Glass City Jungle

If you think Republicans are the only ones having a bit of discussion and some interesting moments expected at their central committee elections? Fear not the Democratic Party central committee meeting will be held on next Thursday and there has been some media attention as well as some discussion related to their upcoming meeting. I’d previously heard that Pete Silverman was going to run against Dennis Duffey, which today’s Blade confirms in Silverman challenges Duffey for county Dems’ No. 2 post.

The key issue seems to be unity:

Mr. Silverman, considered a longtime member of the A-team wing of the party, said, “There’s just been a lot of infighting for a long time, and my thought is I may be able to help bring people together.

“A-team versus B-team is the kind of battle that has raged for a while. I hope I’d be the candidate who brings people together rather than fights,” Mr. Silverman said.

Mr. Duffey said Mr. Silverman called him to let him know he was going to run.

“I wished him luck if he’s successful,” Mr. Duffey said. “I have spent four years trying to get to the bottom of the A-team B-team [dispute]. All the skills I’ve used in dispute management have brought no results.”

I’m not involved enough on the inner workings of the Lucas Democratic Party to know what’s been done by Mr. Duffey when it comes to unity the past four years, but I do know what has been reported the past four years, one item of controversy in the past two years was Duffey was said to have been involved in trying to lobby for Republican Rob Ludeman to be Council President:

Blade, The (Toledo, OH)-January 4, 2006 Author: JIM TANKERSLEY

At least one of those leaders – Dennis Duffey, a union leader and the chairman of the local Democratic central committee – lobbied Mr. McCloskey late yesterday afternoon to seal the vote for Mr. Ludeman. So did Teamsters Local 20 president Bill Lichtenwald.

The relationship between the Mayor and Duffey is well known, the Mayor listed Duffey in 2005 as one of those in his inner circle that he turns to for advice. He’s also been appointed to several boards on the City of Toledo, each time requiring a residency waiver since he does not live within the City limits.

In listening to Pete Silverman’s interview on Troy Neff while Pete may be focusing on unity and ideas, he was asked what the duties of this position is, which he did answer in part but for those of you curious as to what the Ohio Revised Code states is the duties of the executive committee are:

In case of vacancies caused by death, resignation, failure to elect, or removal from the precinct, ward, township, or district from which a committeeman was chosen, the controlling committee or, if authorized, the executive committee shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by a majority vote of the members of such committee. (3517.05 Terms of party committees)

Silverman expressed a great deal of respect for Dennis Duffey and the job he has done as a labor leader in this community. It sounds as if the way the vote is normally done, it’s what could be described as a “body count” as opposed to any type of a secret ballot, kind of a “stand up and be counted” moment. As is always the case in Lucas County politics, both men have their supporters and it will come down to who has the most supporters present on Thursday night.

It should be pointed out though that despite the A and B team political aspect of Lucas County politics that it does appear that current party chairman, Ron Rothenbuhler is supported by both sides so it’s not expected that the leadership at the top position of the County party will change.