Police, fire unions endorse Collins for Toledo mayor

D. Michael Collins, independent candidate for Toledo mayor, center, is endorsed by Dan Wagner, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, left, and Capt. Jeffrey A. Romstadt, president of Toledo Firefighters Local 92, right, during a news conference at the Toledo Police Patrolman's Union Hall.

In a move that could mean a boost to his campaign, mayoral candidate D. Michael Collins has picked up the endorsements of Toledo's two largest public safety unions.

Representatives of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association and the Toledo Firefighters Local 92 announced their support for Mr. Collins this morning at the police union hall on Franklin Avenue.

Mr. Collins, a retired police officer, was president of the police patrolman's union for 10 years and was an outspoken opponent of Senate Bill 5/Issue 2 in 2011, the bill that would have weakened public employee union's ability to bargain collectively. It was defeated in a referendum after a campaign in which Local 92 was one of the most active opponents.

Mr. Collins is a district councilman and a political independent. He is one of seven people whose names will appear on the nonpartisan primary ballot Sept. 10. The others are incumbent independent Mayor Michael Bell, Democrat Councilman Joe McNamara, Democrat Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez, independent Alan Cox, Libertarian Michael Konwinski, and unendorsed Republican Opal Covey.