Carty, of course, called the recall effort "selfish." This is his normal reaction to such criticism - make a personal attack on the individuals by calling them a name and attempt to cast shame on them because they're not doing what he is - like begging for money for the auto bailout.
It's a major endeavor to recall a Toledo mayor, because of the requirements of the charter, but the best aspect of the effort is the fact that a group of businessmen and woman have taken such an initiative.
During my terms of office, I would often approach business owners and CEOs and ask them support initiatives or idea. While they said they would do so privately, they wouldn't stand in public because of what they believed was assuredly the retaliation that would result. They didn't want to risk upsetting the Democrat elected officials who were in the majority in Lucas County and Toledo, nor The Blade, who has a reputation for attacking those who challenge what the publisher wants.
Take Back Toledo is about more than just recalling Carty, with a goal "to foster a pro-business, pro-jobs and pro-economic development climate in Northwestern Ohio." They say, on their website, that the business community has abdicated its leadership responsibilities which allowed media, unions and political parties to fill the void.
They have four goals on their website:
1) The Recall of City of Toledo Mayor Carlton Finkbeiner.
2) Finding and supporting a mayoral candidate who can lead Toledo into the future it deserves.
3) We will be examining the need for possible amendments to the City of Toledo charter.
4) Finally, we are forming a Political Action Committee.
I can only imagine the numbers of good people who might have sought public office - and the good, business-friendly polices we might have - had such a group existed over the past 10-15 years.
But I have numerous questions about the recall effort and plan to speak to some of the group members to get answers ... I'll post about that when I do.
UPDATE: the website is owned by
Registrant:
Robert Sledge
po 345
toledo
toledo, Ohio 43604
United States
Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: TAKEBACKTOLEDO.COM
Created on: 17-May-08
Expires on: 17-May-10
Last Updated on: 19-Nov-08
5 comments:
Maggie - I think it is great that a group of businesses have finally decided to stand up and speak out about issues of great concern to our community. Without businesses, there is no sales tax revenue, property tax revenue, income tax revenue, life squad billing revenue, transfer tax revenue, (and all the other ways they figure out to tax us) because no one would have a job and thus couldn't afford to live here.
But, I have to say I was disappointed when I visited their website and saw an article with this stuff in it:
-- "A Pantload of Negativity"
-- "Mayor Carleton 'S for Brains' Finkbeiner"
-- "his smarmy little army of lobotomized myrmidons"
-- "(Imagine the next few lines printed in crayon)"
If this campaign is to be treated seriously, especially by others in the business community who may be looking to this group for encouragement, safety in numbers, and support, the campaign has to act professionally and respectfully while conducting their campaign to take back Toledo.
If they want to point out the mayor's shortcomings and how he has failed in his job as mayor, that is fine. But leave the name-calling out of this campaign.
Excellent point, DeeDee.
I must admit I've not read through everything on their website because I'm travelling home from DC today and have been busy in meetings, etc.
There are right ways and wrong ways to do things. I hope the business leaders who are behind this effort will be professional in this campaign.
The funny thing is, that column is Brian Wilson's. It is also in the Free Press this weekend.
There's a way to argue and debate unemotionally and professionally.
Cassie - as the Take Back Toledo website doesn't provide the author, it wasn't until late this afternoon that I realized that column was by Brian Wilson and was also in the Free Press.
Thanks for the clarification.
TFP online update...T Pounds not part of recall effort....
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