Covey is 1st candidate to file Toledo mayoral petitions

Toledo mayoral candidate Opal Covey said she wore a yellow blouse to signify gold and a green pantsuit to represent cash that would flow from her idea for a roller coaster in Promenade Park.

Opal Covey Monday came in first for mayor of Toledo - in filing her candidate petitions.

Ms. Covey, who ran a distant fifth for mayor in the 2005 primary election, Monday became the first candidate to file to run for mayor of Toledo in the Sept. 15 primary.

She used the opportunity to promote her pet project of building an amusement park in Promenade Park downtown.

Also filing Monday were two candidates for city council under the banner of Teamwork Toledo: Tricia Lyons and John Adams, Jr. They became the last of five candidates running on the Teamwork Toledo slate to turn in their petitions.

Ms. Lyons, 43, and Mr. Adams, 33, said they are registered Republicans but are running as independents to avoid party entanglement.

Teamwork Toledo, which came together after a rally April 15 in International Park to speak out against higher federal taxes, initially formed as a slate of six people. One candidate, David Washington, has dropped out and is running as an independent.

The deadline for candidates seeking to get on the city's primary ballot is Friday.

Ms. Covey, 68, of South Toledo, is a church minister who calls herself a prophetess. She is running as an independent. She said Toledo's collection of sports venues, museums, hotels, restaurants, and other tourist attractions is a gold mine that would be refined with the addition of an amusement park to Promenade Park.

She said she wore a yellow blouse to signify the gold to be mined and a green pantsuit to represent the cash that would flow from the investment she would make as mayor in a "Paradise Amusement Park" with a roller coaster.

"I call it a gold mine because we have to work it. It will keep us in prosperity," Ms. Covey said.

Ms. Covey received 111 votes in 2005, out of nearly 42,000 cast. She also ran in 2001, garnering 384 votes out of 51,135 cast.

She turned in petitions bearing 1,467 signatures. The deadline to file petitions signed by at least 750 registered Toledo voters is Friday. Ms. Covey is the first of about 20 people who have taken out blank petition forms for mayor to turn in the completed forms.

The next step is for the Lucas County Board of Elections to certify the candidates to the ballot.

Contact Tom Troy at:

tomtroy@theblade.com

or 419-724-6058.