For the record, no spandex, leg-warmers, or magenta tights were in sight when Lucas County commissioners met yesterday. So with 325 pounds on his 5-foot-9-inch frame, the county's new "weight loss czar" stood before commissioners and stated the obvious: He is no Jane Fonda.
That's just the point. Andrew Zepeda, known as Andrew "Z" on his 92.5 WVKS morning show, said that experiencing firsthand the tribulations of losing weight will help him push residents to achieve the county's goal of dropping a total of a million pounds in 2009.
"Why not somebody that's in shape?," Mr. Zepeda asked aloud. "It's because I'm going through the struggles that everybody goes through on a daily basis. Every meal is a struggle that you don't overeat."
The commissioners seemed convinced and voted 3-0 to appoint him the county's first such czar. Mr. Zepeda lost about 80 pounds in the past 12 months through diet, exercise, and a surgical procedure and is trying to lose more.
Commissioner Ben Konop said Mr. Zepeda's appointment is the first step in a comprehensive weight-loss program for residents, with more details to come this month.
The program will have a jingly theme: "Looking fine in 2009."
"This is a pretty ambitious program for Lucas County," said Mr. Konop, who noted that statistically, each citizen would have to lose just over 2 pounds to achieve the million-pound goal.
In other matters, Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak announced she plans to step aside next week as commissioners' president after four years.
"I wanted to let somebody else have the opportunity," Ms.
Wozniak said.
Commissioner Pete Gerken expressed interest in taking the largely titular position, which requires a majority vote among the three commissioners.
"I think I could bring some leadership equal to Tina's," Mr. Gerken said after the meeting.
Asked later about whether he is interested in the presidency, Mr. Konop downplayed the significance of the position and said he couldn't foresee his colleagues electing him.
"You can't do anything more as president as you can as commissioner," he said. "You gavel the meeting - that's it." Permanent Link
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