Mayor tosses the first lob at Wilkowski…
As reported by several media outlets last night, including the Blade:
“In the poll Keith Wilkowski funded and released, Keith Wilkowski looks good,” the mayor’s statement says. “However, the next election is more than 18 months away. I think the Wilkowski poll was designed to help him pay off his campaign debt. I wish him well in that respect. Eighteen months is a long time in politics.”
15.9% of Toledo voters believing the city is “headed in the right direction” while 69% feel things “have gotten off on the wrong track” you’d think would be a larger concern, even with a poll sampling of 300…
On the morning radio circuit this morning, Wilkowski was on Troy Neff and on WSPD with Fred.
When I think of Keith running for Mayor, one of my fondest memories was in August of 2005…Taxpayer’s Advocate able to cut red tape with a single cut…
Will it ever be possible that Toledo elects someone who IS’NT a joke?
Did Wilkowski really need to pay for a poll to see if Toledo is falling apart?
My prediction is that in 6 months Carty will clean up his act and start campaigning. Toledoans will fall for his “softer side of Carty” act and reelect him…if they aren’t swallowed up by a pothole on the way to the polls.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:24 amCreative use of props gets kudos from me, when you look at the things Keith tried to raise in 2005 many of those ideas would have us in a different position today had they been done.
That said if the Mayor does run again, which all indications are he’s going to, I don’t disagree that would be what he would do. It worked before. It also depends on who else runs, which all we have at this point is names to speculate on.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:28 amSepp? I’ll be more interested in what gets sacrificed in the community in Carty’s endeavour to portray himself as the “qualified leader” in 8 months.
Clock starts……now!
April 25th, 2008 at 11:45 amI totally agree with you, Lisa.
I’m sensing that Keith would have portrayed himself the consumate professional compared to the whiny and hostile egomaniac crybaby that would rather blame everyone, everything, every other county, city, township, pirate, headhunter, administrator and business owner than to compromise and work as a team.
And I’d love to see who and what got sacrificed during Carty’s regime, starting with FedEx.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:51 amI wonder who else will throw their hat in to that mayoral ring ? Any speculation ?
April 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pmPete Gerken. In Spring 2009 he will be riding the crest of the wave from the opening of ‘Arena Gerken’ and will feel confident enough to announce.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:50 pmLast time I did’t have achance to vote NO for Carty but it looks like I will have that chance this time around. Well from what I saw when the 3/4% passed that 60% of Toledoans were okay with paying that extra tax that not only didn’t meet the needs of the city but the city found themselves telling the community that they had to lay-off some police and fire anyway. Carty has a good chance of getting back into office because he’ll use that stupid 3/4% tax outcome to lure the union folks and union supporters to vote for him. Unless Keith has a stronger relationship with the unions they’re is no way he’ll win even with the support of the folks that were against the 3/4% – and if he does have a strong relationship with the unions do we really want to keep that 3/4% tax next time around?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:07 pmTrust me, the unions are NOT behind Finkbeiner this time around.
All top union officials that I have talked to are very disappointed in him, especially the building trades.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pmEl Mahico, keep in mind how forgetfull they get during the elections.
Toledoans love drama much more than anything and Carty creates drama.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pmIt’s obvious that they’re content with watching the city slide into the gutter…as long as they’re being entertained while it happens.
That it. I might run in the next goround. I am sick of the mindless wonder.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:59 pmSepp -That is absolutely true. After I typed that comment and posted it I thought about King Crap and his latest announcement re swan creek. At the appropriate time he will take credit for all the potential work that could bring for the building trades unions. Their money floats the ‘B’ team boat – make no mistake.
He is a master at deception, believe me. I do not trust that clown for a minute.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:15 pmAnd really folks is Wilkowski all that different from all the rest of the politicos in Toledo? He may be a more polished apple than Carty. But I doubt that he is any different when you peel back the layers.
BTW – the current takeover by the “A” team with Silverman elected as Chair of the central committee was the first step in a Wilkowski power play. I guess Carty taught them something.
It is time for some new blood. I just don’t know where it will come from.
I’m of the opinion that he “announced” way too soon. Remember when Kest had the head start and all that money. The only way he can keep his name in the paper is to criticize the current administration. He certainly can’t influence policy in any direct manner. So by the time the election really starts heating up he will have had 8 to 10 months to be labeled as the number one complainer. It will be a tough job to keep from having that moniker tacked to his back during the election.
In Toledo nothing ever really seems to change except the names.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:32 pmKeith Wilkowski will make an appearance on “Toledo Today” Monday morning at 8:40 . Call-ins welcome. WTOD 1560 at the Top Of the Dial. Sorta like Fred’s interview down the dial Friday morning, only better. Hi Fred.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pmEl mahico, if we keep agreeing on things people are going to think we’ve gone mad.
As far as I’m concerned, Toledo is chocked full of actors portraying themselves as political “leaders”. The name of the game seems to be sucking the city dry, advancing their own political aspirations while avoiding any manual labor.
Frank Szollosi is a prime example. His blog lasted until the DAY AFTER the election as well as his long dead “Szollosi listens” site. That camper is rusting away someplace since he stopped “listening” after reelection and now only pops out to snipe at Stinkfinger every so often.
Not to get too far off topic but, a lot of people wrote to EVERY member of city council about the proposed extention of the no-wake zone on the river.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:28 pmEveryone who wrote about this was lucky to have gotten 1 response from council on the matter. Snob Ludeman didn’t even bother answering anyone even though HIS district would be the most effected.
…come election time though…they ALL start caring fast until Wednesday morning.
I’m always fascinated by the people’s desire for “new blood”, “change”, “something different” and so on. Given the incestous nature of Toledo’s politics, won’t finding “new blood” be a little difficult ? Does “new” mean an outsider, or someone with very little political experience, or what ? If it’s new blood you want I suspect you’ll have to go out and get it, recruit it. I think that blogging about local politics is the next best thing to being “in it” so I think LR, Sepp, HistoryMike, et al. should answer this call…
April 25th, 2008 at 4:58 pmjrs wrote “I wonder who else will throw their hat in to that mayoral ring ? Any speculation ?”
Well, back on April 18, 2008, Carolyn Eyre wrote the following comment on the April 17 entry of my Roland’s Ramblings blog:
“Roland you are a very accomplished person. I read your resume and you should run for mayor next time. The late State Rep. John G.Garcia said quote He has smarts and should be the state rep. I agree.”
Hmmm, what d’ya think of that?
April 25th, 2008 at 6:03 pmWell, Rolly, I hate to burst your bubble, but you did ask.
The astute political observer that you quote, Ms. Carolyn Eyre, has had her own hat tossed in the political arena for so long and never gets elected that she is alongside the image of Terry Shankland in my mind when I hear the phrase ‘perennial candidate’.
If she keeps making the incorrect decision that she is qualified for public office, how much weight should I put in her assessment of your qualifications ?
April 25th, 2008 at 6:15 pmWell, I don’t think you should put any weight into some one else’s assessment of my qualifications. I’d suggest you take a look at my resume to which you can find a link on my blog, and then make your own independent and informed assessment.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:38 pmHey Rolland, my mom worked at Bargain city too!
April 25th, 2008 at 10:20 pmWith only 300 “Likely Voters” polled, this poll is flawed. With the thousands of people that signed the Recall petition last year said the same thing though. But seriously, it still wasn’t enough to change the helm and re-direct the city.
#15 jrs said: “Does “new” mean an outsider, or someone with very little political experience, or what ?”
Absolutely! “Political Experience” in this town is the very definition of incestuous. We need someone that is not a politician, though they must be a diplomat. They don’t have to be a rocket scientist, a political engineer, not even a business major. (though that would be helpful)
The next Mayor needs to have the ability to work across the board to get what needs accomplished done. The “Mayor” is a maestro of the orchestra, so to speak. Someone that can work with everyone and draw to he/she the types of people that are willing to give it their all, roll up their sleeves and work to deal with the very basic issues of this city and it’s needs and infrastructure problems.
The only “development” the City needs to be engaged in is that. Then if they also get out of the way of business, the Business Leaders will come running for the opportunity and do that part of economic development themselves. “The City” is only responsible to deal with using taxpayer money to maintain and upgrade the city’s infrastructure, provide basic services and protect the public. The “business” portion is only an assistance centered side-shoot of that and the “City” should not be involved in the financing and management of that aspect.
I blame myself, along with everyone else that voted to install this mayor again and I did what I could to vote him back out before he could do anymore damage. What have the rest of your done?
April 26th, 2008 at 7:32 amThe mistake was made during the primary when Ford was picked over Wilkowski, period.
April 26th, 2008 at 7:56 am# 21 Rockets Man
That’s exactly right.
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April 26th, 2008 at 1:42 pmYee Hah!!
April 26th, 2008 at 8:40 pmRepublican spammers…oh joy.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:23 pmWell, so much for staying focused on topic! Typical cyberspace behavior.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:09 pmSo what of Wilkowski.. is he the person for Mayor? After his stint at Chairman of the LCDP, he jumped ship in 2005 and helped Jack Ford form the Lucas County Dems Pac, was the treasurer and sat in on the screening of those who were going to run for office with the pac. Surprise! His power ploy pushed him away from Ford and the pac after he ran a survey to prove his was a better candidate for Mayor. He jumped ship again, this time from the pac he helped form, to run his own bid for Mayor. Late in 2005, he then supported Vasquez in Bob’s bid for City Council at Large and was pictured on lit pieces for Bob which were distributed in Point Place and Old Orchard. Ah, but Bob was not elected. Then McCloskey was thrown out when convicted but Santiago was appointed to the at-large seat. Bob decided to run for the seat anyway and did Wilkowski support him again (just months after the last race) — no… he then supported McNamara. I asked for 5 minutes of his time before the district seat race started, he not only ignored me, but turned his back on me. I wasn’t looking for anything, I knew he would support Cichy, I just wasted to talk. He put me in my place and let me know how worthless I was by his rude refusal to grant an “audience”. I wonder if this is the type of person we want for Mayor. I was hoping Toledo would find someone who considered everyone of some value. Who will he represent? Who will he support. He turned his back on the Democratic Party, on Jack Ford and the Lucas County Democrats Pac; and on Bob Vasquez. Does this speak well of him? With the offices he has held, what has he accomplished which was memorable? Wilkowski with represent Wilkowski and Wilkowski will support Wilkowski. Show me something that says otherwise.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:48 pmOh my goodness… can’t someone who hasn’t already been in just about every other political office in Lucas County/Toledo run for mayor? I don’t think that kind of person would actually have a chance, since it seems as though people vote on name recognition in this town. But, it would be nice to see.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pmGrizzly Brown, from WIOT threw out the idea that he’s thinking about running.
http://wiot.com/pages/griznew06.html
April 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pmAn open message to all:
April 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pmSo many things can happen between now and the active season for the nexr Mayoral campaign.
Maybe, if all of us who are active within the blogosphere and cyberspace and reside in the City of Toledo become active contributors with volunteer efforts including time, continuous positive communication, and possibly financial contributions on behalf of a Mayoral candidate, we might effectuate positive change and results.
Or, if you prefer, we can continue to bellyache and complain from time to time and let things remain the same.
Great idea, Rolly !
Do you have anyone in mind that could be worthy of such support ?
April 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pmEM: Do you have anyone in mind that could be worthy of such support ?
RH: I can think of several people who would be good candidates.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:02 pmIf someone who I thought was worth my time would run, I’d be more willing to volunteer and offer support.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:33 pm