School board candidate keeps party's endorsement

Ruth Leonard, right, and Julian Mack, left.

Ruth Leonard, a candidate for Toledo Public Schools Board of Education, retained her endorsement from the Lucas County Democratic Party Monday after being cited in connection with an incident in which a passenger in her car allegedly yelled an obscenity at police.

The party’s executive committee had expected to reconsider Ms. Leonard’s endorsement at its meeting, but the committee met without the issue being raised, said party Chairman Joshua Hughes.

“Nobody brought it up,” Mr. Hughes said.

Ms. Leonard attended the meeting, though she was not allowed to stay in the closed-door session where her situation would have been discussed.

“I’m happy that it ended in my favor,” Ms. Leonard said.

Ms. Leonard, 31, a former librarian in a Toledo charter school, was accused in a police report of hitting her brakes quickly and nearly causing a crash while passing by police officers who were making an unrelated stop at Dorr Street and Lawrence Avenue on Sept. 20.

The person riding with her, Julian Mack, 33, is accused in a separate summons of yelling out the car window, “[Expletive] the police.” According to the summons, Mr. Mack shouted as the vehicle sped by the officer, almost causing a crash with other moving vehicles.

Ms. Leonard was cited for a fourth-degree misdemeanor of causing a risk of physical harm. She pleaded not guilty and the case was set for a pre-trial Oct. 24 in Toledo Municipal Court.

Shortly after the incident, Mr. Hughes said that, if the charges were proven, it would be “very concerning,” and said Ms. Leonard’s endorsement could be discussed and possibly withdrawn at Monday’s meeting.

Ms. Leonard is one of four candidates for three seats on the Toledo school board. The other three candidates are incumbents Polly Taylor-Gerken, Bob Vasquez, and Christine Varwig. Ms. Taylor-Gerken and Mr. Vasquez are also endorsed Democrats. Ms. Varwig is an unendorsed Democrat.

In other action, the party’s executive committee voted to endorse levy renewals on the ballot being sought by Toledo Public Schools and Metroparks Toledo.Toledo Public Schools is seeking renewal of a 6.5-mill, five-year levy that raises $13 million a year. Metroparks Toledo is seeking renewal of a 1.4-mill, 10-year levy that generates $9.8 million per year.

The committee heard arguments for and against Issue 2, a statewide ballot issue seeking to lower the prices of prescription drugs purchased by the state of Ohio, and decided to remain neutral.

Contact Tom Troy at tomtroy@theblade.com, 419-724-6058, or on Twitter @TomFTroy.