Three people hoping to be Toledo’s next mayor have made their campaigns official by filing petitions with the Lucas County Board of Elections.
As of July 10, Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez, City Councilman D. Michael Collins and writein candidate Don Gozdowski have submitted petitions with at least 750 signatures to the Lucas County Board of Elections.
Incumbent Mayor Mike Bell planned to hand in his petition July 11 and City Councilman Joe McNamara planned to file his July 12, before the 4 p.m. deadline. Also expected to enter the race are Alan Cox, a neighborhood development specialist, and Libertarian candidate Michael Konwinski.
Petitions for candidates seeking City Council seats are also due July. As of July 10, seven Toledoans have submitted their petitions to the Board of Elections. Incumbents Shaun Enright and Steven Steel filed their petitions July 9.
Also submitting 250 signatures or more were Ernest McCarthy, Alfonso Navarez, Theresa Gabriel, Sean Nestor, Sandy Spang and Ron Johns.
Johns, a Republican and 21-year-old University of Toledo student, said the process of filing for candidacy proved to be a challenge.
“For a first timer, it was a little difficult. The information overload is the difficult part,” Johns said. “Once you understand everything, it’s less challenging. The time requirement is huge, but the paperwork wasn’t too hard.”
The next step for Johns and anyone else seeking office in Lucas County is certification from the Board of Elections. Elections for City Council and Toledo mayor will take place Nov. 5.
