Ludeman wants to be a Toledo lawmaker again

6/13/2009

After a year and a half on the sidelines, former Toledo City Councilman Rob Ludeman said he will run for an at-large seat on council.

Mr. Ludeman, 56, a Republican, of 1865 Glen Ellyn Drive, said he's running to bring "common sense" to council.

Accompanied by his wife, Elaine, Mr. Ludeman yesterday picked up signature petitions from the Lucas County Board of Elections.

The deadline to file at least 250 valid signatures is July 17.

At least 27 other people are collecting petition signatures to run for council.

City Council's six at-large seats are on the ballot this year.

Mr. Ludeman said council should replace Democratic at-large Councilman Mark Sobczak, who is re-signing effective June 23, with someone who won't seek the seat in the election.

"Somebody, maybe from the business community, should jump in to spend the next six months trying to help fix the budget holes," Mr. Ludeman said.

"It's been very interesting to sit on the sidelines but it's been very frustrating. Common sense has been totally lacking the last year and a half," Mr. Ludeman said. "We need to concentrate on an economic development plan."

He said he would advocate for a commission to consider dropping the 0.75-percent renewable income tax in favor of another tax, such as a sales tax or property tax, that would be paid by a broader percentage of city residents.

"My campaign will be based on a solid business background," he said.

He recalled his previous service when he voted against the city takeover of basic life-support ambulance service and police tow-lot operations, and legislation curtailing land contracts and requiring pre-sale home inspections.

Mr. Ludeman was the major backer of legislation to license convenience stores, which some business owners have seen as excessive government involvement. He said the convenience store owners were comfortable with it - "until some attorneys got hold of them and decided they might have a shot at a lawsuit."

Mr. Ludeman was elected from District 2 in 1993 and regularly re-elected until 2007 when he was barred by charter term limits from running again. He was council president from January, 2006, to September, 2007.

Contact Tom Troy at:

tomtroy@theblade.com

or 419-724-6058.