If you were tired of political elections after 2020, there’s bad news: Local election season in Toledo is starting to rev up.
Toledoans will vote in November for mayor and six at-large city council seats. A primary will be held on Sept. 14 if there are more than two mayoral candidates or more than 12 council candidates.
This year’s race will have an added twist, with two of the seats up for election currently held by interim members Cerssandra McPherson and Tiffany Preston Whitman, after a federal investigation led to the arrest and indictment of four members of council. At-large members Gary Johnson and Larry Sykes are currently suspended, though the two could run for re-election if they are acquitted or while their trials are pending.
Meanwhile, a new face has entered the city council race early on. Old West End resident Daniel Ortiz, 29, is a pharmacy technician for Heartland Healthcare Services without political experience. Mr. Ortiz, who is framing himself as a sort of “average Joe” candidate, said he leans strongly Democrat, but thinks the party on a local level has gotten detached from many constituents.
“I just wonder whether Democrats are doing all they can to reach out to working-class people,” he said.
Mr. Ortiz said he opposed both municipal tax levies on the 2020 ballot, arguing that the city’s tax structure inevitably harms those with less means. He also opposes the city’s red light camera program for similar reasons.
“Every single method we have for raising taxes here is regressive,” Mr. Ortiz said.
Some of his broader issues are more commonly progressive, such as a call to raise the local minimum wage and promoting green infrastructure.
The filing deadline to submit nominating petitions to the Lucas County Board of Elections is July 16, meaning candidates have half a year to obtain at least 250 petition signatures. This early in the year, few potential candidates have announced their intentions to run, but Mr. Ortiz does join at least two other Toledoans who said they plan to run in 2021.
Julian Mack, a local activist from the Community Solidarity Response Network, announced in August his intention to run for a council seat. Mr. Mack submitted an application, along with more than 100 others, to be appointed to council, but was not chosen for open seats.
Mr. Mack and CSRN have been active in calling for racial justice and reform in the community, including changes to policing in minority neighborhoods.
Also pledging to run last year was Younes "Tony" Dia, a Republican who campaigned unsuccessfully for Toledo City Council. He said the day after the November election he plans to run for council this year. Mr. Dia, who entered the race for an at-large council seat after his police officer son, Anthony Dia, was shot and killed in the line of duty.
The Blade reported Oct. 22 that Mr. Dia pleaded guilty 34 years ago to fatally shooting another teen, an act Mr. Dia said was self-defense during an attack.
Mr. Dia, a Muslim immigrant, focused his campaign on making the city more business friendly and on hiring more police.
First Published January 15, 2021, 8:45 p.m.
