Village prepares for the brother of all mayoral races

Siblings square off for top job

Elmore Mayor Lowell Krumnow, 54, walks past his brother James, 58, a village councilman, who is being interviewed after a meet-the-candidates forum. Both are Republicans running in a nonpartisan race.

THE BLADE/LORI KING
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Elmore Mayor Lowell Krumnow, 54, walks past his brother James, 58, a village councilman, who is being interviewed after a meet-the-candidates forum. Both are Republicans running in a nonpartisan race.

ELMORE -- Oh, brother. Now they both want to be mayor.

Voters in the village of Elmore will cast ballots Nov. 8 for Mr. Krumnow or Mr. Krumnow -- either Lowell, the incumbent mayor, or James, a councilman who wants to unseat his sibling.

Councilman Krumnow said he's running against his brother at the request of some residents in the Ottawa County community, population roughly 1,400. The village is ready for a change, ready for a fresh face, Councilman Krumnow said.

Not so, said the mayor, who thinks folks are fine with his leadership.

When it comes to local politics, the brothers share the same last name. Otherwise, there isn't much common ground.

"They are polar opposites," said Councilman Rick Claar, punching his fist into the palm of his hand to punctuate how the brothers butt heads from time to time. "Lowell is very progressive. He tries to do different things. Jim does not like to see change. He likes the status quo."

Neither brother blasted each other during a recent meet-the-candidates night in Elmore, an event that drew fewer than a dozen audience members. But when asked about similarities and differences, the Krumnows take verbal jabs at each other as they spar in the political, and personal, ring.

Mr. Krumnow, the mayor since 1992, described his relationship with James as courteous, and said they do "communicate" with each other.

The brothers got along fine growing up, Lowell said.

His brother didn't disagree with that assessment but said when there was work to be done, such as fixing the roof on the family's house, Lowell always had other things to do. And it was James who climbed the ladder and pounded nails into shingles, he said.

Lowell responded, "We all have different talents."

Mayor Krumnow said he can't name exactly when the "straw broke the camel's back," but the blood relatives haven't been close for awhile and they typically don't spend major family holidays, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, together.

"The last few years solidified our opposing views. I am a progressive. My brother wants limited government with only the very, very basic services," the mayor said.

Mayor Krumnow, 54, who is employed in sanitation at Kraft Foods' Nabisco Flour Mill in Toledo, said his brother doesn't regularly attend council or committee meetings. Councilman Krumnow said his job, working nights in maintenance at H.J. Heinz in Fremont, comes first, but that he attends most council meetings.

Councilman Krumnow, who is in his second year of a four-year term, contended that his brother takes advantage of his mayoral position, too often using Elmore employees or equipment to help put on local events. Mayor Krumnow, however, said any civic group, church, or school can ask for village assistance. "We charge everyone the same amount … nothing."

Founder and president of the Elmore Historical Society, the mayor is involved in several community events, such as the upcoming Tombstone Derby. Mayor Krumnow, who has long said his house is haunted, is credited with scaring up the idea for the annual derby, featuring casket races.

"My ideas bring people to the community and benefit the downtown, businesses, and residents. We want an active community. Not a community with nothing to do," the mayor said, adding he works with others to accomplish goals. "Jim is not as willing to compromise. If you always stand firm, you end up as a short-term politician."

Councilman Krumnow said he considers himself a public servant and described his brother as a politician with the gift of gab.

On the flip side, Mayor Krumnow said his brother needs to speak up more during discussions about local issues that include the proposed creation of a joint economic development zone to help pump up Elmore's tax base. He supports the proposal; brother James said he would rather focus on what is now, not what-ifs.

"The JED would cost millions. We do not have millions. We cannot afford a lot of speculation," the councilman said. "I'm more conservative. We should take care of the basics. Electricity, water and sewer, streets. We need to keep up and maintain what we have. There is a cost to everything."

Elected officials must avoid unnecessary expenditures, particularly at a time when some residents cannot afford basic services, Councilman Krumnow said, noting the village recently sent 18 shut-off notices to customers at least three months behind on electric bill payments.

"That is a record. It is an indicator that things are really rough."

On the ballot, sibling rivalry is somewhat rare. JoAnn Friar, director of the Ottawa County Board of Elections, said she couldn't recall any recent elections when brothers faced off for the same seat. "It is one of those election anomalies," she said.

Elmore, about 20 miles southeast of Toledo, pays its councilmen $3,000 a year and its mayor $4,000.

"I do this to serve the community and give something back," Mayor Krumnow said. "I do not do this for the money."

Mayor Lowell Krumnow, left, and his brother James, a councilman, are at opposite ends of the table as Doug Perkins addresses a forum.

Neither does his brother.

Councilman Krumnow, 58, said he hasn't accepted a dime of his council pay.

He said he gives the money to a church, a local food bank, or to the fireworks fund.

Less than three weeks before the election, neither Mayor Krumnow nor Councilman Krumnow had posted any yard signs.

The brothers said they really don't need their names plastered on placards.

"Elmore is a small town," Councilman Krumnow said. "Everyone knows us."

Contact Janet Romaker at: jromaker@theblade.com or 419-724-6006.