It is too bad Lucas County can’t elect two commissioners this year, because both Democrat and former judge Gary Byers, and independent Toledo City Councilman Sandy Spang are intelligent and engaging candidates.
Ms. Spang, 58, of Toledo and Mr. Byers, 62, of Maumee, agree on much. And anyone who has seen them in joint campaign appearances surely could not have missed that they are collegial, have complementary skills, and likely would work well together in office.
But alas, voters will have to choose one candidate to fill the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Commissioner Carol Contrada.
Both candidates pledge to bring transparency and independence to the job. And both of those qualities are sorely needed in the Lucas County Commissioners office, where Democrats now control all three seats. Ms. Spang, as a longtime independent, offers a genuine opportunity for balance and an end to one-party rule in county elected offices.
As one of only three non-Democrats on city council, Ms. Spang has relied on an indefatigable work ethic and passion for public policy and research to broaden the council’s agenda and be effective.
Ms. Spang’s biggest achievement was pushing the council to embrace a priority-based budgeting system.
Toledo voters have taken notice of her contributions, making her the top vote-getter in a field of 12 when she was re-elected to city council last year.
The most pressing issue for commissioners in the coming year will be the challenge of building a new county jail. Both Ms. Spang and Mr. Byers agree on the need for a new jail, and both support retiring the proposed $180 million jail debt long before the end of the 37-year levy on the ballot to pay for the facility.
They agree county officials have not done enough to get community buy-in on the new jail.
“That process just hasn’t been there,” Ms. Spang said. “There needs to be so much more engagement.”
Ms. Spang is not committed to the current controversial proposal to move the jail from downtown to North Toledo.
“I have concerns about the process; I have an open mind about the location.”
She and Mr. Byers also agree that as the process of replacing the jail is likely to take a long time, the county should forge ahead now — even before building a jail — with plans for the behavioral health solution center. That center would divert would-be inmates who need mental-health or drug-treatment programs from the jail.
Proceeding with this one element of the new-jail plan is a solid idea and should be embraced by the commissioners next year.
“I think we can do that right away, I say we find a way to do that now,” Ms. Spang said.
Voters should elect Ms. Spang and count on her to bring independence, balance, and seriousness of purpose to the job of county commissioner.
First Published October 30, 2018, 9:30 a.m.
