Article published February 17, 2009
Mayor questions fit of Wilkowski, PR firm
By TOM TROY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said Monday he is not focused on the mayoral race and whether to run again, but suggested that his former campaign consultant, Mike Hart, and Mr. Hart's new client, mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski, won't be a good fit, ideologically.
"That's pretty far down right now," Mr. Finkbeiner said about whether he would seek a new term.
On Friday, Hart Associates confirmed that it will contract with Mr. Wilkowski's campaign committee this year.
"You know how many important things have to be done the next couple of months in this city. All of these aspiring candidates don't have the responsibility to balance the budget in this very important time," the mayor said.
In an e-mail to The Blade, Mr. Finkbeiner said, "Mr Wilkowski and Mr. Hart will make an interesting political team. At the moment, taking care of the City's needs is my only concern."
The mayor explained yesterday that by "interesting," he meant "Historically the Wilkowskis, father-son, have been ultra-liberal and Mike Hart is rather conservative."Mr. Wilkowski's late father, Arthur Wilkowski, was a long-time state legislator from Toledo, and a Democrat - like Keith Wilkowski and Mr. Finkbeiner.
Hart Associates of Maumee was Mr. Finkbeiner's media consultant in 1993, 1997, and 2005.
Mike Hart, president of Hart Associates, last week said he told Mr. Finkbeiner he'd been approached by Mr. Wilkowski. He said Mr. Finkbeiner told him he had not decided whether to run for re-election, and Mr. Hart said he told Mr. Finkbeiner he had to act in the best interests of his business.
Told of Mr. Finkbeiner's description of him and his late father, Mr. Wilkowski said, "I have nothing but the highest regard for what my father did in the world of politics."
He said his campaign "has been embraced by people from across the political spectrum and most especially by people in the business community," while Mr. Finkbeiner has created a "hostile environment for business in Toledo."
"My administration will lay out the welcome mat for businesses to create jobs and get people working again," he said.
Mr. Wilkowski said Hart Associates was the consultant for his father's 1986 unsuccessful race for a seat on the Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals for Lucas County.
Mr. Finkbeiner made his comment during a news conference in which he called on City Council to reject a special-use permit for a convenience store to expand at 2346 Seaman St. because of neighborhood opposition.
Staff writer Ignazio Messina contributed to this report.
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