Toledo is a remarkable place, and we all know the reasons why. Our cultural institutions are globally recognized. Our culture is welcoming to families of all shapes and sizes. Our Mud Hens and Walleye are the envy of minor league cities across the country. We can walk or float to one of the world’s Great Lakes within minutes.
And yet, this is a city that has been in decline for over 50 years. Since its peak in 1970, Toledo has lost nearly one-third of its population. We have lost nearly 6 percent in the last decade alone. Manufacturing jobs have been cut in half, and family household income isn’t even keeping up with inflation.
There are a number of reasons for this, but the one voters should focus on this Tuesday is straightforward: This is a one-party town, run by Democrats, who have no checks and balances on their power. The result of this lack of political competition has been absolutely devastating to this city.
When there is no opposition party to check your work, or debate your approach, or create sensible compromises, the consequences are dire for voters and taxpayers. Democrats in Lucas County have used their consolidated power to put friends and political cronies in lucrative taxpayer-funded jobs, double dip by collecting a taxpayer-funded pension at the same time as a taxpayer-funded salary, and steered taxpayer-funded contracts to their politically connected friends, consultants and donors.
Most horrifying is the lack of government transparency. This city received roughly $180 million in COVID relief funds, and refused to tell the public how it planned to spend the money. It was later found that much of the money was spent on consulting fees for political allies, and loosely defined projects with zero oversight.
Local Democrats have shown us time and again: They care about their own power, taxpayers be damned.
Elections are usually defined by one core issue that motivates people to show up at the polls. For Toledoans this Tuesday, whether you are Republican, Democrat, or neither, that issue must be accountability. We must provide competition and accountability on city council, and eventually the county commission, to ensure that taxpayers have oversight over the corruption – and literal crimes – that have taken place in this city under one party rule.
Unfortunately, the local GOP isn’t quite ready to recruit a full slate electable candidates. So Republicans like myself are joining with moderate Democrats to support a slate of independently-minded candidates in Tom Waniewski, Ed Beczynski, and Rob Pasker.Â
