Perrysburg mayor Olmstead announces re-election bid

7/14/2017

Perrysburg is already a great community, Michael Olmstead told his supporters gathered at Maddie and Bella Coffee Roasters in downtown Perrysburg, and it can be even greater.

“I got elected to do things and get things done, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” he said, announcing his re-election campaign for mayor Thursday evening.

Mr. Olmstead is running against Tom Mackin, a former councilman and the general counsel for the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority, and Jonathan Orser, a former city councilman and mayor.

The primary election will be held Sept. 12, with the top two vote-getters moving onto the general election on Nov. 7.

Mr. Olmstead was first elected to city council in 2005. He served two terms before running for mayor in 2013. A Perrysburg resident of more than 20 years, he is a licensed physical therapist, and the owner of Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center.

His speech emphasized what he considered the best things happening in Perrysburg today, including safety service improvements, newly renovated parks, and economic growth.

“It’s not just because of the mayor, but clearly the mayor has a role in it,” he said of the economic development. “In 2016, 67 percent of all new monies coming to Wood County came to Perrysburg. That didn’t happen by chance, that happens by design.”

There is more of that to come, he said, though the specifics are not yet set.

“We have a lot of exciting things we’re going to build on that we haven’t even begun to talk about at length,” he said. “We’ve seen nothing yet. The next four years are going to be incredible.”

Mr. Mackin, who resigned form city council in 2015 before the municipal election, said that much of the success Perrysburg has seen of late was the result of sticking to plans made long ago.

“These are from efforts that have been long in the works,” he said. “Good leadership acknowledges that.”

Mr. Orser was not immediately available for comment.

With the primary about two months away, Mr. Olmstead encouraged his supporters to get out the vote, and for anyone of any political party to go vote. Perrysburg’s elections are nonpartisan, so no party registration is required to vote in September.

“A lot of the time, decisions are made by 30 or 40 people,” he said. “I am not sitting back at all. You either run unopposed, or you run scared. I guarantee you I will not be out-campaigned.”

Contact Zack Lemon at: zlemon@theblade.com, 419-724-6282 or on Twitter @zack_lemon.