Sylvania council choices include 2 new faces

10/25/2007

There are five seats on Sylvania City Council that are up for election next month, but only one new face will be among the group after the November election.

Four incumbents are unopposed in the race. Two people, each running in their first election, are vying for the fifth spot.

Katie Cappellini is running on a "rock the boat" premise to push a council and administration that she says is not responsive enough to citizen complaints and wishes.

Richard Summers is a candidate from the eastern part of the city and a member of Sylvania's board of zoning appeals.

Ms. Cappellini said her first experience with the city was when her children were old enough to go to Burnham Park, near their home, and she noticed that the wooden play structures were old and splintered.

It took three years and a petition with more than 150 names before new equipment was purchased and installed, Ms. Cappellini said.

The candidate said she has attended nearly all city council meetings since then and doesn't think there is enough responsiveness to citizens and not enough planning once the city does take action.

Ms. Cappellini founded and operated a restaurant chain in California and sold that and other investments to make a home in Sylvania.

She said she will be able to devote all the time needed to council duties if elected.

Mr. Summers, computer network administrator at the Toledo Zoo, has been a resident of the Sylvania area for 35 years and said that living on the east side of the city will allow him to present a somewhat different view as a member of council.

He said it's been years since anyone east of Harroun Road has been a council member.

Mr. Summers has been active in local political activity for a decade, but is quick to say that he doesn't always endorse the actions of the council or the administration.

He said he will act as a council member in the best interests of the community, adding that though he is a resident of Sylvania, he lived for many years in the township and understands the sometimes contentious interaction between the two governments.

Because of that perspective, Mr. Summers said, he could work toward making the two governments act more cooperatively.