toledoblade.com --

Pam Haynam charged in last night's live televised debate that George Sarantou is running for Lucas County commissioner just to set himself up for a run for mayor of Toledo.

"George, you sat next to me the night of the filing deadline and stated that you were running for county commissioner to best position yourself to be mayor," said Ms. Haynam, a Sylvania school board member.

"I did not," responded Mr. Sarantou, a Toledo city councilman. "What I have said consistently is that there are three jobs that I really think offer a great opportunity for public service: councilman, commissioner, and mayor. That's what I said. You have misinterpreted what I've said."

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Republican debate
• Debate Part 1
• Debate Part 2
• Debate Part 3
• Debate Part 4

Democrat debate
• Debate Part 1
• Debate Part 2
• Debate Part 3

Asked whether either candidate intended to be a full-term commissioner or would use the position to seek a higher office, Ms. Haynam and Mr. Sarantou became poker-faced.

"I will pledge to serve all four years of my term," said Ms. Haynam.

"I'm planning on serving all four years as a county commissioner," Mr. Sarantou said.

"Planning or pledging?" Ms. Haynam asked.

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The tiff epitomized a bitter debate between the two Republicans, who sparred on taxes and economic development. Republican Maggie Thurber chose not to seek re-election, opening a seat on the three-member board of commissioners and leading to a competitive primary election.

In a recent Blade-Zogby International poll, 36 percent of likely Republican voters said they intend to vote for Mr. Sarantou, compared with 16 percent for Ms. Haynam. The margin is large but not insurmountable. More than 45 percent of voters are undecided.

Ms. Haynam repeated her claim at the debate that Mr. Sarantou is not a "real Republican," which she defined as someone who believes in "limited government," "lower taxes," and "individual freedom."

She said that Mr. Sarantou betrayed conservative ideals by voting to increase Toledo's special assessment tax, which pays for snow removal and other services, by more than 30 percent in this year's city budget.

"George, you raised taxes $4.4 million in the last six weeks without a vote of the people," Ms. Haynam said. "That's taxation without representation."

Mr. Sarantou disputed this claim, saying Ms. Haynam based her conclusion on an unrealistic, worst-case scenario.

"The facts are that assessments have only gone up less than 1 percent per year over the last 10 years," he said.

The Republican candidates' debate was sponsored by The Blade and WTVG-Channel 13.

Blade politics writer Jim Tankersley, who co-moderated the debate with WTVG 13 anchor Lee Conklin, noted that Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush increased taxes during their presidencies and asked Ms. Haynam if they too squandered their GOP credentials.

"Other than George Sarantou, can you name me a Republican who is not real?" Mr. Tankersley said.

She couldn't.

Both candidates discussed the types of companies and jobs they hoped to bring to the county if elected.

"How about Dell Computers?" said Ms. Haynam, a business consultant. "The kind of jobs that require a college education and that can provide health benefits and more than a living wage."

Ms. Haynam said that low taxes and restrained government would nurture a pro-business environment.

Out of the county's $138 million annual budget, her lone suggestion to reduce government's size was to eliminate a $130,000 discretionary fund for commissioners, roughly one-tenth of 1 percent of county expenditures.

Mr. Sarantou, a financial planner, said a unified marketing strategy would entice businesses to move to Lucas County, despite the recent and apparently unsuccessful attempt to bring retailer Bass Pro to the downtown Toledo waterfront.

"What we need to do is work more together, go out and aggressively seek those companies, especially companies that are located in distressed areas, high-crime areas, high-unemployment areas, areas where they are not pleased with the services they are getting from their governmental structure," Mr. Sarantou said.

Proud of his ability to work with others, Mr. Sarantou could not identify a single policy supported by the two current Democratic county commissioners that he would overturn.

"There probably would have been several, but again my mind has been on City Hall," he said.

When it comes to Mr. Sarantou's efforts on City Council, Ms. Haynam charged that the credit he has taken for working with other elected officials to keep the GM Powertrain factory in Toledo is a charade.

"George saying he was at the table is sort of like having a fan at Fifth Third Field watching the game saying that he was contributing to the pitcher throwing a no-hitter," she said.

Referring to a "frivolous" 2002 lawsuit filed by Ms. Haynam that cost the Sylvania School District $23,504, Mr. Sarantou said his opponent would struggle to collaborate with other county officials.

"It's kind of interesting when you've got a majority of Republicans on that Sylvania school board that Pam can't get along with," he said. "How is she going to get along with the majority Democrats in Lucas County?"

Contact Joshua Boak at: jboak@theblade.com or 419-724-6728.

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