Reaction to Finkbeiner’s announcement to not seek re-election – updated!
Toledo Free Press has the story, Officials react to Finkbeiner announcement is live on their website with comments from some of those running for Council and for Mayor…Part of the recommended article that references the comments from some of the Mayoral candidates:
Independent mayoral candidate Mike Bell said the best way of judging Finkbeiner’s legacy is by looking at his actions, warts and all. Overall, he said, he believes history will favor the Finkbeiner administration.
“He has had a mixture of really great things and not so great things,” Bell said. “In being fair to him you will find a mixture of both. His first couple terms were successful and his last one has been a little more controversial. History is kind to people and the city did move forward during his first two terms in office.”
“I wouldn’t be running for mayor if I didn’t strongly believe that Toledo is in need of bold, fresh leadership and a new beginning,” said Democratic mayoral candidate Ben Konop in an e-mailed statement. “That said, I also think it’s important to thank Mayor Finkbeiner for his years of service to our community. It sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, but Mayor Finkbeiner has given much of his adult life trying to make Toledo a better place.”Republican mayoral candidate Jim Moody said he praises the mayor for his over two decades of public service. He said he expected Finkbeiner to enjoy private life while furthering his love for Toledo.
“I think it was an appropriate decision for Mr. Finkbeiner in regards to some of the policy decisions he has made lately and the overall public mood,” Moody said of Finkbeiner’s announcement. “Time is forgiving and overall people will say no man loved this city more than Carty Finkbeiner.”
Independent mayoral candidate D. Michael Collins said Finkbeiner’s exit drastically changed the race between his possible successors. He said he wished Finkbeiner well as he leaves the office he has possessed for so long.
“The Mayor has served the community to the best of his ability and I wish him nothing but the best as he transitions from public life to private life,” Collins said. “I think this is going to make a huge difference in the campaign between the five major mayoral candidates. With no incumbency each of us are on an equal playing field. I think it will bring clarity to the campaign.”
Updated – 3:32 – Response from the Wilkowski for Mayor campaign:
Democrat Candidate for Mayor of Toledo Keith Wilkowski’s statement regarding Carty Finkbeiner’s decision not to seek reelection:
“No one can question Carty Finkbeiner’s love and passion for Toledo, and he should be thanked for the many years he has spent trying to make the city a better place. My wife Barb and I wish Carty and Amy the very best as they return to private life.”
And…an interview with Carty done by Mark Hensch of the Toledo Free Press.
I am so happy to read this. I’m very thankful.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:48 pmI will miss him.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:11 pmAh, you could tell this months ago, because he has been more relaxed & didn’t seem to care what people thought anymore. Lots of baby boomers will be in the same boat in the next couple years.
Bye bye workplace… you won’t be missed.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:12 pmI’m somewhat surprised even though Carty looked a bit worn the last time I saw him on TV. I hope he enjoys retired life.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:52 pmI bet he will spend a great deal of time strolling and relaxing in south Toledo parks.
Without lawnmowers and kids with cell-phone video recorders I hope.
July 13th, 2009 at 3:06 pmWorn out? Relaxing?
Don’t count him out yet.
He may not be mayor but he can be our next _______!
July 13th, 2009 at 5:04 pmFill in the blank above?
C-O-M-M-I-S-I-O-N-E-R?
or
S-H-E-R-R-I-F?
July 13th, 2009 at 5:49 pmWell, he can’t be sheriff, since he does not have the statutory requirements. Commissioners! Doubt it. He wouldn’t get 10 votes from the suburbs.
July 13th, 2009 at 7:40 pmI don’t see him riding off into the sunset so I’m trying to think of a job that could put his talents to good use without leaving taxpayers on the hook for
legal expenses. No elective offices come to mind.
Any ideas?
July 13th, 2009 at 8:18 pmHow about President of the Port Authority? It pays better than the mayor’s job and he had a hand in the firing of Jim Hartung. And one of his friends quoted in the Blade today is on the Port Authority Board. It’s a natural!
July 13th, 2009 at 8:51 pmGood riddance and go away.
Go hang with Ray Kest for a season, maybe you’ll enjoy the change of view..
July 13th, 2009 at 9:08 pmCarty wasn’t a perfect Mayor by any stretch but he did work hard and was one of the best cheerleaders for Toledo we’ve ever seen. And compared to some of the other mayor’s in recent times (Donna Owens, John McHugh and Jack Ford), he stacks up pretty well.
It’s easy to lob shots at Carty and he definitely invites it but tonight, I just think it is appropriate to thank him for all of his service to Toledo.
July 13th, 2009 at 10:39 pmI agree with you 100% BGdem…
July 13th, 2009 at 10:45 pmSorry, no pot shots here, just facts. With every letter I have written to Carty, to his credit I almost always get a response but the responses never involve an effort to support his position other than to say that he disagrees. He won’t be bothered to attend most council meetings and makes all decisions within his appointed inner circle. He displays so little respect for what it takes to run a private business by repeatedly trying to demonstrate that government can do better, then continues to beat the horse long after it is dead. Bottom line is he forms his opinions and policies without using the resources around him then refuses to back down when he’s wrong. Cheerleaders don’t win games. Their job is to support the teams that do and the team is not the government, but the citizens they are supposed to serve.
Have a nice November retirement Mr. Finkbeiner.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:05 ambgdem and Lisa,
think we could get those well qualified and equally-passionate people that have lost their positions because of the egomaniacal rantings of this idiot back within the city’s employ?
think we could recoup our money for all the financial strain from delving into real estate? I mean, the Commodore Perry? For how much longer? And that’s just one example of Carty’s legacy living on in the budget. And I’m not even pointing out ESM for a reason.
And what about all those lawsuits? Carty suing and getting sued regularly.
Yeah, he’s passionate alright…and the lobbed shots pale in comparison to what he’s taken away, which is a lot more than what he gave…
July 14th, 2009 at 5:00 amditto to #’s 12 & 13.
One added note – this comes to mind every time people criticize him. Have any of the critics actually worked in this town as an employee? Because the companies in this town have notoriously bad managers, on the whole. There are the occasional nice fellas & gals, but by and large, the management at various companies, firms AND govt offices in Toledo is self-satisfied, generally overbearing, rude and immature. Personally I have always felt his personality is a pretty good reflection of the average Toledo Supervisor or Manager. Toledo employees, by and large are treated like dirt. I’ve worked in upwards of three states, and Toledo trumps all of them for bad management. With the possible exception of the CEO for OI some years back who changed the dress policy for everybody to business casual – he wasn’t too bad, but was an out-of-towner.
Talking down to employees, backstabbling and other immature behavior is a Toledo hallmark, in my opinion as a relative outsider.
July 14th, 2009 at 3:26 pmCarty stated in his letter that this
is the “Knowlege Age”.
Well, if this is really the “Knowledge
Age” then if this world is still around
years, years, and years in the future
it will probably also be known as the
dumbest and most selfish people ever.
Get rid of executives from corportations, banks, insurance companies, college executives, etc. but
pay them even more millions of dollars
to have them leave??
Department Heads etc. get and take
raises when most of the other
population isn’t sure where they are
going to get their next dollar or
food for their children??
Base the income of Ohio of our citizens
playing games??
Sounds Dumb and Selfish to me!!
July 15th, 2009 at 7:43 pm