Toledo politics info mar 2, 2015

http://www.toledoblade.com/frontpage/2015/02/28/Candidate-to-fill-council-slot-has-checkered-past.html

Steven Steel, an at-large Toledo councilman and the county Democratic Party chairman, said he will vote for Ms. Harper.

Council Democrats Matt Cherry, Lindsay Webb, Larry Sykes, and Tyrone Riley said they likely will support Ms. Harper.

Steel - at-large
Sykes - at large

Riley - District 1
Cherry - District 2
Webb - District 6

Sep 2013 Blade editorial board city council at-large endorsements

http://www.toledoblade.com/Featured-Editorial-Home/2013/09/01/For-Toledo-City-Council-1.html

Incumbent STEVEN STEEL, 51, a faculty member at the University of Toledo, has earned a new term. A former president of the Toledo school board, Mr. Steel was appointed to City Council in 2009.

On the council, Mr. Steel has focused on issues related to the municipal budget, small business, and public safety, especially domestic violence. He is one of the leading advocates of the city park system.

Several other Council candidates deserve voter attention. Larry Sykes has also served the city for many years, most recently on the school board.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Editorials/2007/11/05/Our-endorsements.html

http://www.toledoblade.com/Editorials/2011/10/23/For-Toledo-City-Council.html

District 6

Incumbent LINDSAY WEBB generated controversy in her North Toledo district this year when she pushed the deadline to file for re-election to its limit -- and, critics assert, beyond. That carelessness was disconcerting.

More troubling was Ms. Webb's advocacy in 2009 (with Mr. Waniewski's help) of a misguided plan to change the city charter to eliminate the council's at-large representatives and reduce the body to nine members. Although voters rejected this proposal after a costly campaign, the council members' attempt to circumvent the Charter Review Commission did them no credit.

Yet these lapses, while disturbing, finally do not offer adequate cause to deny Ms. Webb a new term. The Democrat and Point Place resident has done a reasonable job of balancing the imperative to limit taxes with the need to invest in essential services. She says she wants to examine options other than general-fund spending for recreational amenities.

District 1

Term limits prevent Council President Wilma Brown, a Democrat, from running again in this district, which stretches from Tremainsville Road and Sylvania Avenue to Reynolds Road. Of the two candidates to succeed her, the better choice is TYRONE RILEY.

Mr. Riley, a lawyer, grew up in the district and knows its problems well. He was an aide to former state Rep. Casey Jones of Toledo and was minority coordinator of Democratic U.S. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum's 1988 campaign. Ms. Brown has endorsed Mr. Riley.

Mr. Riley's opponent, Aji Green, is a law clerk who ran unsuccessfully for the Toledo Board of Education two years ago. He has worked on Democratic campaigns and has strong labor support.

The candidates have similar positions on issues such as crime, economic development, and abandoned homes. The choice for voters essentially is between labor's candidate and Ms. Brown's candidate.

Unions already have plenty of voices on the council. It's a close call, but TYRONE RILEY is better prepared to speak for all residents of District 1 and the city.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2013/12/30/Dems-to-meet-to-make-endorsement-for-vacant-council-seat.html

http://www.toledoblade.com/Featured-Editorial-Home/2014/04/11/For-Toledo-City-Council-3.html

Blade editorial board opposed Cherry in the May 2014 special election.

The winner of next month’s election will serve through the end of 2015. The District 2 seat is now held on an interim basis by Matt Cherry, 33, a business agent for Sheet Metal Workers Local 33.

The Lucas County Democratic Party successfully proposed that Mr. Cherry fill the temporary vacancy largely on the strength of his labor ties. He is seeking election to the permanent seat, but during his brief tenure on the council, he has displayed neither extensive leadership skills nor a broad economic and social vision for improving life in District 2 and the city.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2013/11/03/12-compete-for-6-Toledo-council-seats.html

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2013/10/23/Unions-protest-2-council-hopefuls.html

The unions have beefs with each candidate: Mr. Martinez voted for exigent circumstances and another vote led to the privatization of the city’s trash collection, and Mr. Sykes pushed to privatize food service in Toledo Public Schools and he claimed on a union endorsement-screening questionnaire that he supported Right to Work legislation.

While the complaints were different, the unions said both men had turned their backs on the working class. The group held signs outside the building advocating for hiring locally and chanted “OH-IO, outsourcing has got to go.”

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my Mar 2, 2015 TT comment

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From the Feb 28, 2015 Blade story :

Steven Steel, an at-large Toledo councilman and the county Democratic Party chairman, said he will vote for Ms. Harper.

Council Democrats Matt Cherry, Lindsay Webb, Larry Sykes, and Tyrone Riley said they likely will support Ms. Harper.

• Steel - At-large council
• Sykes - At large council
• Riley - District 1 council
• Cherry - District 2 council
• Webb - District 6 council

Ahead of the September 2013 primary for the city council at-large seats, the Blade editorial board endorsed Steel.

Incumbent STEVEN STEEL, 51, a faculty member at the University of Toledo, has earned a new term. A former president of the Toledo school board, Mr. Steel was appointed to City Council in 2009.

On the council, Mr. Steel has focused on issues related to the municipal budget, small business, and public safety, especially domestic violence. He is one of the leading advocates of the city park system.

In that same September 2013 endorsement article, the Blade gave a consolation prize to Sykes.

Several other Council candidates deserve voter attention. Larry Sykes has also served the city for many years, most recently on the school board.

The unions, however, opposed Sykes, during the fall 2013 election.

The last city council district election occurred in 2011. In October 2011, the Blade editorial board endorsed Webb and Riley.

District 1

Of the two candidates to succeed [Wilma Brown], the better choice is TYRONE RILEY.

Unions already have plenty of voices on the council. It's a close call, but TYRONE RILEY is better prepared to speak for all residents of District 1 and the city.

District 6

Incumbent LINDSAY WEBB generated controversy in her North Toledo district this year when she pushed the deadline to file for re-election to its limit -- and, critics assert, beyond. That carelessness was disconcerting.

More troubling was Ms. Webb's advocacy in 2009 (with Mr. Waniewski's help) of a misguided plan to change the city charter to eliminate the council's at-large representatives and reduce the body to nine members.

Yet these lapses, while disturbing, finally do not offer adequate cause to deny Ms. Webb a new term. The Democrat and Point Place resident has done a reasonable job of balancing the imperative to limit taxes with the need to invest in essential services.

Prior to the May 2014 District 2 council seat special election, the Blade editorial board opposed Cherry:

The winner of next month’s election will serve through the end of 2015. The District 2 seat is now held on an interim basis by Matt Cherry, 33, a business agent for Sheet Metal Workers Local 33.

The Lucas County Democratic Party successfully proposed that Mr. Cherry fill the temporary vacancy largely on the strength of his labor ties. He is seeking election to the permanent seat, but during his brief tenure on the council, he has displayed neither extensive leadership skills nor a broad economic and social vision for improving life in District 2 and the city.

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