36 throw hat into ring for Toledo council seat
12/3/2012Revised to reflect names of applicants.
Seven people have applied to the Lucas County Democratic Party for its endorsement and 29 people have applied directly to Toledo City Council for an impending vacancy on council.
The applicants for the Lucas County Democratic Party's endorsement are former Toledo Mayor Jack Ford; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' union organizer Shaun Enright; Jason Schreiner, a 2011 city council candidate; Michael Dearth, a Block Watch leader; Stephen Meehan, a Lucas County sheriff's deputy, and Harold Mosley, a Toledo police officer and sergeant-at-arms for council.
The vacancy is for the seat held by Phillip Copeland, a Democratic at-large councilman who was elected in November to the post of Lucas County recorder. He is expected to resign to be sworn in as recorder on Jan. 7 and council is expected to hold a vote to fill his position Jan. 8.
The party's screening committee meets today to interview the candidates. The party's executive committee will vote to endorse a candidate for city council's approval on Dec. 20.
The party's endorsement is expected to carry weight among the Democrats who have a majority on the 11-member council that will remain after Mr. Copeland's resignation and who will vote to fill Mr. Copeland's seat until elections next fall. The winner will need at least 6 votes, according to council's rules, Council President Joe McNamara said.
Applications were also being accepted by the clerk of council. As of Friday, applications had been received from 29 people.