Toledoans not facing Finkbeiner fatigue, yet

10/22/2006

Nine bite-size Lemmon Drops to nibble on while waiting for Gov. Bob Taft to ride off into the sunset:

  • Carty Finkbeiner would easily defeat Jack Ford again in a rematch of the 2005 Toledo mayoral race, according to a Zogby International poll commissioned by The Blade and WTVG-TV, Channel 13.

    Apparently, absence doesn't always make the heart grow fonder.

    At least not after a year.

    Mr. Ford might fare better in Zogby's 2008 poll, assuming one is done, especially if Toledo is experiencing Carty fatigue as it did in 2001, at the end of his second term.

    Then again, if construction is wrapping up on the downtown arena and the Marina District, Mr. Finkbeiner might as well be unopposed in '09.

  • With the Toledo Sports Arena's 59th birthday approaching, I continue to be impressed by how Lucas County Commissioners Pete Gerken and Tina Skeldon Wozniak are leading the way to a new facility.

    Toledo has more than its share of naysayers partly because major projects are too often derailed.

    Mr. Gerken and Ms. Skeldon Wozniak seem determined not to let that happen this time. Maintaining momentum in a city as apathetic as Toledo is no easy task.

  • The proposal that would prohibit Toledo residents from putting their trash at the curb before 8 p.m. on days before collection is the biggest clunker I've seen in years. It might be doable during the summer, when it stays light past 9, but not during cold-weather months, when it's dark before 6:30 and icy conditions are possible. Talk about your accidents waiting to happen.

  • Say what you will about Mr. Ford's time as mayor, but Toledo wouldn't have a smoking ban today without him. It wouldn't have happened on Mr. Finkbeiner's watch.

  • The cheapest shot in a political ad this year? Betty Montgomery, who is running for Ohio attorney general, gets my vote.

    One of her TV ads insinuates that her Democratic opponent, Marc Dann, is unworthy of holding the office because he has provided legal defense for "child molesters."

    As loyal reader Dave put it: "Being counsel for a suspect, regardless of the crime, is to ensure due process and that the suspect's rights are not violated. I would hate to be in a criminal situation and have a lawyer refuse to defend me because he/she may have political aspirations."

  • The Blade-WTVG Zogby poll indicates a ballot measure to increase the county's hotel-motel tax to fund a downtown arena would have a tough time passing.

    What's not to like about a hotel-motel tax? I've made dozens of hotel reservations through the years, and not once has a city's lodging tax been a deal-breaker.

  • Not that they matched Wal-Mart or McDonald's in numbers, but I saw enough Bass Pro Shops (three) on a recent vacation to make me think that the one coming to Rossford will draw more people from near than far.

    Still, kudos to Rossford for reeling in a big retail fish.

  • Memo to Ohio's state legislators: The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board voted last week to eliminate tolls on a long stretch of the roadway. If the proposal is approved next month, only roads in metropolitan Boston will still have tolls.

  • Oh, for the days when at least the weekend World Series games were played in daylight.

    Heck, I'd be happy if the games ended before 10 p.m.