Ten days after the funeral of Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins, the Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition launched a robocall and online survey asking people who should run for mayor.

The call today asked people if they preferred Councilman Tom Waniewski, Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken, Lucas County Democratic Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz, Councilman Jack Ford, former councilman Joe McNamara, or Councilman Larry Sykes to run for mayor in November to complete the remainder of Mayor Collins' term.

Of those people, Mr. Waniewski is the only Republican.

The Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition's online survey also lists Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez, former Councilman Adam Martinez, former Toledo mayors Mike Bell and Carty Finkbeiner, Councilman Lindsay Webb, and former mayoral candidates Alan Cox, Michael Konwinski, and Opal Covey.

Mr. McNamara, who was defeated in the 2013 primary Toledo mayoral election ultimately won by political independent Mr. Collins, said the group should apologize for the call.

"I am disgusted that the Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition is conducting a poll less than two weeks after Mayor Collin’s funeral," he said. "This action shows immense disrespect for the mayor’s family and a community that is still grieving. The poll should be withdrawn immediately and the group needs to apologize."

The mayor's widow, Sandy Drabik, received the call today.

Mr. McNamara said the leaders of the organization who supported the poll demonstrated "extremely poor judgment" and should resign from their offices.

John McAvoy, a board member of the conservative group said he didn't see a need for an apology.

"I don't know what the apology is for," Mr. McAvoy said. "We are asking the question... The call said Toledo lost one of its great leaders and who would you support for mayor in November?"

The call went to registered Democrats as well as Republicans, Mr. McAvoy said.

"We are curious who should be the next mayor," he said. "The election is in November and people are starting to pull petitions."

As of today, no one has publicly announced a desire to run for the mayor's seat.

Mayor Collins died Feb. 6, less than a week after suffering a cardiac arrest while driving his city-owned vehicle, which crashed during a snowstorm.

Mayor Hicks-Hudson, who was city council president and took over as mayor, previously said she is considering running for the office in November, but had not decided.

Mr. Waniewski, a conservative, said today he had not decided if he would run for mayor and that he was concentrating on his district council re-election this year.

"They contacted me and asked me if I was running, and I said 'I am not sure what I am doing, but feel free to use my name,'" Mr. Waniewski said regarding his communication with the local conservative group.

"We are trying to get on with the business of the city," he said.

The person elected in November would become mayor upon certification by the Lucas County Board of Elections and complete the remaining two years of Mayor Collins' term.

First Published February 22, 2015, 10:40 p.m.