Perrysburg voters to choose city’s next mayor
Republicans Laura Hummer, Mike Olmstead vie in general election Nov. 5
7/1/2000
Hummer
Nelson Evans’ eight-year stint as mayor of Perrysburg will end on Dec. 31, and his replacement will be decided Nov. 5 by voters who will cast ballots for Republican candidates Laura Hummer or Mike Olmstead.
Nelson Evans’ eight-year stint as mayor of Perrysburg will end on Dec. 31, and his replacement will be decided Nov. 5 by voters who will cast ballots for Republican candidates Laura Hummer or Mike Olmstead.
It will be the first time either candidate has run for mayor. Here are profiles of the two candidates.
Hummer
Laura Hummer
Mrs. Hummer, 52, grew up in Perrysburg Township and went to Rossford High School. A registered nurse, she works at St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee. She received her RN degree from the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing and is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing from Ohio University. In addition, she is operations manager for the Haas Business Center LLC and Sandalwood Corp., commercial and residential property development and management firms in the Perrysburg area.
This is her first time as a candidate.
“I’ve been an RN for 30 years. I’ve worked in a family business. I’m a wife, mother, daughter, and I think an average citizen should get involved in a government position,” she said. “My agenda is whatever my fellow citizens’ agenda is.”
She said she is running because many people feel disaffected toward the government. Mrs. Hummer said she wanted to show voters how you can get involved and that the government needs to “get away from career politicians and back to regular citizens.”
She has four children. Her husband is Mark Hummer, Lake Township’s police chief.
Mrs. Hummer said if elected she wants to address Perrysburg’s water contract with Toledo that expires in 2027. She wants to explore options, including public and private consolidation, to see whether it would be cost-effective to make changes before then. She also wants to change Perrysburg's “lousy” voting turnout.
“Perrysburg is a phenomenal community,” she said. “We live in a great city with services unparalleled.”
Olmstead
Mike Olmstead
Mr. Olmstead, 49, grew up in Maumee and is the president of Performance of Pain Physical Therapy in Perrysburg. He has been on city council for eight years. He has a degree in physical therapy from Ohio University and has had a private practice in the Perrysburg area since 1996, when he moved to Perrysburg.
The councilman said his two vital strengths are seeing the ups and downs of owning a business and as councilman, seeing “how the government works and doesn’t work.”
He has three children.
Mr. Olmstead sees growth as a continuing challenge for Perrysburg.
“Growth has always been an important issue; some people want it and some don’t,” he said. “Managing the growth is an economic vitality to the area. The best quality of life is an economically sound [community].”
Mr. Olmstead said he believes small business maintains growth.
“The small-business man is at the heart of the economic engine,” he said. “They take the risk, and the big part of that is to stay out of the way.”
He praises Mayor Evans for building a great foundation for Perrysburg and said he wants to take it to the next level.