Wilkowski to make last-ditch TV push

Democrat Keith Wilkowski will launch a $90,000 television advertising campaign tomorrow, in a last-ditch effort to make the Sept. 13 cut in the Toledo mayor's race.

The attorney and former county commissioner said a fund-raising surge over the last month made the move possible. He said he would report today that he has raised about $150,000 from July 1 to Aug. 24.

Mr. Wilkowski will have company on the air. Mayor Jack Ford has broadcast ads most of the month and will spend $55,000 on television through the primary election, his campaign manager said.

A spokesman for Carty Finkbeiner said the former mayor would launch a $50,000 television campaign next Wednesday, though he has not reserved the time yet.

The other major candidate, Councilman Rob Ludeman, said yesterday he did not plan to advertise before the primary.

Mr. Wilkowski said he was "very pleased" with his fund-raising, though he continues to trail Mr. Ford, who had nearly $370,000 on hand in July. Mr. Ford's campaign had not finished tallying his post-July 1 contributions yesterday evening.

Mr. Finkbeiner raised almost $100,000 through Aug. 24, his spokesman said, and tacked on nearly $50,000 more in the last few days.

Mr. Ludeman said he had filed his finance report yesterday and could not remember how much he had raised.

Recent polls show Mr. Finkbeiner well ahead of his rivals in the nonpartisan primary, leaving Mr. Ford, Mr. Wilkowski, and Mr. Ludeman in a fight for second place.

Contact Jim Tankersley at:

jtankersley@theblade.com

or 419-724-6134.