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Regionalization is a two-way street, say Toledoans who, justifiably or not, have gotten their backs up against the proposed Toledo Area Water Authority. The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and Toledo’s suburban neighbors have made Toledo into an enemy of regionalization in this campaign to make water a regional service. In that view, Toledo is the barrier to true regional cooperation because… → Read More
Regionalization is a two-way street, say Toledoans who, justifiably or not, have gotten their backs up against the proposed Toledo Area Water Authority. The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and Toledo’s suburban neighbors have made Toledo into an enemy of regionalization in this campaign to make water a regional service. In that view, Toledo is the barrier to true regional cooperation because… → Read More
Lucas County Republicans better hope that former state senator and representative Mark Wagoner succeeds in his effort to have the state Republican Party run the upcoming organization meeting because, right now, there is more drama than a middle school dance. The current GOP chairman, Jon Stainbrook, and his pal Meghan Gallagher, the central committee chairman, won’t step down voluntarily, which… → Read More
Lucas County Republicans better hope that former state senator and representative Mark Wagoner succeeds in his effort to have the state Republican Party run the upcoming organization meeting because, right now, there is more drama than a middle school dance. The current GOP chairman, Jon Stainbrook, and his pal Meghan Gallagher, the central committee chairman, won’t step down voluntarily, which… → Read More
Is it too much to ask for some consistency from time to time? The Janus vs. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees case now under deliberation by the U.S. Supreme Court is ostensibly a full-throated defense of an Illinois worker’s right to free speech. In reality — and this is where the whole consistency issue gets raised — it’s more of that pesky regulation and red tape… → Read More
In his stance on guns, the leading Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio this year is tracking a path blazed before him by a previous Democratic candidate for governor, Ted Strickland — who got elected. Richard Cordray doesn’t have the bucolic resonance of a Duck Run to refer to as his humble beginnings, but he does have a record on supporting the Second Amendment right to own guns, as did… → Read More
Recently appointed Lucas County treasurer Lindsay Webb cannot fill her new post because of credit issues, forcing the county’s Democratic Party to once again pick a replacement for the office. Ms. Webb said in a statement Friday she will not serve in the treasurer's role because she failed to secure a surety bond — a policy required for her to hold the job. Days after taking the oath, the former… → Read More
Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said during a campaign swing through Toledo Thursday that U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci’s departure from the governor’s race enhances her chances of winning the Republican nomination on May 8. Mr. Renacci, an Akron-area congressman, pivoted Thursday to campaign for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate against U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) Mary Taylor, lieutenant governor of… → Read More
President Donald Trump’s political staff is encouraging U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R., Wadsworth) to enter the race for the U.S. Senate, according to sources who spoke to The Blade Wednesday. The development follows last week’s unexpected withdrawal from the Republican nomination contest by Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel who said he wants to devote his time to his wife’s undisclosed illness. The… → Read More
Ohio faces a mixed bag of political races this year, with contests ranging from governor all the way down to local judgeships and leadership of the Lucas County Republican Party. With 2017 election results barely cold and the new year hardly begun, already both Republican and Democratic voters are challenged to support candidates in the May 8 primary. Nationally, Democrats are trying to convert… → Read More
Former Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson is tossing her hat in the ring for the Democratic Party endorsement to run for the state House of Representatives. Ms. Hicks-Hudson is one of three Democrats who applied as of Friday’s noon deadline to seek the Lucas County Democratic Party’s endorsement for the 44th House District seat now held by incumbent, Rep. Michael Ashford (D., Toledo), according to party… → Read More
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) came to Toledo Friday to stand with area law enforcement and medical professionals to urge President Trump to sign his bill to help block the illegal flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States. Senator Brown’s bill, the INTERDICT Act, passed the Republican-controlled House in October and unanimously passed the Republican-controlled Senate in… → Read More
Todd Wolfrum, a Van Wert County commissioner, filed petitions Wednesday with the Lucas County Board of Elections to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green) for a Republican congressional nomination this year. Mr. Wolfrum, 46, would face off against Mr. Latta in the May 8 primary election for the 5th Congressional District, which includes all or parts of 14 counties in… → Read More
A dispute over whether the board of directors of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority should ditch a longstanding practice of not allowing a third consecutive term as chairman has contributed to a stalemate over the board’s leadership status for 2018. The 13-member board was set to vote for a new slate of leadership at its meeting Dec. 21, but got hung up when the only candidate for chairman… → Read More
Nicole Khoury plans to keep on making music, even after she becomes a Toledo Municipal Court judge. “You don’t realize how many judges, a: have musical talent, and b: play in bands. It really helps you relate. It was a big plus. You’re allowed to be a musician,” she said. Nicole Khoury, lawyer and candidate for municipal court judge. Ms. Khoury, 40, a first-time political candidate and the… → Read More
Mayor-elect Wade Kapszukiewicz said Tuesday he intends to appoint unsuccessful judicial candidate Dale Emch as law director, a move that will make Mr. Emch the city’s first new law director in a decade. Mr. Kapszukiewicz has postponed previously announced plans to unveil the rest of his 22nd floor team, saying he’s still in negotiations with the person he wants as his chief of staff. Mr. Emch,… → Read More
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is meeting with local law enforcement officials Monday, six months after the Department of Justice named Toledo as one of 12 cities selected for a federal crackdown in violent crime. Both Toledo Police Chief George Kral and Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp are included in the afternoon activities. Mr. Session is to give a speech about 3:10 p.m. to law… → Read More
Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to the audience about eradicating violent crime in America in the U.S. Attorney’s Office at Four Seagate Center on December 18. THE BLADE/AMY VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Image U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions complimented local federal prosecutors for successes against violent criminals during a speech to area law enforcement Monday, and promised to appoint… → Read More
Todd Wolfrum, a Van Wert County Republican trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green), knocked on what he said was his 10,000th door during a campaign walking stint Monday in Maumee. Mr. Wolfrum, 46, of the village of Middle Point, a lawyer and two-term county commissioner, contends Mr. Latta isn’t living up to the promises Republicans made to reverse the growth of government. A… → Read More
Toledo Municipal Housing Court prosecutor Joe Howe was declared the victor Wednesday after a two-day recount of votes by the Lucas County Board of Elections that left results unchanged. Also declared a victor was Spencer Township Trustee Michael Hood, who won re-election over challenger Kris Ruhl in the contest for a second seat on the board of trustees. The elections board staff began… → Read More