Flyer critical of Kest left on cars in parking lots

11/5/2001

A flyer critical of Toledo mayoral candidate Ray Kest and apparently attached to parked vehicles at The Andersons and Franklin Park Mall yesterday has raised the ire of Kest campaign members.

Mr. Kest's opponent, state Rep. Jack Ford, said neither he nor anyone in his campaign knows anything about the flyer. No one has claimed responsibility for the piece.

In the flyer, a headline asks: “Is this the image of what you want in your next mayor?” Nine headlines from past articles in The Blade related to problems the Lucas County treasurer has had are then printed on the gold-colored flyer. An image of Mr. Kest also is printed and a union-printed stamp is at the bottom of the page.

“It's dirty politics,” said Mr. Kest's wife, Sherry. “So much for a clean campaign.”

“I had not heard anything about the piece,” said Mr. Ford. “I have not wanted anything [negative] that would even hint coming from our side. I don't think we would need to do that.”

Said Jim Ruvolo, one of Mr. Ford's campaign organizers: “We had nothing to do with it. It's not from our campaign. We have avoided all of that during the campaign and continue to avoid it.”

Officials at The Andersons and the mall could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, a flyer critical of Mr. Ford's positions on unions and healthcare benefits of city employees has been circulating in North Toledo's Ward 3, according to Jim Harmon, a Ford supporter and former mayoral candidate. Mr. Harmon said he found the flyer on his doorstep.

No one has claimed responsibility for the flyer, which includes an unflattering picture of Mr. Ford and says that Mr. Kest is labor's choice.

Mr. Kest said he is not aware of the flyer, but he agrees with its contents.