Glass City Jungle

This morning mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski was on the air with Tom Watkins the following are notes that were typed while the program was live and in progress and is not an exact transcript.

Tom Watkins started out asking Keith Wilkowski what he would do as mayor about the weather, Wilkowski joked that would be a chief part of campaign, that like the one movie where a bubble was placed over the city to control the weather? He’d do that as Mayor. Then the topic of discussion turned to the serious, with Wilkowski sharing that what concerns him is we are predicted to have the 6th highest unemployment rate in the nation a year from now. People he talks to are concerned, that jobs are leaving and if they have one they are concerned about keeping it, we are not at the mercy of just the national forces. We are affected by it but there are things we can do, like focusing on alternative energy. At one time all of that sounded futuristic but the future is now.

Watkins pointed out they are talking about making the batteries for the Volt in France, he questioned that logic; Wilkowski agreed that didn’t make sense and that with the University of Toledo we can do more, since these technologies are continually evolving it makes sense that the manufacturing and the research be here.

Today there is a conference going on on solar right across the street and this is a very competitive field, there are 25 cities the federal government has defined as a major solar city, Toledo is not one of them and how can that be? Because the city has not done anything to promote solar, it’s one of the reasons he promoted the solar field at the land fill, to create a 5 acre 5 million dollar solar array, it gives us some payback and promotes the industry that is the type of things that makes us a solar city.

Watkins asked is this is ours to lose, if these companies move elsewhere? Wilkowski said yes, we can’t rest on our laurels we have to be building and promoting our image as a solar energy region, where the ideas are coming from, it won’t just happen, we have to make it happen.

He gave several examples, the city is a market participant, we should start buying our electricity from the solar industry that is right here, 6,000 employed in the solar industry, we can start buying our electricity from solar companies, we can give incentives for homeowners and businesses to use solar panels, expedite approval for projects, look at our zoning and planning code and create partnerships. Right now the University of Toledo is the player and we are the cheerleader, that’s the opposite of what it should be. Another example when it comes to patents, incentives should be increased, trying to bringing the best minds even if only for a year if they work and study here.

This would help with all of the other problems, we’ve lost people, businesses and if we start concentrating on making this a place people want to do business those budget problems will take care of themselves. There are lots of changes we should make in municipal government to prevent catastrophic budget deficits.

Watkins stated his concern with the phrase “I want to run the city as a business” – Wilkowski agreed, that only goes so far, but in Lucas County we have over 50 government agencies running here, when times are tough what we have to do is combine and consolidate, instead what we have here is everyone staking out their own fiefdoms. We need to enter into service agreements with other communities, the county, the state, a more unified approach doesn’t mean regional government but doing things more efficiently, this will take some one who can work with people, who has experience in doing this, which he has experience in – it’s going to take a Mayor who has the right style and understands the substance.

Watkins asked if consolidation start with office supplies, Wilkowski responded that there are all sorts of programs that you might not pay attention to – like income tax, we should be able to put that as a function of computer programs, that can be much more efficiently done, ground and building maintenance should be consolidated rather than this duplicative process. It would deliver to our tax payers a more efficient product. Watkins asked about City Council, Wilkowski stated that Council plays an important role, you have to have a leadership style that you can work with council, you try compromising when you can and holding firm when you can’t.

Watkins pointed out there is the impression of an us versus them attitude between the Mayor and Council; Wilkowski shared his belief that part of that is a failure to share information, this second 8.1 million budget deficit came as a surprise to many council members, he can guarantee when he is mayor not only will the information be shared with council but with public. He proposes a looking at a possible charter change for longer term planning process, such as a three year budget,

Then the topic turned to Betty Shultz who Watkins stated has has forever focused on the need to update our computers, what did Wilkowski think about the questions on the software? Wilkowski stated he doesn’t have the specifics as to the proposals, clearly the city needs to upgrade he can’t speak to if it’s the correct one – we should be getting real time information on our budget. Here we sit here in February and we are trying to balance the 2008 budget, is it any wonder they loose credibility? We don’t know the
expenses and income from 2008? Watkins said that Council should have seen this as well. Wilkowski said yes, there should be some shared responsibility and if they perform oversight in a non-confrontational manner… Toledo is tired of it (constant confrontation) we need leadership that is inclusive and brings people together.

On the possibility of Toledo police and sheriff working together; Wilkowski that’s a good idea to have the two work together if they are providing the same service, you have to work out the details to ensure balance as to is one side paying too much or giving too much, had we done his suggestions from 4 years ago we’d be much better off.

Then Watkins broached the some of the complaints businesses have as to why they don’t want to come to Toledo; licensing, attitudes, etc..perception or reality? Wilkowski said whether it’s perception or reality we have to address it, it’s sad we hear about businesses that want to come to this area but avoid Toledo, much of that responsibility lies with the 22nd floor, for a leadership style where one never knows if you are going to be the subject of a press conference, business people don’t like surprises.

We need to change our style, if we are to create jobs and advance as a community. If it’s (business plans) announced too early, and it doesn’t pan out there is acrimony, we need to address the substance, for 20 years we have talked about creating a one stop shop for development, what we should be doing is having development proposals submitted online and in real time, business does that, other countries and parts of the country do that, we should be able to do that in Toledo.

Watkins said Keith Wilkowski appears to be the front runner as far as announcement time and money, would he agree? Wilkowski responded he took this mayoral run seriously, he approached in a business like manner and will require money and a business like management style to have a success campaign. He mentioned the neighborhood program going on, that over 400 came to first campaign event. He started early because he understands Toledo needs change and wanted to get out the message of how we affect the right kind of change to the voters before election day.

We hear we need change all the time, Watkins said, Obama first time we’ve seen it happen. Wilkowski mentioned his connection to the Obama presidential campaign and stated he invites people to look at the type of change he’s promoting, other communities are getting a head of us and we can’t allow that to happen. His campaign motto – Turn Toledo Around.

His mayoral website is www.keithwilkowski.com.