Fresh off his second-place finish in Toledo’s seven-way special mayoral election, former Mayor Mike Bell said Thursday that he is collecting signatures for a possible run against Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken next year.
Mr. Bell, 60, of Old Orchard in Toledo, would seek the Republican nomination. The deadline to file at least 50 signatures of Lucas County registered voters is Dec. 16. Mr. Gerken is a Democrat.
“We’re into the early stages of being able to explore the ability to do this. I think it’ll go well. As long as I am living in this area I’ll do all I can to make it better,” Mr. Bell said.
Mr. Bell said he considers himself conservative fiscally and moderate on social issues. He declined to discuss the issues on which he would campaign. A former Democrat, Mr. Bell ran for mayor as an independent. He said having the Republican Party’s backing will provide him with more help running the campaign.
Mr. Bell was elected mayor in 2009, confronting a city budget in fiscal tatters after the 2008 recession. Four years later, a lackluster campaign and the united energy of unions and Democrats outraged by his support of a state anti-union law doomed his re-election bid. He was replaced by independent D. Michael Collins.
He ran in the special election Nov. 3 to finish the term of Mr. Collins, who died Feb. 6. Mr. Bell finished second with 17.3 percent of the vote, while endorsed Democrat Paula Hicks-Hudson won the election with 35.6 percent of the vote.
Mr. Bell said that the 2015 election gave him the opportunity to explain the issues that turned voters against him in 2013.
Lucas County Republican Chairman Jon Stainbrook confirmed that the party is helping collect signatures for Mr. Bell.
“We need someone who will reach out to outlying areas, not just the city of Toledo. Mike Bell’s that person — all the knowledge that he has and how he wants to work together with people and get these problems solved,” Mr. Stainbrook said.
Mr. Gerken said he expects to file for re-election next week and is working on a campaign that will include fund-raising, field operations, and social media.
“I’m excited to have an opponent of the caliber of Mr. Bell. I believe I have a record of the last 10 years that I’d like to put before the voters for their consideration,” Mr. Gerken said.
Mr. Gerken, 63, of River Road in Toledo, would be running for a fourth term. In 2012, he defeated Republican John Marshall with 67.6 percent of the vote. Before entering politics he worked for the Jeep assembly plant, entered United Auto Workers union leadership, and ran a training program for the UAW and then-Chrysler Corp. Mr. Gerken was a Toledo councilman before his first election to the county commission in 2004.
Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.
First Published December 4, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
