toledoblade.com --

Mayor-elect Mike Bell ran as a political independent on the theory that he'll be able to work with politicians of all stripes, and so far that seems to be the expectation of council members and Lucas County political power brokers.

"From everything I know about Mayor-elect Bell, he has a much more inclusive management style than Mayor [Carty] Finkbeiner," Council President Joe McNamara said. "There is really bad communication between [Government Center floors] 21 and 22 and it can only get better. It has to get better."

Mr. McNamara was a supporter of endorsed Democratic Keith Wilkowski, but said it would be inappropriate to carry a political grudge.

"That's not an option for me. The voters have spoken and this is the person they expect me to work with," he said.

On the surface, Mr. Bell might expect a politically tense relationship with the eight Democrats on the 12-member council because he ran without the Democratic Party's backing and defeated its endorsed candidate.

Councilman D. Michael Collins, an independent, said he's not sure that won't happen.

"It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out because clearly Mayor-elect Bell was a loyal Democrat," Mr. Collins said. "Whether that will have an effect on his ability to deal with eight council members who were clearly in the Wilkowski camp remains to be seen. It will also be interesting to see if there is a symbolic reach across the table and shake hands and bring Mayor-elect Bell into the party."

In an interview on Wednesday, the day after winning the election and before taking a vacation to an undisclosed location, Mr. Bell reiterated that he intends to include council in decision-making.

"I think you run into trouble with other members who have been elected when you choose to make your own agenda without making them inclusive of it," Mr. Bell said.

"If I am truly talking about team play and the things I'm talking about doing are absolutely for the citizens and not me personally, then the resistance to being able to move forward I think can be minimized," Mr. Bell said.

Others agreed that political feuding is to be avoided.

Councilman Michael Ashford of District 4 said, "Regardless if you are a Democrat or an endorsed Democrat or an endorsed Republican, I can safely say everyone on council wants to move the city forward. That's our No. 1 priority. I don't think anybody's thinking about four years from now."

Ron Rothenbuhler, Lucas County Democratic Party chairman, said he wants the elected officials to work together.

"I have his cell phone number and when he gets back from his vacation, I am going to contact him and I have made it well known I am going to work with him and ask him to work with us," Mr. Rothenbuhler said. "The only way to succeed is find common ground."

Peter Silverman, a Wil-
kowski supporter and chairman of the Democratic Party Central Committee, also predicted no political backlash.

"My best guess is that Bell's going to focus on being a unifier and won't focus on party politics. I think he's going to get along very well with council," Mr. Silverman said. But, "If all of a sudden Mike abandons his 'I want to be a unifier,' and tries to control the party, I'm sure there'll be push-back."

Two of Mr. Bell's campaign advisers also said Mr. Bell will try to govern through unity rather than confrontation.

John Irish, a former Lucas County Democratic Party chairman who helped conduct Mr. Bell's general election campaign, said he doesn't think Mr. Bell will use his position to try to control council appointments. "I absolutely don't think that's something he wants to get involved in," Mr. Irish said.

Tom Crothers, the Downtown Toledo Improvement District's executive director, recalled Mr. Bell's promise to work with council as a board of directors. "There is no question in my mind that Mike Bell will work as effectively as anybody with council," Mr. Crothers said. "I'm confident that he will succeed in that regard."

One Democrat who endorsed Mr. Wilkowski but will be quick to bury the political hatchet is Councilman Lindsay Webb. She said Mr. Bell's father, Norman Bell, chaired her campaign for council.

"He was duly elected and he has my wholehearted support," Ms. Webb said. "I see Mike Bell as being a strong leader, and a straight shooter. A new day has dawned. I really do not see the kind of crazy tension we've seen on council."

Rob Ludeman, a Republican who was elected Tuesday to an at-large seat, said, "I think Mike will work well with the full council. I think he will be a good leader and a good mediator."

Staff Writer Ignazio Messina contributed to this report.

Contact Tom Troy at:
tomtroy@theblade.com
or 419-724-6058.

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