Fostoria mayor eyeing county post

1/13/2010

FOSTORIA - Fresh from helping defeat a proposal to have the city run by a professional manager, Fostoria Mayor John Davoli is to announce today his plan to run for Wood County commissioner.

Mr. Davoli, who changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent for the 2007 mayoral election, has scheduled five news conferences across the county to announce his plans to challenge three-term Republican Tim Brown in November. Mr. Brown said yesterday he intends to seek re-election in November; a formal announcement will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

Mr. Davoli served two terms on Fostoria City Council before being elected mayor in 1999. In November, he campaigned to defeat amendments to the city charter that would have altered Fostoria's form of government from strong mayor to a city manager.

Although the change would not have taken effect until Mr. Davoli's term ended Jan. 1, 2012, he said he took the proposal as a slam on him and his administration. The measure, which was proposed by some members of City Council, was defeated by a slim margin.

Fostoria is in three counties, primarily Seneca County, with small portions in Hancock and Wood counties. Mr. Davoli lives in the Wood County portion and has served as president of the Wood County Mayors Association.

He plans news conferences at 8 a.m. today at Fostoria City Hall, 10 a.m. in front of Hoytville Village Hall; noon in front of the Old Town Hall in Grand Rapids; 2 p.m. in front of Northwood City Hall, and 4 p.m. outside the Wood County courthouse in Bowling Green.