Quite unexpectedly, all signs point to competitive race

9/5/2004

Seven bite-size Lemmon Drops to nibble on while waiting to see what trick red-light cameras will perform next:

  • Lucas County Sheriff James Telb insists he had no prior knowledge of the alleged after-hours activities of Moises Pacheco, a deputy sheriff who had a pickup full of political signs -- including eight belonging to Mr. Telb's opponents in the Nov. 2 election -- when Toledo police stopped him at 12:30 a.m. Monday.

    Not that I don't believe Mr. Telb, but many a leader has taken a fall for the unauthorized actions of their subordinates.

    Could it be that he will "pull a Sandy Isenberg" on the road to re-election?

    (In 2002, you'll recall, Ms. Isenberg seemed unbeatable in her re-election bid for Lucas County commissioner. But after she made some much-publicized stumbles, the original challenger, Dock Treece, bowed out of the race and in came Maggie Thurber, the eventual winner.)

    Before this incident, Mr. Telb also seemed unbeatable. Now, his opponents -- Oregon Police Chief Tom Gulch and Danny Contreras, a former member of the Lucas County sheriff's office -- have found a door ajar.

  • If Toledo police stop 204 vehicles -- including one going 103 mph -- during a six-hour speed-enforcement effort, as was the case Wednesday, I'm thinking they should do it every day until the figure drops below 100.

  • Please, General Growth Properties, set a date to break ground for the Shops at Fallen Timbers and stick to it. With each delay, you give false hope to those -- me, for example -- who want to see Southwyck Shopping Center survive.

  • Some delegates at the Republican National Convention mocked John Kerry's war record by wearing bandages with purple hearts on them. On the bandages was this message: "It was just a self-inflicted scratch, but you see I got a Purple Heart for it." (Mr. Kerry was awarded three Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in Vietnam.)

    OK, now I understand why some people have such a visceral dislike of the holier-than-thou wing of the Republican Party.

  • Not that Swift Boat Veterans for Truth would think of demanding accountability from Mr. Kerry's opponent, but it has been 1,078 days since President Bush declared, seemingly with conviction, that he wanted Osama bin Laden "dead or alive."

  • Eugene Sanders, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, didn't get a job in Washington and is staying put. The district escaped "academic emergency." A new policy requiring students to wear uniforms took effect.

    August was a pretty good month for TPS, wasn't it?

    Factor in the $821 million capital improvements program, which will allow for dozens of new schools to be built over the next decade, and TPS appears ready for takeoff. Parents permitting, of course.

  • Loyal reader Mike, who lives in New Riegel, Ohio, questions whether taxpayers got their money's worth when Mr. Bush's campaign caravan rolled through northwest Ohio on Aug. 28. The cost for law-enforcement agencies exceeded $80,000.

    Mike was miffed that Mr. Bush didn't make the equivalent of a whistle-stop in Fostoria, where he and his family spent nearly two hours waiting in vain. (They left at 5 p.m. to attend a worship service.) "He doesn't have time to even get off the bus to wave and say thanks for coming out?"

    Two days later, Mike provided an update: "I got home from school today, and the answering machine had a taped message from George reminding me to vote and offer my support. Guess he felt bad for not being able to stop on his way through the county."