Tt post 2 sep 1 2015

If Czarty wins in November, it won't be his fault. And it won't the fault of Czarty's supporters.

Can't blame the non-voters.

Maybe blame the losing candidates and their supporters.

If people are vehemently opposed to Czarty being mayor of Toledo for even two years, then those people should do more than just vote. They need to get involved in a candidate's campaign to convince non-voters to vote. Even the suburban cabal can help.

The winner may only need 10,000 to 12,000 votes. Even if 15,000 to 20,000 votes are needed, that still seems small when Toledo probably has at least 180,000 registered voters.

In November 2013, nearly 50,000 votes were cast in Toledo's mayoral election, which was a 25 percent voter turnout. I had guessed that this year's vote total would be lower, but the wildcard for voter turnout this November may be the two statewide dope issues.

Will the dope-vote attract more Toledoans to the polls, and will they cast a vote for mayor?

Czarty is a polarizing figure, and his presence in an election may attract more voters who support and oppose him.

Paula Hicks-Hudson is the officially endorsed democrat candidate, and PH2 has support from the Ohio democrat establishment, which views a PH2 victory this November as helpful for the 2016 presidential election in Ohio.

The PH2 campaign will probably kick into high gear in October.

Aug 23, 2015 Tom Troy story titled With packed field, marijuana vote, anything could happen

Ms. Hicks-Hudson goes into the election with an Ohio Democratic Party determined to do everything it can to regain the office for an endorsed Democrat after two elections won by political independents.

The state party is helping to pay for a full-time manager for Ms. Hicks-Hudson, experienced Columbus operative Ernie Davis, and the campaign is planning to spend at least $300,000. That will pay for a flood of direct mail advertising and television advertising.

She is holding fund-raisers that could include high-profile state politicians like U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) and former state Sen. Nina Turner (D., Cleveland).

“This is important and for a lot of reasons for the Ohio Democratic Party, to make sure we have a truly Democratic elected mayor,” Mr. Davis said, adding that having a Democrat as mayor will be important to winning Ohio for the 2016 presidential and U.S. Senate elections.

PH2 has the backing from people who don't give a damn about Toledo. But it's politics, and all politicians, including Paula Hack-Hudson, won't decline big money.

Assuming that PH2's Wikipedia page is correct, Mayor Hicks-Hudson has participated in only one November election.

In November 2011, Paula Hicks-Hudson won the District 4 Toledo city council seat.

Paula Hicks-Hudson : 5,062 votes : 70.87%
Anita Rios : 2,081 votes : 29.13%

In 2013, her council colleagues voted for [PH2] to replace council President Joe McNamara when he resigned to run for mayor.

After Mayor Collins passed away, the city council president became mayor, per the Toledo city charter.

In a roundabout way, PH2 became mayor of Toledo with only 5,062 votes.

With big money support from the state party in a free-for-all mayoral election, PH2 has a shot at winning when only a small number of votes are needed for victory.

The Ohio democrat party plans to spend at least $300,000 on Paula Hicks-Hudson's campaign. With that kind of warchest, will PH2 need to do any fundraising? If she does raise some money on her own, "her" campaign may spend between $350,000 and $400,000 this fall.

How does that compare to the fall of 2013, only two years ago?

Oct 24, 2013 Blade story

Mr. Bell reported spending $178,312 in the period Aug. 22 through Oct. 16. Mr. Collins spent $37,310 in the same period.

Combined with the money he carried over from the previous report, that left Mr. Bell with $11,432 cash in his campaign account as of Oct. 16, compared with $59,391 for Mr. Collins.

I don't know what the final expenditures were for the Bell-Collins election, but obviously, the Ohio democrat party is serious about PH2 winning. Hicks-Hudson may spend more than Bell-Collins combined.

#toledo #politics