Article published November 01, 2009
TOLEDO: THE RACE FOR THE TOP JOB
Rivals for mayor offer city voters clear differences
Bell, Wilkowski have tangled over taxes during campaign
Endorsed Democrat Keith Wilkowski, left, and independent Mike Bell both have spent many years in public service.
(
THE BLADE
)
|
By TOM TROY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER
Toledo's fifth strong-mayor election takes place Tuesday, giving Toledoans a choice between two men with roots in city government - one whose background is in fighting fires, the other a veteran of the legal arena.
Mike Bell, 54, running as an independent, was city fire chief for 17 years. He faces endorsed Democrat Keith Wilkowski, 53, a lawyer in private practice who was city law director in the 1990s.
The current mayor, Democrat Carty Finkbeiner, isn't running for re-election.
Both candidates for mayor this year grew up in North Toledo and went to Woodward High School, even graduating in the same class - 1973. They played basketball in Mr. Wilkowski's driveway as teenagers.
And both men follow in the public service footsteps of their fathers - the late Arthur Wilkowski was a state representative from Toledo from1969 to 1983; Norman Bell was a city employee, ending his service as interim director of affirmative action.
But clear differences have emerged during the campaign.The Bell bio
Mr. Bell has emphasized making Toledo a place for business to thrive and has vowed to use skills he developed as fire chief and state fire marshal to create close-knit regional relationships.
Born in Louisiana, Mr. Bell moved here with his family when he was 5. He attended the University of Toledo on a football scholarship and obtained a degree in education.
He joined the fire department in 1980 and was a rescue diver, paramedic, and captain in the division's training bureau. In 1990, he was appointed chief, becoming Ohio's first black, big-city fire chief.
During his tenure, the department achieved national accreditation. In 2001, he led the effort to coordinate homeland security.
Mr. Bell became a well-known ambassador for the city in charitable organizations and fund-raising drives with such groups as the Boys and Girls Club and the American Red Cross.
He resigned as fire chief in 2007 and was appointed state fire marshal by Gov. Ted Strickland. Mr. Bell stepped down from that post in April.
A registered Democrat, Mr. Bell said he's running as an independent because freedom from political obligations will allow him more freedom in governing.The Wilkowski bio
Mr. Wilkowski said he would lead the city to take advantage of its role as a center for alternative energy research and manufacturing and said his work as a Lucas County commissioner and city law director trained him in economic development.
Mr. Wilkowski majored in history at Ohio State University and got his law degree attending night school at the University of Toledo. A lifelong resident of Toledo, he currently resides in Old Orchard, as does Mr. Bell.
Mr. Wilkowski married the former Barbara Martel in 1979. They have two sons and two daughters.
Mr. Wilkowski was one of the founding members 26 years ago of the Lagrange Street Polish Festival and has worked pro bono for community groups against convenience stores that sell drug paraphernalia.
He was elected to the Toledo Board of Education in 1983 and 1987. In 1988, he was elected to the Lucas County Board of Commissioners but stepped down in 1990.
While he was on the board, the commissioners attracted BAX Global, the air-shipping firm, to Toledo Express Airport. Also at that time, the board voted to raise the county sales tax from 1 percent to 1.5 percent, only to see the higher tax repealed by voters the following year.
As law director from 1990 to 1994, he headed the effort to establish joint economic development zones with Maumee, Monclova Township, and Rossford to share tax revenue generated in those zones. He said they yield $1 million a year for the city.
He was chairman of the Lucas County Democratic Party from 1994 to 1997 while continuing to work as a private-practice lawyer since 1994.
In 1997, Mr. Wilkowski also became Rossford's law director at a time when the city was trying to develop a sports arena. Mr. Wilkowski has said he gave good legal advice but that the project collapsed because of poor financial decisions.
In 2005, he ran for mayor, coming in third behind Carty Finkbeiner and incumbent Jack Ford in the primary.The campaign
Mr. Wilkowski and Mr. Bell emerged as the top vote-getters among a field of six candidates in the Sept. 15 primary, with Mr. Wilkowski about 600 votes ahead of Mr. Bell. The close vote has prompted the widespread belief that the election Tuesday will be close.
Mr. Bell and Mr. Wilkowski have tangled over taxes, with Mr. Wilkowski accusing his rival of planning to raise taxes.
Mr. Wilkowski has cited Mr. Bell's own words - in his campaign announcement Mr. Bell said raising taxes was "common sense."
Mr. Bell repeatedly has explained that he meant raising taxes is just one choice facing the city in resolving a persistent deficit and that he has heard from the public that it does not want a tax increase.
But he also has said he would be open to a tax increase if the public decides that the service cuts necessary to balance the budget are too deep.
Mr. Wilkowski has flatly ruled out support for a tax increase. He says the city must use technology and intergovernmental agreements to get the cost of government down to the level of its revenues.
Contact Tom Troy at:
tomtroy@theblade.com
or 419-724-6058.
Permanent Link
|
|
 |
|
Search
advertisement
