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How to vote in 2024

By
Paula Wethington
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Lucas Zielinksi, with Turning Point USA, hands Amelia Mathkour, a music, business and tech major at Owens Community College, a pamphlet about voting registration. Zielinksi said he was on campus for the day to help students register to vote. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Lucas County Board of Elections explains voting details, process

Toledo – With Election Day a month away, preparations are in full swing at the Lucas County Board of Elections office.

“We’re up and running and getting everything ready,” said Timothy Monaco, deputy director of the elections office. “It’s a wonderful time. It’s important to exercise your right to vote.”

Logistics that the staff and officers have been handling for weeks on behalf of Lucas County’s 303 voting precincts include preparing ballots, training precinct election officials, and getting early voting dates and times posted on their website.

Monaco said the most commonly asked question from voters during the past couple of weeks has been when absentee ballots will arrive in the mail. 

Here’s the answer: Ohio voters can look for the absentee ballots starting Oct. 8, which is one day after registration ends for the Nov. 5 election.

The Lucas County Board of Elections staff doesn’t give predictions on voter turnout, Monaco said. But, according to state election records, 67 percent of registered Lucas County voters participated in the 2020 presidential election, and 66 percent did so in the 2016 presidential election. This participation includes absentee voting, early in-person voting and traditional Election Day voting.

Those choices are meant to help all eligible voters participate, whether they prefer going in person to a local polling site or to cast a ballot before they travel out of town.

“It’s important to make your plan as to who you are going to vote for,” Monaco said. “Make sure you make a plan and know what is on your ballot.”

While the presidential campaign is the key race of the Nov. 5 election, there are also races in Lucas County for local judges and city officials. For those who want to see the list ahead of time, ballot proofs are available for review on the election board’s website.

“Ballots will be three pages for everyone and four pages for some,” Monaco said.

While some people remember how they wish to vote when going to the polls, others find it helpful to bring paper notes or refer to a list on their phone, Monaco said. “Some folks really come prepared,” he said.

“It’s also important to be respectful at the location,” he added, referring to an Ohio law that prohibits photos of marked ballots. “We do ask that you limit cell phone use at the ballot.”

Many other election details are explained at lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Election calendar

Key dates for the November 5 election:

  • Military and overseas civilian voting: Started Sept. 20.
  • Voter registration deadline: 9 p.m. Oct. 7.
  • Early in-person voting season: Oct. 8.-Nov. 3.
  • Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Nov. 4.
  • Election Day: Nov. 5.

CAMPUS TALK

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUND OFF ABOUT VOTING

Question: How important is voting to you?

Oliver Odendahl
James Johnson
Nivant Dawson
Sydney Stanley
David Case III

Voting is not my main concern, but it is pretty important because it is the future of America and I would like to have a say in what is gonna be my future. I usually try to vote on voting day, if I can’t I’ll do the absentee ballot.

Oliver Odendahl | EMT Major | Tontogany Resident

I am not a registered voter. If I was to lie to you I’d say yes. But honestly, I don’t have enough time … it’s not really a main priority, even though it should be. I do plan on voting at some point, maybe when I’m in my adult phase. Even though I’m not a registered voter I do think voting is important because it basically determines the society and the rules and regulations we live by.

James Johnson | Broadcast Media Technology Major | Toledo Resident

I’d say voting is very important. There’s certain aspects of it that do feel sort of depressing, when you think about it, because a lot of people would say people voting normally wouldn’t matter because of a small majority in the Electoral College – their votes matter 100 times more than your own. That’s what it feels like at least from what I know. It does feel a little degrading knowing that’s going to happen.

Nivant Dawson | Business Major | Toledo Resident

I think voting is important, but I’m not exactly sure why it’s important. I mean, there’s a lot of things that come from it. You’re voting for someone that you’re putting your trust and you’re faith into to guide us all in the right direction, but we just all don’t know what that direction is yet. So, we’re just kind of free-balling it, in a way. So, I don’t know … I’ve never voted before but this will be interesting. I really don’t know what all is involved. I just have a lot to learn about voting – like what I should be looking for in the leader I’m going to be voting for. So, yeah, it’s coming up soon. There’s a lot to learn.

Sydney Stanley | Chemistry Major | Millbury Resident

Voting is very important, especially in this day and age, when everything’s going on.

David Chase III | Literature Major | Toledo Resident
Registration details

Ohio voters must be registered by 9 p.m. Oct. 7 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Residents can register to vote, look up voter registration, change their address, find an early voting location, look up Election Day polling location or track an absentee ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Photo ID requirement

Bring your photo ID when voting. The options are:

- Current Ohio driver’s license or State of Ohio ID card.

- Interim ID form issued by Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

- U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.

A registered voter who has changed his or her name since the photo ID was issued will need to show proof of legal name change and sign a form. A photo ID card can show a former address if a current address is on file with the voting records. If you forget a photo ID, you can request a provisional ballot. 

How to vote absentee

An absentee ballot in Ohio needs to be requested, signed, dated and submitted for each election. Military personnel and civilian overseas voters can file one application for all elections happening in a given year.

The application asks for the number on your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID card, last four digits of your social security number, or a photocopy of other eligible ID such as a U.S. passport or military ID.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and can be hand delivered to the Board of Elections on Nov. 5.

Additional instructions are on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

In-person early voting

Ohio’s in-person early voting season begins Oct. 8 and ends Nov. 3. 

The Lucas County Early Vote Center is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave. Suite 121 Entrance C (at the rear of the Lucas County Board of Elections building) in west Toledo.

Voting times and dates can be found at LucasCountyOhioVotes.gov.

Election Day voting

Polling sites are open in Ohio from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. You can look up your polling location at VoteOhio.Gov.

What’s on the ballot?

A “ballot proof” is available for review on the Lucas County Board of Elections page. It lists candidates and ballot issues by precinct, so voters know what to expect.

For example: Six president/vice president candidate teams have declared in Ohio, with an additional write-in option available. Other candidate races include U.S. Senator, Lucas County Sheriff and openings on Toledo City Council.

Ohio Issue 1 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that has gained a lot of attention. This issue, if approved, would designate a redistricting commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts.

There are other issues locally, such as a proposed bond issue for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library and a tax renewal request from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Are ballot “selfies” allowed?

Ohio does not permit photos to be taken of a marked ballot. It’s actually a fifth-degree felony should that take place, according to Ohio law.

The “I Voted” Sticker

A traditionally popular way to showcase voter participation is through an “I voted” sticker, picked up on Election Day at the polling site.

Ohio’s current “I Voted” sticker design was adopted in 2019 through a student art contest. A red squiggle depicts a map of Ohio, nestled in a blue circle outline, with the phrase “Ohio Voted.”

Voters are invited to download the image to share on social media at the Ohio Secretary of State website. That website also has also a “future voter” coloring page for children available for download.

Is campaigning allowed at election sites?

Ohio does not allow election campaigning, also known as electioneering, within 100 feet of a voting site. This means no campaigning messages on attire such as shirts or hats, Monaco said.

Two small United States flags are placed at each voting site to designate the “neutral” zone where this applies. 

Where is the Board of Elections office?

If you need to visit the Lucas County Board of Elections regarding a voting matter, that office moved about two years ago from its former location at One Government Center to 3737 W. Sylvania Road in West Toledo.

When are election numbers official?

Ballots cast on Election Day will be delivered in person to the Lucas County Board of Elections for the counting procedures.

There will be numbers reported after that count is complete. 

The Ohio Secretary of State does not consider voter counts to be official until two or three weeks later, after provisional ballots are accounted for and to give time for absentee ballots to arrive that met the postmark deadline.

Jerry King: Insurance Commercials

By
Jerry King
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Meet the 3 mayoral candidates for Toledo’s Toledo primary election

By
Stephen Zenner
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Toledo mayoral candidates from left: Roberto Torres; Harold Harris; Wade Wade Kapszukiewicz. (TFP Photos/Stephen Zenner)

This is an introduction to all three mayoral candidates on the City of Toledo primary election ballot: Incumbent Wade Kapszukiewicz, Roberto Torres and Harold Harris.

On May 6, Toledoans will choose the top two candidates, who will then be placed on November general election ballot.

Incumbent Wade Kapszukiewicz

The office of mayor is defined in Toledo as nonpartisan, but Kapszukiewicz, 52, has been affiliated with the Democratic political party in the past. 

Goals: 

  • Improve public safety by reducing crime, with a special focus on reducing homicides
  • Provide economic development to Toledo
  • Continue building infrastructure in the form of repaired roads 
  • Invest in housing for the city of Toledo

Proposed changes: 

Since Kapszukiewicz is an incumbent, he made it clear most of his work would be focused on continuing the work he has already been doing, but offered a number of proposed continuations for what his third term might look like. 

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“The first thing we decided to do was to increase the size of the police class that we had budgeted this year,” Kapszukiewicz said.

Growing the police is a common goal the mayor has highlighted in the past, along with declining crime rates in Toledo. It should be noted that the declining rates are coming off of an all-time high during the 2020-21 pandemic, where most American cities experienced large spikes in crime. 

Site Selection Magazine placed Toledo as the best mid-size city for economic development, and the city’s increased bond rating increased in 2025 following the submission of Kapszukiewicz’s city budget this year. 

Kapszukiewicz raised road levies during his time in office to repair roads, and during his State of the City address, Kapszukiewicz focused on converting vacant commercial spaces downtown into housing. 

Experience:

Kapszukiewicz took office as mayor of Toledo in 2018, is still in office, and he is up for reelection for his third consecutive term as mayor. There has not been a third term Toledo mayor since the introduction of its charter in 1916. 

In 2024, the Toledo City Charter was amended by ballot initiative, Issue 9, to allow for a third term for mayors of Toledo. Right before the introduction of Toledo’s Charter, Brand Whitlock served four consecutive terms as the mayor of Toledo from 1906 to 1914. 

Kapszukiewicz also served as a member of Toledo city council, beginning in 1999, and went on to serve as the Lucas County treasurer before becoming mayor. 

In his time as treasurer, Kapszukiewicz founded the Lucas County Land Bank. 

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz talks to Mud Hens fans during Opening Day in downtown Toledo on March 28. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Roberto Torres

The office of mayor is defined in Toledo as nonpartisan, but Torres, 62, announced his candidacy as an Independent candidate. 

Goals: 

  • Live within the means of Toledo’s revenues
  • Community Development in the form of empowering local neighborhoods
  • Attract new businesses to economically develop downtown

Proposed Changes:

“We need job creation if we’re losing population,” Torres said, and criticized the current mayor for growing the police force as population continues to decline. “What’s the rationale for keeping more police officers when you have less Toledoans?”

Torres worked under previous Toledo mayors Jack Ford and Carty Finkbeiner, and wants to restart the community Block Watches that were active during those mayors’ administrations to reduce crime. 

“The more people that we support out in the neighborhoods…the less we have to employ with the city,” he reasoned.

Torres emphasized the need for economic development, stating that “we cannot be a city that’s just run on federal funding.”

Roberto Torres unveils his campaign sign and announces his candidacy for mayor at his campaign headquarters at 151 Nn Michigan Ave. on March 25. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Roberto Torres. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

He also talked about the difficulties that may be ahead as the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to cut federal funding. 

Massive amounts of federal funding have been procured by the Kapszukiewicz administration through competitive grants and the American Rescue Plan Act funds under the Biden administration. Most recently, grants and funding of this kind have been used to supplement projects like the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA. 

“We need to have private investment,” Torres said, and pointed to his experience working with the governments in Detroit, Canton, Ohio and Grand Rapids, Mich., as proof of his ability to provide economic prosperity to cities. 

If there is economic development in northwest Ohio, Torres said it generally goes to another municipality in the area, instead of Toledo. Torres blamed a labor agreement that is active within the city as the cause for slowing economic development in Toledo. 

“Toledo is ripe for growth,” Torres said, adding, “We have, right now, a policy that’s supported by this administration [Kapszukiewicz’s administration] that prevents development, so it discourages people from coming here. The cost of development here is much higher because of that.

“What I would change is the threshold that qualifies individuals that are impacted by this agreement,” Torres said, and pointed to Detroit and Cleveland as cities with a similar labor agreement with higher thresholds. The criticism of this labor agreement deals with the low threshold affecting nonprofits and small businesses, instead of just affecting larger investors.

Experience: 

Torres currently works as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and Economic Inclusion in Detroit, and has worked in this capacity since 2018.

Torres served in the United States Marine Corps as a sergeant and a battalion legal chief. 

Torres’ foray into politics began in Toledo in 1996 when he served as the director of the Board of Community Relations for the City of Toledo, then the director of the Toledo Youth Commission; director of the Office of Latino Affairs for the City of Toledo; and a development specialist for economic development for the City of Toledo, ending in 2008.

Venturing outside of northwest Ohio, Torres became the director of economic development, 2008-2012 for the City of Canton, Ohio. 

From 2013-2015, he worked as the executive director of the Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In Grand Rapids, Mich., Torres served as the executive director of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan from 2015-2018 until taking on his current role in Detroit. 

Harold Harris

Harris, 69, announced his candidacy as an Independent, non-committed candidate. He explained the non-committed title he gave himself like this: “I’m not committed to the Republican Party. I’m not committed to the Democratic Party. I’m committed to the people.”

Goals: 

  • Reduce Toledo crime, specifically shootings and homicides
  • Prevent incumbent Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz from getting a third term as the mayor of Toledo
  • Provide basic services to Toledoans in the form of road maintenance, tree removal, etc. 
  • Create an attentive city government that hears the people’s needs 

Proposed Changes:

“The most important one [issue] is gun violence, homicides, shootings,” Harris said, and blamed Kapszukiewicz for a rise in crime.

“30 years ago, you never heard of drive-by shootings, never heard of murders and homicides [in Toledo]. We’re gonna bring those numbers down,” he said, referring to the crime involving deaths in Toledo.

How Harris said he would change Toledo for the better revolved mainly around his own ability and competency. 

When asked how Harris would bring down crime in Toledo, he responded, “I think it’s pretty simple. I’m [going to] meet with the police chief, okay? I’m gonna give him my direction. He works directly for me, okay? And we’re gonna take care of it.”

Harold Harris holds a sign for his candidacy at the corner of N. Erie and Monroe streets in downtown Toledo on March 28. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Harold Harris sits in front of his private residence in Toledo on Tuesday March 25. Harris said he strongly disagrees with the current mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s bid for a third term. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Face-to-face command ability, authenticity and military experience provided the bulk of Harris’ explanation on how he would run the city, reduce crime and fix up Toledo’s neighborhoods. 

“I’m an action person. I’m not going to burn time talking about an issue,” he said, and clarified that he didn’t have much on his mind concerning legislation or policy. “My thing is, let’s keep it simple.”

Harris said he was interested in giving power back to the people, and felt Kapszukiewicz was purposefully ignoring the needs of everyday Toledoans.

“The guy on the 22nd floor has brought me out of retirement,” Harris said. “But that’s okay, because I’m fighting for the people; it’s all about the people, and, hopefully, I will do a good job for them.”

Because of his stated frustration with Kapszukiewicz, Harris refused to say Kapszukiewicz’s name during the interview. Instead, Harris alluded to Toledo’s current mayor as “the guy at 1 Government Center” or “the guy on the 22nd floor of 1 Government Center.”

Being among the people and listening to their needs was an utmost priority to Harris, and he sought to reconnect people with their government through the reinstatement of the Block Watch program. 

“They’re [the Toledo city government is] not hearing these people cry out,” Harris said.

Experience:

  • Served in the Air Force for 20 years
  • Vietnam War through Gulf War Veteran
  • Disabled veteran
  • Combat veteran

Harris believes his grassroots organizing over the past six years is good preparation for mayor.

“I’ve pushed everything from Issue 9 to Issue 21 to voter registration, to voting, to police reform, you name it, gun violence,” he said.

Toledo turns out for Hands Off! protest

By
Jaden Jefferson
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About 4,000 protestors walked the span of the Craig Street Bridge in Toledo. (TFP Photo/Jaden Jefferson)

TOLEDO – Normally, the Craig Street Bridge in Toledo carries vehicle traffic across the Maumee River to East Toledo. But on Saturday, it was carrying foot traffic – and a lot of it.

As part of the planned nationwide ‘Hands Off!’ protest against the Trump administration, people walked from one end of the bridge to the other. They held signs criticizing the role of billionaire Elon Musk in the federal government, while others criticized the president’s policies.

Protestors walk the Craig Street Bridge. (TFP Photo/Jaden Jefferson)

Demonstrations were held in large and small towns throughout all 50 states, and even included Canada, as protestors in Detroit and Windsor lined both sides of the Detroit River.

“This is a very diverse crowd. This is not left or right, this is right or wrong. We are out here with a lot of nonpartisan groups, a lot of people on all political stripes, that believe in democracy and believe in protecting our country.”

Melissa Portala is an organizer with the group Toledo Persists, which was behind the local demonstration.

“We were expecting a large crowd today, but this is even bigger than what we were expecting,” Portala explained.

She says over 3,000 people signed up to attend, but many more showed up from word-of-mouth, leading her to believe there were around 4,000 attendees. So, what is the message they’re aiming to send?

“We are here saying ‘no.’ We want to keep our Social Security; we want to keep our Medicare, we want to keep funding for our schools,” she said.

Protestors carry signs criticizing the Trump administration and Elon Musk. (TFP Photo/Jaden Jefferson)

Deborah Wright attended the protest. In particular, Wright was opposed to the U.S. Agency for International Development – or USAID – having been dismantled.

“I’m really upset about the U.S. aid for all these countries that really, really need it. Medicine and the food- and he doesn’t care about anybody but his own pocket – and I don’t feel that way,” she said.

Asked if the demonstration will be effective in any way, Portala cited court orders blocking some of the White House’s agenda as examples of successes. She said the goal of the protest is to get elected officials to do the same.

“When the people that are ostensibly representing us in our government see this massive pushback, it makes them think twice about what they’re doing.”

WTOL News Report on Hands Off!

Rocket Coach Ginny Boggess

By
Lori King
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On this episode of the Flyby Sports Podcast, host Max Alfonso sat down with Toledo Rockets women’s head coach Ginny Boggess in the Toledo Free Press podcast studio on April 1 to chat about all things Toledo women’s basketball.

During her first season as head coach of the Rockets, she led the ⁠Toledo Rockets⁠ to a 24-9 record and a berth into the WBIT Tournament against Minnesota.

“Within the humility and the toughness and the grit these kids have, there is a collective ego, a Toledo mindset, if you will, of our standard for excellence. It’s a rare blend that I’m extremely committed to continuing,” she said in the podcast.

Listen as Boggess talks about:

  • her time at Monmouth and other teams before coming to Toledo
  • the MAC championship and WBIT games played in March
  • the team’s rabid, educated fan base
  • the transfer portal, and how she predicts she will gain and not lose players
  • her seniors, especially Rossford native Sammi Mikonowicz, and the impact they had on the team
This interview took place three days before she signed a contract extension with the Rockets on April 4, continuing her reign in Toledo up until 2030.

New episodes of the The Flyby Sports Podcast drop every Saturday.

The Flyby Sports Podcast is a production of the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Toledo Free Press⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Don Lee: Riding the Downslide

By
Don Lee
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Ohio’s (latest) Issue 2 will help fund local infrastructure projects

By
Signal Statewide
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(Ohio Statehouse image courtesy of Ohio Statehouse)
This story was originally published by Signal Statewide. Sign up for their free newsletters at SignalOhio.org/StateSignals. Statewide is a media partner of the Toledo Free Press.

By Andrew Tobias | Signal Statewide

Ohioans will vote soon on another Issue 2. 

But rather than legalizing marijuana, the 2025 Issue 2 has to do with something far less controversial. 

If voters approve this new Issue 2 on the May ballot, the state will be allowed to borrow billions of dollars over the next decade to fund local infrastructure projects. Think roads, bridges, water and sewer management systems — the nuts and bolts of local government. 

What exactly does Issue 2 do?

Issue 2 reauthorizes the State Capital Improvement Program, which has existed in various forms since voters first approved it in 1987. Voters have renewed it three times since then, most recently in 2014.

Under Issue 2, the state would be allowed to sell up to $2.5 billion in bonds, spread out over the next ten years. This is larger than the $1.875 billion that voters were asked to approve in the 2014 vote. State lawmakers who back the measure are asking for the larger amount because they say construction is more expensive than it was a decade ago.

If voters approve Issue 2, the state must pay back the bonds over a 30-year period, sort of like a mortgage loan. With interest, the total cost will be $3.84 billion, according to an estimate from the Legislative Service Commission, the state legislature’s nonpartisan research arm. 

If the measure fails, the state infrastructure program will lapse on July 1.

How did Issue 2 get on the ballot this year?

The Ohio constitution strictly limits the state’s ability to borrow money. So any borrowing program requires a constitutional amendment, which only can be approved through a statewide vote. 

The Ohio General Assembly voted in December to put Issue 2 on the May ballot.

When is the primary election?

The election is on May 6, although general early voting will begin on Tuesday, April 8.

The voter registration deadline for the election is Monday, April 7. Voters can register or update their registration online at the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. They also can do so in person at their local Board of Elections. Local government offices, like libraries, commonly have voter registration forms.

Click here for a full list of early voting locations and here for a list of voting hours. 

Issue 2 will appear on every ballot in the state. But some communities also will hold votes to decide things like municipal offices and local liquor options. 

The Ohio Public Works Commission, the state agency that administers the State Capital Improvement Program, keeps records of every project the program has funded.

From 2017 to 2024, the state spent more than $2 billion on more than 4,000 projects in communities around the state via grants and loans to local governments.

Didn’t we just vote on Issue 2?

Yes. In November 223, Ohioans approved an Issue 2, which legalized recreational marijuana in Ohio.

But Ohio is reusing the number for this vote. The measures aren’t related.

The measure has widespread support including Republican and Democratic elected officials, labor unions, business groups and regional planning groups, according to a supporters list compiled by the Yes on Issue 2 campaign.

Backers say the program helps fund crucial local government infrastructure programs. 

State Rep. Scott Oelslager, a North Canton Republican, said in a speech on the Ohio House floor in December the program is especially important for small communities.

“I’ve had examples where small township trustees have come up to me and said, ‘You know, there are some years where without this money, we’d have no money for road, bridges and sewer repairs,’” Oelslager said.

Here are the official arguments in favor of Issue 2, which are required as part of the state’s rules for ballot issues. They were written by a bipartisan group of four state lawmakers.

Who opposes it?

Issue 2 has no formal opposition. A few Republican legislators voted against placing it on the ballot in December but they didn’t explain their reasons.

The lack of official detractors left the job of writing legally required opposing arguments with state employees. 

The arguments take issue with the new borrowing amount being larger than the old one and the long repayment period. They also point out that the program requires state taxpayers to pay for projects they likely don’t benefit from. 

No, although the state would be obligated to pay the money back. The bonds the state would issue would be backed by the state’s general revenues, most of which come from state income and sales taxes. 

These debt payments will cost between $19 million and $192 million annually, although the exact amounts could change based on interest rates, according to the Legislative Service Commission. Paying the debt could come at the expense of other state priorities. 

(Andrew Tobias is the Statewide state government and politics reporter)

Signal Statewide is a nonprofit news organization covering government, education, health, economy and public safety.

Steven J Athanas: Haulin’ Oats

By
Steven J Athanas
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Local businesses brace for tariffs

By
David Yonke
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H.O.T. Graphics in Northwood, which serves corporate, creative and nonprofit clients, is facing higher costs for paper and aluminum plates due to the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. (Courtesy Photo/Greg Shapiro/Envelope Mart)

Higher costs of imported goods boosts expenses, prices

President Donald Trump called Wednesday, April 2, “Liberation Day,” claiming that the new tariffs he is imposing on imported goods will free the United States from its reliance on foreign products.

The tariffs, which are taxes charged on goods from other countries, are impacting businesses and consumers around the world and across the United States, raising prices on everything from automobiles and steel imports to paper products and groceries.

The goal, according to Trump, is to boost domestic manufacturing and cut down on the nation’s $1.2 trillion trade deficit by making it more expensive for firms to ship their products into the U.S.

On Feb. 10, the White House imposed a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum products imported into this country.

Many foreign nations have been charging tariffs on imported U.S. products for decades, and Trump said he is setting “fair and reciprocal” tariffs on imports from about 60 countries starting April 9.

Trump’s plan, announced April 2 in a news conference in the White House Rose Garden, includes a 10 percent baseline tariff on goods from all countries effective April 12.

On March 26, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 25 percent tariff on imported automobiles and auto parts.

The April 2 announcement included a 34 percent tariff on China, on top of a recently imposed 20 percent tariff on Chinese goods, effectively setting the total tariffs on Chinese products at 54 percent.

Trump had previously set 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico, and those two U.S. neighbors were exempt from any further tariffs announced April 2.

Toledo-area firms have been watching and monitoring tariff news closely, hoping to gauge the impact on their businesses and their customers.

“I don’t think it will be catastrophic to our business, but it certainly would affect our margins and profitability,” said Greg Shapiro, a principal of two Northwood-based companies that are being impacted by tariffs.

Greg Shapiro.

One of them, Envelope Mart USA, manufactures and prints millions of envelopes every day and distributes them to high-volume mailers across the U.S.

Shapiro’s other business, H.O.T. Graphic Services, is a regional printing company that serves corporate, creative and nonprofit clients.

“The tariffs are a concern but it’s not something we’re losing sleep over at the moment,” Shapiro said.

Most of the paper his companies buy is made in the United States, he said, but one of their U.S. paper suppliers notified him that some raw materials used to make their paper comes from Canada, Mexico and China.

“We’ve dealt with disruptions for years, not so much because of tariffs but because of supply and demand, when paper mills shut down facilities,” Shapiro said.

Some of the big mills have transitioned from plants making paper to making corrugated cardboard because of all the growth in packaging with Amazon and other retailers. There have been times when we’ve been put on allocation for the amount of paper we can buy.

Greg Shapiro

In addition to raising the cost of paper, Shapiro said tariffs on aluminum are impacting his businesses because they use aluminum plates for printing.

“It’s not a major cost for printers, but it’s significant. I’m sure we spend well into six figures every year on printing plates.”

The ink and glue used by Envelope Mart USA and H.O.T. are manufactured in the United States and should not be affected by tariffs, he said.

One of Envelope Mart’s main paper suppliers notified its customers in March that it plans to add a surcharge once the tariffs go into effect.

“That would not be a good development for us because of the high volume of paper purchased,” Shapiro said. “It’s kind of out of our control, but we would be forced to pass the added costs on to new business, new contracts. For contracts that are already in effect, we probably will have to absorb some of those costs.”

Envelope Mart USA, based in Northwood, buys paper from U.S. companies that use components from Canada and Mexico.
(Courtesy Photo/Greg Shapiro/Envelope Mart)

Jerry Hidalgo, president of Maumee-based Metric Metal/Parker Steel, said the majority of the steel and aluminum they purchase comes from Europe.

Metric Metal, as reflected in its name, specializes in metric-sized metals and sells bars, tubes, plates and sheets of steel, aluminum, copper, brass and carbon to firms across the U.S. and around the world.

“We’re a small company that buys relatively small quantities of a lot of different items,” Hidalgo said. “We’re not the target of the tariffs, but we’re collateral damage.”

Hidalgo said his company has been dealing with tariffs since mid-February.

“Everything we sell is manufactured to millimeters, and the majority of our products come from Europe, where metric is the standard.

The tariff on aluminum was 10 percent, and now it’s 25 percent. If the tariffs impact us, it makes it more expensive for our customers, certainly. If we’re selling into Canada, the tariff has to be included in the cost.

Jerry Hidalgo

“The tariffs will make it more expensive for our customers. Like most businesses, when you get an increase in your expenses, it has to be passed along to the consumer,” Hidalgo noted.

Hidalgo said Metric Metal/Parker Steel focuses on customer satisfaction. For example, he said that phone calls to the firm are answered personally by sales people, not a voicemail system. And when a customer calls to place an order, 96 percent of the time the product is shipped that same day.

Hidalgo said the tariffs on imported metals could have a silver lining for the American steel industry.

“Domestic steel mills will be in a position to be able to raise their price because the price coming from outside of the U.S. is being raised,” he said. “Tariffs will create more room for the domestic mills to be able to raise prices.”

Will your business be impacted by the tariffs? Let us know. Contact us at editor@toledofreepress.com.

Jerry King: Free Garage Sale

By
Jerry King
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0

English Channel swimmer to take a dip in Maumee River for a cause

By
Dennis Bova
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0
Wamsley swimming in October 2024 from Pointe Bonita to Angel Island under the Golden Gate Bridge. (Courtesy photo by John Grunstad)

MAUMEE – Think of it as a two-for-one event and a healthy partnership. Partners for Clean Streams will have a kickoff meeting to train water quality monitor volunteers from 1-3 p.m. on April 19 in the Indianola Shelter at Farnsworth Metropark.

There will also be a special guest: A woman who is training to swim the English Channel, and she has a few things to say about the need for clean water and empowering women.

Amy Wamsley. (Courtesy Photo/Johnny Polansky)

Oh, yes, and that woman, Amy Wamsley, will take a dip in the Maumee River to punctuate her messages, including why swimming is healthy in more ways than one.

Wamsley, 49, is a business consultant from the Dayton area who has been training for months to do the iconic marathon swim from England to France, considered by some to be Mount Everest of water-based endurance feats.

“I first dreamed of swimming the English Channel when I was 12,” Wamsley said. “I came across a magazine article about swimmers who completed the challenge. At the time, I was a competitive swimmer, and I remember thinking, ‘If they can do it, so can I.’”

Wamsley set a goal of completing the swim by age 50. “My swim window closes just three days before my 50th birthday. This is my chance to fulfill that promise to my 12-year-old self.”

There’s more to it than plunging in the water. Wamsley registered with the agency overseeing the swims and was assigned a timeframe during the channel swim season. She leaves for England May 14 – her swim window is May 30 through June 10. She’ll be accompanied by a piloted boat with two friends on board for medical and overall support.

She said typically there are several swimmers making the crossing at a time, spread out in the channel. The swim takes about 15 hours to cover the roughly 21 miles.

Amy Wamsley swimming in October 2024 from Pointe Bonita to Angel Island under the Golden Gate Bridge. (Courtesy Photo/John Grunstad, a member of the South End Rowing Club.)

Why be in Northwest Ohio and connect with Partners for Clean Streams, based in Perrysburg? One of her goals of the channel swim is to raise awareness of the need for clean water.

“Clean water is essential, not only for swimmers, but for entire ecosystems,” she said. “Poor water quality can expose people to harmful bacteria, chemicals and pollutants, increasing the risk of infections and illness.”

Wamsley speaks from experience. On a training swim in what was thought to be clean water, she got a severe bacterial infection. She’s also seen trash and pollution in some swims.

“We drink this water. It’s what we’re swimming in, pulling fish out of,” she said, referencing the Maumee River’s famous Walleye Run.

To spread her message of water health, Wamsley has reached out to agencies connected to Ohio’s scenic rivers – of which the Maumee is one.

“Our organization built our mission around partnering with individuals and organizations who share similar missions,” said Kayla Kirkpatrick, Partners for Clean Streams program specialist. “When Amy came to us, she expressed her reasoning, which we were very excited to hear.

“We decided that our April 19 Water Quality Monitoring Training event would be a perfect way to tie in the two missions. We believe in having fishable, swimmable, drinkable waters. How could we say no?”

Amy Wamsley swimming in La Jolla, California in April 2024. Wamsley will guest speak at the Partners for Clean Streams meeting on April 19. (Courtesy Photo/Dan Simonelli, International Hall of Fame Inductee for Marathon Swimming Coaching and owner/founder of Open Water Swimming Academy in California. )

Kirkpatrick continued, “We felt that we could support each other’s mission by sharing our volunteer base to her efforts. In return, we felt that Amy’s swim would be a great way to spark the interest of people in our community to come join us, not just for the event itself, but continue to take part in the future.”

Wamsley addressed the health issue. “Swimming is one of the best full-body exercises, offering physical and mental health benefits. On a personal level, swimming has had a profound impact on my own health journey.”

There’s more to her undertaking than health and promoting clean water. “I don’t look like someone who’s going to swim the English Channel,” she said matter-of-factly.

“It doesn’t matter what our bodies look like. No matter how old we are, we can still try to [pursue dreams]. There’s a whole thing about women empowerment. We can still encourage each other to succeed in whatever it is that we want to succeed in.”

Wamsley added, “This past year has been one of the hardest of my life, and I truly believe that without swimming and a dedicated goal to work toward, it would have been much more difficult to navigate.”

Registration for the April 19 training is available here. 

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