Mayoral candidates keep campaigning

Hopefuls visit festivals, neighborhoods as primary looms Tuesday

Toledo mayoral candidate Joe McNamara talks with Dorothy Murchison while campaigning at Ruby's Kitchen Sunday, 09/09/13, in Toledo, Ohio.

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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Toledo Mayor Mike Bell greets Mike and Koula Yakumithis Sunday, 09/09/13, at the Greek Festival in Toledo.

Most of Toledo's mayoral candidates put in another full day on the campaign trail today seeking to persuade undecided voters and remind decided voters to vote on Tuesday.

Toledo mayoral candidate Anita Lopez leaves the Teamster's Hall to some campaigning, Sunday, 09/09/13, in Toledo, Ohio.

Mayor Mike Bell walked door-to-door in West Toledo and then took in the Greek-American Festival where he sampled the Greek beverage mavrodaphne.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mayoral candidates campaign

Toledo mayoral candidate Joe McNamara talks with Dorothy Murchison while campaigning at Ruby's Kitchen Sunday, 09/09/13, in Toledo, Ohio.

"To be the mayor you've got to like people," Mr. Bell said. "I like people, so going out, talking to people, being among them, at the Greek-American Festival, at church, it's actually fun." He walked a West Toledo neighborhood near Sylvania Avenue and Douglas Road with volunteers.

Toledo Mayoral Candidate D. Michael Collins while campaigning in Ragan Woods.

Mr. Bell, a political independent, is seeking re-election to a second four-year term. He and six other people are on the ballot Tuesday to narrow down the field to two candidates who will face off Nov. 5 during the general election. An eighth candidate is a certified write-in.

Polls open Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Voting is also taking place in Lucas County for Toledo and Maumee city councils and there is a liquor option on the ballot in Maumee precinct 8.

Democratic candidate Joe McNamara, a city councilman, visited three African-American churches with new supporter former Mayor Jack Ford, and also planned a visit to the Greek-American festival. "I'm telling people that Jack Ford has endorsed me. He's been a phenomenal member of the community, he'll be a great member of council," Mr. McNamara said.

Independent Councilman D. Michael Collins, who is the councilman in District 2, attended the festival downtown and then knocked on doors in the Ragan Woods neighborhood of South Toledo. He said the "sweat equity" of his volunteers has made him a credible candidate in this election.

"Being a true independent that's the only way to compete to the end, and I think this committee has done an outstanding job," Mr. Collins said.

Democrat Anita Lopez, the Lucas County auditor, met with supporters at the Teamsters hall in South Toledo prior to launching into some door-to-door campaigning. She visited a central city church, spoke to the Latino Club at St. Francis de Sales High School, and squeezed in time to watch her grade-school-age sons play in a Catholic Youth Organization football game.

"We're positive and we're building up momentum every day and now we're just making sure folks get out and vote to support us," Ms. Lopez said.

Candidate Michael Konwinski, a Libertarian who hasn't gotten the exposure his better-funded opponents had, said he's done as much campaigning as he could, and stayed home to watch the Detroit Lions football game.

"It's kind of a severely uphill struggle," said Mr. Konwinski, a retired finance worker for the city. "What I've done is what's going to be." He said he's running because he wants to correct the city's financial problems.

Candidates on the ballot in Tuesday's election include Alan Cox, a city neighborhood development specialist and political independent, and Opal Covey, an evangelist and unendorsed Republican.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.