdoor setting, the right price!! We initially pursued Twin Oaks Lanes on Sylvania Avenue, where I made my initial announcement, but we could not do it in the time available.
We also looked at what other candidates did in the past and noticed fund raisers at the Sylvania Country Club, the Toledo Club even though they are not in the candidate's district. So we went with the time and place and the response has been overwhelming. I would have never imagined!
I hope this answers your posts' questions. Let me know if you would like me to post it to your blog, or if you would upload it on my behalf. Please feel free to ask or forward any question about my actions, candidacy, or intentions. I'm very much appreciate the citizens' concerns and will be forthright, honest, and quick to respond as best I can.
Tom
posted by psyche777 at 11:53 P.M. EST on Sun Jun 10, 2007 #
Well, that explanation sounds rational. I wonder if they considered the Eleanor Kahle Center at Willys Park.
posted by GuestZero at 02:18 A.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
Thanks for looking into it, psyche777. I assume GZ was being sarcastic with that "rational" comment.
"One of the main organizers of the fund-raiser...the actual brains behind it...lives in Sylvania."
Interesting. Brain drain, eh? No brains for fundraising apparently exist in Toledo.
Looks to me like Tom graduated from the Betty Shultz school of pathetic excuses. He's playing the politician's role well with the usual "others-have-done-it-too" card. Right, be just like all the other politicians. That will really help the city.
"... more than anything we wanted it to be convenient and fun."
Apparently, Toledo is not convenient, nor is it fun.
"Olander Park was the only venue that was available at this time that would accomodate our needs ..."
Another example that Toledo cannot stack up to Sylvania, according to Tom.
Tom's platform is "Toledo doesn't have it, so go to the burbs."
"So we went with the time and place and the response has been overwhelming. I would have never imagined!"
Response from district 5 residents? Maybe that's because Toledoans will jump at any chance available to get out of Toledo for a while.
photodan raised some valid concerns above: "Can you fix our roads? Can you attract more businesses to Toledo? Can you balance the budget?"
So let me get this straight. Tom Waniewski does not have the imagination to figure out a way to hold a fundraiser in his own district or at least in Toledo, but we're suppose to believe that Tom will have the ability to work through issues like roads, business-friendly legislation, and balancing the budget?
Well, I wish I could go to Tom's Sylvania fundraiser, but it's on a Thursday night, and like other Toledoans, I go to the farmer's market in Perrysburg on Thursday evenings.
posted by jr at 07:37 A.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
I was being half sarcastic since at least we got an explanation. The issue is that it is a bit hard to believe that a fund raiser like that couldn't be held in Toledo under the given restrictions. Perhaps I don't realize how difficult it is to hold such fund raisers in the city ... but then again, there are plenty of spaces both open, covered and enclosed in several parks I can think of in Toledo.
posted by GuestZero at 08:00 A.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
GZ - I appreciate the point you're making, but I wasn't aware that Toledo City parks and shelters had their own liquor permits...
I noticed that was one of the criteria for the location.
jr said:
"Well, I wish I could go to Tom's Sylvania fundraiser, but it's on a Thursday night, and like other Toledoans, I go to the farmer's market in Perrysburg on Thursday evenings."
- LOL!!!
posted by MaggieThurber at 09:01 A.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
Mags, don't people hold wedding receptions in some park shelters? Isn't alcohol commonly served at such things? I'm missing something, here. {scratches head}
posted by GuestZero at 10:21 A.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
I don't think you can serve alcohol (legally) at any of the shelter houses. I remember seeing a sign in the shelter house at Walbridge Park specifically stating that.
I headed over to the City of Toledo's Department of Recreation and it states on the information form:
Festival-type activities involving alcohol are only permitted at the following sites: International Park Gazebo and immediate surrounding area and Promenade/Festival Parks (contact CitiFest for permits information on these last two facilities).
I think it's a reasonable explanation, that doesn't mean any of you have to agree with it but it does show that he did consider it as a concern and after learning that other candidates have held their fundraising events out of Toledo opted what worked best for those holding the fundraiser.
posted by psyche777 at 11:31 A.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
What about a VFW? Isn't there any in West Toledo? I know Mike Craig holds his fundraisers at the VFW right down the street from his house.
posted by tm at 12:38 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
From Tom's explanation: "... a liquor license ..."
Maggie said: "... but I wasn't aware that Toledo City parks and shelters had their own liquor permits..."
GZ asked: "Isn't alcohol commonly served at such things?"
psyche777 added: "I don't think you can serve alcohol (legally) at any of the shelter houses."
This may be a stupid question, but is Toledo comprised of a bunch of drunks? I never realized how important booze was in political fundraising. I suppose when it concerns politics, heavy alcohol drinking is probably needed in order to stomach whatever the hell the politician is saying. And a drunk supporter is probably more likely to contribute some additional money.
So let me get this straight:
* A political fundraiser can only be held if alcohol is served.
* It's not possible to raise money without allowing the contributors to booze it up.
Is this some kind of local Catholic thing? The Catholics around here are the kingmasters at supplying alcohol at fundraisers. It was a real eye-opener for me when I attended my first Toledo Catholic festival. I was like, "Hot damn, uss-em rednecks in eastern Uh-Hi-Uh ain't got nuttin on these here religious people."
posted by jr at 02:18 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
"What about a VFW? Isn't there any in West Toledo?"
Here's a Google maps mashup, showing VFWs in the Toledo area. According to the map, district 5 contains one VFW. Post 606 is on Laskey between Douglas and Secor.
posted by jr at 02:46 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
At the city level of government, it shouldn't matter what your political views on abortion or health care are. Democrat, Republican... Can you fix our roads? Can you attract more businesses to Toledo? Can you balance the budget?
I'd have to disagree with you there Dan. Fundamental philosophy watered down by political expedience guides every decision. To me, the goals realized divided by the amount of political watering down is the calculation for effectiveness.
There's always two ways to "solve" a governance problem. One person can balance the budget by raising tax rates and the other by raising the base. One can use tax revenues for roads and the other can use it for gas cards. One can be endorsed by unions and threaten the public with less services while the other can threaten the union for what they do to the cost of public services.
Abortion and health care may not be specifically relavelant, but Republican and Democrat approaches are crystal clear at the local level. Show me a local government in which left and right "don't matter" and I'll show you one that is rudderless.
posted by babbleman at 02:55 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
...and show me an electorate that doesn't recognize the long term importance of which philosophy solves their problems and I'll show you Toledo.
posted by babbleman at 03:02 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
I held one fundraiser in Monclova Township with the ultimate irony that it was across the pond/lake from jailbird's old house. They were friends of mine, not the Noes but the people across from them. lol
posted by daveschulz at 03:08 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
The DeVeaux shopping plaza used to have a community center that was used for bingo, wedding receptions, dances, etc. It had a kitchen. If it still existed, Tom could have held his fundraiser there. But as historymike wrote a year ago:
"The center also suffered from the loss of the Blessed Sacrament Community Center in 2004."
Toledo's strict smoking ban that was passed unanimously by Council in the summer of 2003 hurt Blessed Sacrament's bingo business. The smoking ban may not have been the main reason for its closure, but it sealed the deal. (Of course, what would be the community center's status today now that we have a statewide smoking ban?)
Anyway, it's interesting that a Toledo council candidate has to go outside of Toledo because of prior Toledo city legislation. Sort of like residents and businesses.
posted by jr at 03:14 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
Isn't the VFW a "private club" for members only... oh wait this isn't a smoking ban thread.
Working for a non-profit in the past you learn that it's all about the next big party idea. To get people to come to an event you have to make it "the" place to be for the evening. I see Olander as a good option because for the money, it's a good deal. If people of Sylvania are willing to fork out the cash, more power to them. The suburbs do have a vested interest in the city.
As for the Catholic festivals.... You're right, it's a big drinking fest. However, it's not advertised as a revival or bible study.
Back in the day, the festivals were more family friendly, kids games, polka music. In the summer time my family would make the rounds heading to a different chruch's festival each week. However, to make the most money, the churches dropped the polka and family focus and turned it into a parking lot party. I would guess that most people in the beer tent don't even belong to the church.
All Saints in Rossford, is about the only one left where you can Polka and eat the great polish food!!!
posted by fish4 at 03:19 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
This may be a stupid question, but is Toledo comprised of a bunch of drunks? I never realized how important booze was in political fundraising. I suppose when it concerns politics, heavy alcohol drinking is probably needed in order to stomach whatever the hell the politician is saying. And a drunk supporter is probably more likely to contribute some additional money.
So let me get this straight:
* A political fundraiser can only be held if alcohol is served.
* It's not possible to raise money without allowing the contributors to booze it up.
Well, at $50 a head for that event, my husband and I would have to drop $100 to go. For $100 and a night of our time, I'd say we would expect to have a few drinks. (If we're going to drop $100 and have to get a sitter on top of that, then it better substitute for a "normal" night out.)
And I don't think that's just a Toledo thing, since I'm not even a native Toledoan. :)
posted by mom2 at 03:19 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
I would guess that most people in the beer tent don't even belong to the church.
True - when I first moved to the Toledo area (2000) and made friends with some of the younger people at my downtown office, "the thing" to do during the summer was to go to whatever festival was happening that night and then after the festival shut down head to either the Lighthouse or some other bar. You tended to see a lot of the same people at the festivals each weekend, and I know that most of them weren't Catholic at all. It was just about having a good time and being where all the other young people were.
posted by mom2 at 03:22 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
Seems odd that a church/religion (any) would switch from 'family friendly' events, to drinking parking lot parties. I understand there's more money to be made when you bring booze into the equation - but come on. The CHURCH chose booze parties over family friendly parties? I mean, I believe it - I've seen it first hand. Just seems kind of ironic to me, the way they harp on family values & all.
As a side note: One of the things that made me respect organized religion LESS (and a LOT), was when years (and years) ago, I'd witnessed a Catholic priest drinking too much wine at a wedding; and a Greek priest (is that what they're called?) doing the same at a christening party. Mix well with a big dose of hypocracy & child molesting, & holier than thou types & it sealed the deal.
Somebody I know threw a political fundraiser years back & did not serve alcohol. If they don't win because they didn't make enough money because the attendees didn't drink enough, or wouldn't show their support because there was no booze, then something is very wrong. Personally - I think it's immoral practically what is spent on election campaigns. I'd bet there's a lot of quality people out there who'd do a great job & have great ideas, but the cost of running for election is cost prohibitive. The way I see it, is it's all about who has the most money (via fundraisers, bribes, suck-ups, rich friends & family, etc.). I think there should be a law setting a limit of no more than $5,000 - $10,000 to run for anything. Yes, I know a billboard is gonna cost ya plenty. And a tv spot will set you back at least $3,000. So be it - but the field would be more level. Of course a presidential election would have to be able to cover the entire country & would be allowed to have a bigger budget. But again, there needs to be ceilings set. I think there's a reason we keep seeing the same names over & over (follow the money).
posted by starling02 at 04:52 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
I think a Vet hall would have been an ideal choise - God knows, they can probably use the money. And I think there's restaurants that do have rentable banquet rooms.
jr - you said it all well.
posted by starling02 at 04:54 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
I'm starting to understand more and more what's about to happen to Toledo.
As Toledo continues to collapse economically -- as it must since basic manufacturing is leaving and there's simply no replacement for that prosperity base, no, not even "knowledge" services regardless of what UT's Dan Johnson thinks -- more and more of its fate will be determined by outside or disconnected forces. The politicians will continue to move or concentrate themselves into areas like the exoburbs and the "enclaves" (Point Place, Old Orchard, Ottawa Hills). More and more contracting will be taken up by outside bidders. More and more businesses with either close, move to an exoburb, or do the nearshore/offshore thing. About the only stuff that will move IN to Toledo will be predatory businesses.
I remain unconvinced as to the ultimate good faith expressed by Tom Waniewski. Known to him or not, I believe he gave in to the cultural pressure to abandon Toledo to its low-order economic fate. He needs to accept or understand that if Toledo is going to start voting Republican, it's going to have to be treated to examples of Republican activities that benefit THEM. For example, said Republican should bother to obey his party's alleged platform and aim for reduced government -- by reducing both taxation AND spending, and to apply those cuts uniformly instead of wealthy-preferentially.
posted by GuestZero at 09:53 P.M. EST on Mon Jun 11, 2007 #
wow, GZ, I never realized Point Place was an 'enclave'...lol
Traditionally, a $100 per person fundraiser has an open bar so the desire for a place to serve alcohol makes sense in this case.
Not all fundraisers serve alcohol, but most of the more expensive ones do..
posted by MaggieThurber at 07:47 A.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
"Well, at $50 a head for that event, my husband and I would have to drop $100 to go. For $100 and a night of our time, I'd say we would expect to have a few drinks."
Surely, you can think of better things you and your husband can do for $100 than attend a cookout for a Toledo politician in Sylvania.
For my wife and I, nothing tops our naturally private West Toledo backyard at this time of the year for an evening cookout, a fire (oops, did I say fire?), and margaritas or micro-brew beers.
Put your $100 toward something useful, like buying the ingredients for your own margaritas:
2 Shots Cuervo Tequila (Personally, I like Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo)
3/4 Shot Cointreau
3/4 Shot Grand Marnier
6 Shots Sweet & Sour Mix
Splash Rose's Lime
posted by jr at 08:30 A.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
Whuh? Of course it's an enclave, Mags. It's peninsular and home to a few politicians and activists seemingly beyond the per-capita I'd expect. You're one of them, after all. I didn't make the world; I just call 'em as I see 'em.
Consider that about half of the TPS teachers live outside of Toledo. Many police also do, even in defiance of the locality rule (which is fairly sad since the TPD hands out waivers frequently, so why cheat?). That sort of thing brings out the idea that Toledo is a sort of anti-enclave which repels people, capability, and capital. There's a wind blowing out of Toledo; suburbs and exoburbs naturally form the first windbreaks where the sands of capital would gather. People take their money to those places as a crossing point of two involved graphs: one function of attraction for commuting to the city, and another function of repulsion from the ruins in the same city. The end result is the formation of enclaves. Toledo's function-crossing-point is outside the city limits, hence the city is in great danger of depopulation and parasiticism.
Note that to counter this external cross-point, politicians have unwisely created an artificial alteration of the attraction function by using tax abatements. It does move the function, undoubtedly, but it just leads to the same parasitical behavior. Hence, tax abatements in that sense are no fix at all.
posted by GuestZero at 08:43 A.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
Surely, you can think of better things you and your husband can do for $100 than attend a cookout for a Toledo politician in Sylvania.
Of course we could - which is why I said if we were going to attend, it would have to replace a "normal" night out.
(If I were inspired to attend such an event, it would be a difficult task to convince my husband to come with me. It would be darn near impossible if he knew he couldn't have a few beers. lol)
posted by mom2 at 09:11 A.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
JR - Cuervo Tequila?
It's the Bud Light of Tequila... if it doesn't say 100% agave then you're paying for 49% grain alcohol.
If you're going to spend $$ on Grand Marnier then spend a little more on your tequila.
A good aged "Reposado Tequila" will do wonders your drinks.
Most important thing is "100% agave"...
Let me know how it goes and if you need help perfecting your drinks, I'm always avalible to help taste test.
posted by SensorG at 10:40 A.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
GZ - it was a joke...lighten up a bit...and while the average income out in the Point is probably above the city's overall average, it's because we're a very economically mixed area...a look at the range of home prices out here would be a good example.
and I know of two people from the Point who've been elected..me and Harry Kessler - versus west or south Toledo...LOL
However, all that being said, I thing that SensorG had the right idea... offering to help jr taste test his concoctions.
posted by MaggieThurber at 11:09 A.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
Thanks for the tequila info, SensorG. I'm mainly a beer man, Guinness and small brewery beers. The recipe mentioned Cuervo, so that's what we bought, and the margaritas were still excellent.
I don't like the fact, however, that we bought the "Bud Light of Tequila." I want the Guinness of Tequila.
I never had Grand Marnier before, not that I recall, until we made these margaritas. GM is good on its own. I think I'll start using Grand Marnier on my cereal and maybe mix it with my toothpaste. I know I'll be taking some GM with me during my bitter cold birdwatching outings next winter. That will guarantee that I see an Ivory Gull along the Lake Erie shoreline even though this particular bird is rarely seen in the lower 48.
posted by jr at 11:49 A.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
The Cuervo Gold
The fine Columbian
Make tonight a wonderful thing
-Donald Fagan, Walter Becker, 1980
.
posted by babbleman at 12:17 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
Lighten up? Hmm. OK.
{grabs some Cuervo}
{gulp gulp}
{starts glowing}
posted by GuestZero at 12:38 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
I want the Guinness of Tequila.
Drive up into Lambertville and see what Flicks has.
But for tip top shelf tequila, be prepared for a bit of sticker shock!!
posted by billy at 01:18 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
Billy gives good advice in sending a person to Flicks. However, beware of the liquor control agents watching you cross back over into Ohio. :)
posted by aperson at 01:44 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
Aperson, please tell me you're joking. Do we really have Roscoe P. Coltrane sittin' in a car on the state line with his deputy Enis, looking for those damned Duke boys movin' 'shine into Ohio? Who's the "Boss Hogg" in this equation?
posted by GuestZero at 10:16 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
A while back they were watching because TU students were buying kegs at Flicks and going back to their houses near campus. Seems like they busted someone. (Earl Mack...is that his name? Liquor agent, not the busted guy)
A while back we had to pick up 3 kegs (already bought and paid for, we were transfering them) to take to a hall on M-151 in Whiteford. We have OH plates on our truck. We were followed up to the hall, not sure by who. They left when they saw a few guys come out to carry the kegs in. No biggie.. could be coincidence.
posted by aperson at 11:21 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 12, 2007 #
TU?
Texas University?
posted by SensorG at 08:15 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 13, 2007 #
Sensor - many of the 'old timers' around Toledo still call it by it's old name of Toledo University...my dad, who went there, has never been able to switch to the new name...(not that aperson is an old timer - but it's not that uncommon...or it was a typo)
posted by MaggieThurber at 09:33 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 13, 2007 #
Sensor - many of the 'old timers' around Toledo still call it by it's old name of Toledo University
Same with the medical college - it'll always be MCO to me.
And of course I enjoy concerts at "the Masonic"...
posted by billy at 10:29 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 13, 2007 #
UT, UT, UT, UT
Repeat after me...
UT, UT, UT, UT!
posted by aperson at 10:50 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 13, 2007 #
Took me a LONG ass time to adjust to re-naming the University of Toledo from TU to UT. Was TU for my whole life practically. It did get easier on the tongue with time though. Can't say the same for Westfield Shopping Town - that will ALWAYS be Franklin Park Mall to me.
posted by starling02 at 12:38 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 13, 2007 #
"Ut tu, Mags? Then fall, semester!"
{pause}
Sorry, I've probably had too much sugar today.
posted by GuestZero at 05:13 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 13, 2007 #
waaayyy too much sugar, GZ...but clever...
posted by MaggieThurber at 07:16 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 13, 2007 #
I went to the fund raiser tonight and had a very nice time. Olander is a beautiful location, it's been a very long time since I'd been there. If you want to read the post and see the video slide show I put together from the pictures my husband took it's on Glass City .
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 12:03 A.M. EST on Fri Jun 15, 2007 #
psyche777, I'm not going to leave a comment on your blog because when I do, my comment vanishes. So I'll respond here.
This excerpt from psyche777's posting is golden, priceless:
"I had a short chat with Tom during the event, he stressed his desire to run for District Five because he feels with his background he can make District 5 and Toledo better."
Tom says this while holding a fund raiser in Sylvania. Frigging hilarious. More from Tom as reported by psyche777:
"He shared a saying he feels is relevant, “Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way & expecting a different outcome”. That is what we have done many times in Toledo and Tom along with his supporters would like to see that change."
No word is abused and overused more by Toledo activists than the word "change." Torres, one of the "changers," is really working out well, eh? Ford now on the school board. And, of course, the biggest example of going nowhere: Carty a third term mayor.
I'm going to have start keeping a scoreboard of the "changers". Everyone says they are for change when really they're not.
Look at one of the reasons Tom gave for holding the fund raiser in Sylvania:
"We also looked at what other candidates did in the past and noticed fund raisers at the Sylvania Country Club, the Toledo Club even though they are not in the candidate's district."
So according to Tom, Tom is insane. He's following what other politicians have done in the past. How is that change?
According to politicians and wannabe politicians, it's fine to do stupid things in the future because these stupid actions were done in the past. Just because it was done that way in the past doesn't mean it's acceptable behavior.
More people should be calling out politicians and candidates on these types of things and ask, "WTF, dude?"
If I was running for my district 5 council seat, it would never occur to me to hold a fund raiser in another part of Toledo let alone in another town. I'm way off base on this political "game" because my focus would be on the voters in my district.
If I couldn't figure out a way to hold a fund raiser in my own district, how could I possess the ability to solve real city problems?
Look, I know why I'm baffled by the idea of a Toledo district city council candidate holding a fund raiser in another city. It's because I'm not from this area. I'm an outsider. A transplant to this region.
I think people who have grown up in Toledo are used to screwball political behavior. I understand that. You don't know any better.
Roland Hansen and Dave Schulz left senseless comments on psyche777's blog about Tom's fund raiser. Roland and Dave went off on a tangent about buying supplies from Toledo or something. I have no idea what either comment has to do with a Toledo district council candidate holding a fund raiser in Sylvania.
It's almost as if Roland and Dave don't want anyone expressing an opinion about this if you don't criticize other politicians for other actions. Well, it takes a collective. One person cannot monitor what everyone is doing. So instead of criticizing, Roland and Dave should have said, "Yeah, this doesn't make sense what Tom is doing."
Maybe "change" is selective for some. They want change here but not there.
I still have not seen a legitimate reason for a Toledo district council candidate to hold a fund raiser in another town. What I've seen are standard excuses:
* other politicians have done this
* scheduling
That's it. Now if Tom had said district 5 is populated by a bunch of deadbeats, and facilities and parks that suck, then those would be valid reasons for getting out of town to raise money.
He could back up his claims by showing demographic data on district 5 residents for household education, income, and employment. And if the data showed that district 5 is home to the dregs of society, then fine, I can accept his reason for holding a fund raiser in Sylvania.
Toledo is over 80 square miles in size and home to about 300,000 people. Yet, according to Tom, the brains and the ideal facilities for a fund raiser are in Sylvania with a population of about 20,000.
I guess this is a severe indictment of how lame Toledo is.
And BTW, my wife and I, once again, had an enjoyable evening in downtown Perrysburg on Thursday. I'm with you, Tom. Long live the region.
posted by jr at 05:06 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 15, 2007 #
jr, I'm sorry if you have had a problem with comments disappearing, I haven't had anyone report any problems since I was moved to a new server with the exception of one person and I sent them all of the comments that I had to see I could discover where the problem was and I haven't heard back from them. No one else has expressed having a problem.
If the location of the fund raiser is the "one" issue for you then that's the one issue for you. I don't live in District 5 so it would be unfair of me to suggest if that should make a difference for you or anyone. However, there are other candidates with scheduled events not in their district and if it were a candidate in my district, it would not be a huge issue for me. If it were my district, I'd probably do exactly what I did this time and have a conversation with them about it because I'd want to find out for myself if I should be concerned or not. I don't think it's a slam on District 5 unless you are suggesting that anyone who runs for office can't have friends or supporters outside of their own district interested in helping them.
Personally, having learned a bit more about campaign fund raising than I knew two years ago, when someone offers to help you hold a fund raiser for your campaign, they are willing to do the majority of the work and they have a location in mind? You usually take their advice and are thankful for their help and support.
I'm glad you and your wife had a good time in Perrysburg. If you want to let me know about the problems you said you're having with comments not showing up, I'd appreciate it so I can report it.
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 06:07 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 15, 2007 #
My comments appear initially, then a short time later, they're gone. I assume it has something to do with the anti-spam system Wordpress is using. My e-mail address or whatever must be on a so-called spam list. I'm sure the admin@toledotalk.com address has been harvested and used as a spam-sending e-mail address over the years by spammers. I even started posting comments on your blog with a different e-mail address. That worked initially, but the last time or two, those comments also disappeared.
Here's a comment, maybe my last, that I posted to your blog a few weeks ago. I re-posted it to my Toledo Talk "workspace" and it's titled My comment to a GCJ posting.
Oh yeah, that comment above reminds me of something else. I love the auto-preview in your Wordpress blog, but I noticed that what appears in preview mode isn't the same as what appears on the blog after the comment has been posted.
Wordpress is an excellent blogging tool. The Wordpress programmers created Askimet, which is a tool that greatly reduces comment spam. TechCrunch is a heavily visited blog site that is powered by Wordpress. From a Jan 2007 TechCrunch posting:
"I named blog spam catcher Akismet as one of the products I couldn’t live without in a post a few days ago. Today we hit the magic number - Akismet has captured over 1 million spam comments and trackbacks, just on TechCrunch. That’s over 1 million pieces of bogus content that we didn’t have to read, sort through manually and delete."
Without Askimet, it may be impossible to provide commenting on many blog sites that don't require a user account.
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"However, there are other candidates with scheduled events not in their district ..."
So you think that this thread is possibly the first time anyone has ever asked the question about why a district council candidate would fund raise outside his or her district and specifically in another town?
Fund raising outside the district but still in Toledo seems a little different than fund raising in another town, although I still don't think either action acceptable, but that's politics. That's the game.
Maybe city council candidates fund raise outside their district and outside Toledo because they have bigger political aspirations. City council today, county commissioner or state rep tomorrow.
Oh, by the way, the Lucas County Republican Party Web site finally updated their "Elected Officials" page. A week ago, it still listed Maggie Thurber and Larry Kaczala, and now it does not. Maggie must have contacted someone. Here's their old Web page in Google's cache, dated Jun 10, 2007. Progress.
posted by jr at 10:48 A.M. EST on Sat Jun 16, 2007 #
I still have not seen a legitimate reason for a Toledo district council candidate to hold a fund raiser in another town. What I've seen are standard excuses:
* other politicians have done this
* scheduling
Other people are doing it. The longer we as citizens put up with this as a reason for everything including the increase of our TAXES, we will continue to circle the drain with the inevitable ending that comes with that.
I swear, every time somebody tries to justify their doing something that's "just not right" with that lame-ass excuse, I just want to throttle them and everybody who accepts it as a viable reason!!!
Wake up Toledo!!
posted by billy at 11:31 A.M. EST on Sat Jun 16, 2007 #
posted by jr at 06:06 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 15, 2007:
Roland Hansen and Dave Schulz left senseless comments on psyche777's blog about Tom's fund raiser. Roland and Dave went off on a tangent about buying supplies from Toledo or something. I have no idea what either comment has to do with a Toledo district council candidate holding a fund raiser in Sylvania.
It's almost as if Roland and Dave don't want anyone expressing an opinion about this if you don't criticize other politicians for other actions. Well, it takes a collective. One person cannot monitor what everyone is doing. So instead of criticizing, Roland and Dave should have said, "Yeah, this doesn't make sense what Tom is doing."
Here is the full text of what I wrote in the referenced Glass City Jungle:
I sometimes wonder about the people who criticize candidates, elected officials, and/or public employees for not holding fundraisers, residing, schooling their children, purchasing supplies and materials, etc. in their respective jurisdictions when the public service individuals are not required to do so by law.
Do those critics only buy from local merchants, frequent only locally-owned restaurants, buy only American made products, eat only locally grown produce or only American produced food items? I suspect they, or at least the vast majority of them, do not. Why do the critics hold public servants at a higher level of standards but still want those public officials to be “just like the rest of us?” If the candidate or elected official or school superintendent or other public employee is no better than anyone else, why are they expected to act or behave any differently than anyone else?
After reading jr's comments, it seems as if no one is supposed to raise questions, let alone offer a different perspective. It's almost as if jr doesn't want anyone expressing any thoughts that differ from those of jr. Perish the thought that we don't all fall into a group-think mode as it seems jr would like us to. Need I apologize for not "falling in line?"
p.s. I don't think my comments are "senseless" but then again who am I to think anything makes sense.
posted by RolandHansen at 09:56 P.M. EST on Sat Jun 16, 2007 #
As evidence of how destructive protectionism and nationalism are, notice that bickering about where a fucking a fundraiser was held has completely suffocated debate on policy.
posted by babbleman at 11:34 P.M. EST on Sat Jun 16, 2007 #
You got quite an imagination, there RH. You're the one who said: "I sometimes wonder about the people who criticize ..." What are you wondering about? What's your beef with people who criticize public officials? What in the hell was the point of your comment?
"Do those critics only buy from local merchants, frequent only locally-owned restaurants, buy only American made products, eat only locally grown produce or only American produced food items?"
What?
I never said you couldn't ask questions. Where did you get that? And what's with this buying local crap? I'm simply saying your questions were idiotic and had nothing to do with the sad fact that Toledo district council candidates have to leave town to raise money.
Forgive me, your majesty, for not being completely aware of how the scummy game of politics is played in Toledo. Obviously, you're well-versed in its rules.
The hassle of raising campaign money was one of the reasons why Ellen Grachek decided not to seek re-election in district 5, right?
babbleman, Tom's policy is obvious: Flee to the burbs. babbleman, answer the simple question I asked above:
"If I couldn't figure out a way to hold a fund raiser in my own district, how could I possess the ability to solve real city problems?"
So no suffocating debate on policy by me. In fact, I'm taking it to a higher level. You just need to keep up and try harder.
A fund raiser party is a relatively benign activity or project. No dispute there. But if managing a benign project in a candidate's own district proves to be too challenging for the candidate, then what makes that person qualified to tackle serious city issues?
That goes for anyone seeking office not just Olander Tom.
But hey, I'm just suppose to accept the fact that this kind of fund raising activity (mental failure) has been done by other politicians for many years. In other words, all those candidates were not qualified to tackle the real issues. But they got elected anyway.
And what do we have to show for it? My favorite stats:
1 - 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.
2 - Fifth from the bottom. That's how Toledo ranked in the latest national study of job growth among the 200 major metropolitan areas. The No. 196 ranking was worse than the previous report more than a year ago by the Milken Institute, a California think tank.
3. - Toledo shrinks 13th-fastest of U.S. cities, census says; 1.1% population drop in '05 among worst in Ohio.
Tough to argue against those successes.
Apparently, the reality is: It's more difficult to hold a fund raiser in one's own district than it is to balance the city budget. Well, that's obvious because the City solves their budget problems by slapping a new tax on the citizens. Easy work.
Doing real work on the budget would require effort and time and mental capacity, and the politicians cannot be burdened with those things.
posted by jr at 01:31 A.M. EST on Sun Jun 17, 2007 #
Thank you for your comments, jr.
It's always nice to know that people can have honest differences of perspective without having to be concerned that the other person or persons might post messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting or that the other person or persons might intentionally post derogatory or otherwise inflammatory messages.
posted by RolandHansen at 12:54 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 19, 2007 #
Questioning the government is as American as apple pie.
If it wasn't we'd all be British.
posted by katie82640 at 01:11 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 19, 2007 #
Excerpts from a Jun 20, 2007 press release at the Glass City Jungle titled Kapszukiewicz & Perry to host picnic for Webb:
"Lucas County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz and Lucas County Recorder Jeanine Perry – both former District Six representatives on Toledo City Council – are pleased to host an All-American Picnic In The Point for District Six candidate Lindsay Webb. The picnic will be held next Thursday, June 28th, from 5 PM – 8 PM at the VFW Point Place Post, 5416 North Summit Street. Webb is a nearly life-long resident of Point Place."
"While other politicians spend much of their time raising special interest money from outside their communities, Webb is putting her campaign theme of “Commitment to Community” into practice by hosting a series of low-cost fundraising events in every neighborhood in the district."
posted by jr at 09:27 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 20, 2007 #
Webb really is taking advantage of opportunities to draw contrasts between herself and others...you win a campaign based upon contrasts...
posted by MaggieThurber at 09:48 A.M. EST on Thu Jun 21, 2007 #
June 26, 2007 story from a local daily newspaper:
"Mr. Waniewski employs a marketing strategy in his campaign. Internet message boards lit up recently because of a campaign fund-raiser he held outside the district in Sylvania, but Mr. Waniewski said the ensuing debate brought his candidacy to the attention of more voters."
Well, you're welcome, Tom. Like they say in showbiz, bad publicity is better than no publicity. Or something like that. I better receive a campaign badge or a sticker.
You know, thanks to a recent golf outing, I bet more people in Toledo are now familiar with the names Domenic Montalto and John Irish. That's the secret for getting attention: Stupid actions.
posted by jr at 01:41 A.M. EST on Tue Jul 10, 2007 #
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