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Do IT this week: Layering
After Tuesday speech, he sees a 'different' election
By Steve Hoffman
Beacon Journal editorial writer
Published on Thursday, Feb 26, 2009
At the conclusion of his State of the City speech, Don Plusquellic chose to confront the grim reality of a looming recall campaign. ''Soon, I may be in the fight of my life,'' said the mayor, quite a statement, really, given 23 years as the city's chief executive and, before that, 13 years as a member of the City Council.
No other mayor in Akron's history has served longer. There have been plenty of battles along the way.
The 1987 Democratic primary against public relations executive David Meeker was no cake walk, for starters. Plusquellic, who moved up automatically from City Council president to mayor after Tom Sawyer was elected to the U.S. House in 1986, quickly found himself in a battle to hold a job he had never planned on seeking in the first place.
Could this be worse? ''It's a totally different election,'' Plusquellic noted after the speech.
Warner Mendenhall, the Akron attorney and former City Council member behind the recall, knows this, too. He is ready to start a petition drive on March 11, which could trigger a recall election sometime this spring.
The timeline is still rough, but, if a recall is successful, a special election to fill the balance of the term might be held on regular election days in September and November. Plusquellic could not run, although he could file to run for another term in 2011.
The mayor pointedly noted the ridiculously low number of petition signatures needed to trigger a recall election, just over 3,000, based on the results of the last general election for mayor. Plusquellic was unopposed. So, under the city charter, about 2 percent of the city's registered voters could set a recall election into motion because of the very low turnout in the 2007 mayor's race.
That's just one reason Plusquellic is taking the recall seriously, as evidenced by a speech that not only recognized the issue itself, but included a comprehensive review of successful projects and alliances. It was no accident that the place was packed with more than 750, said by the mayor to be the largest audience for such an event ever.
The bad news is that Mendenhall and his allies are capable of getting 3,000 valid signatures on their recall petitions, within 30 days, without a single name from those in the Tangier ballroom.
The other reasons for worry on the mayor's part have to do with the quirky nature of a special election, especially a recall election. Nothing else will be on the ballot, so turnout could, as it was in the fall of 2007, drop to very low levels.
The dynamics of the recall will also be affected by the lack of an announced opponent. In a normal campaign, Plusquellic could do what he did during his State of the City speech, outline a long and positive record, then draw the contrast with the opposition.
Since the Meeker primary, the tactic has served Plusquellic well, pushing his winning percentages into the 70s. But in a recall campaign, the contrast will be more difficult to draw because no opponent is on the ballot. Plusquellic did indicate he is ready to counterattack Mendenhall and his allies on their records.
Much of the criticism levied by Mendenhall's ''Change Akron Now'' campaign has been pretty tired stuff, from the sometimes strained relationship with the police department to the debt load undertaken to transform the downtown.
But it now appears likely the recall campaign will employ a different, more volatile tactic. Mendenhall's allies have been mining travel records at city hall and the elections board, digging for expense reports, even forwarding documents to the state auditor's office.
In these economic times, public reaction to trips out of state and to foreign countries could be harsh.
In mentioning in his State of the City speech Akron's third All-America City award, received in Tampa in June, Plusquellic took pains to note ''uncalled for criticism'' of travel, mentioning that most of the 60 citizens who accompanied officials paid their own way and that private money was raised to defray costs.
Turning the recall campaign into a referendum on Plusquellic's travel expenses, besides riling up the voters, would also relieve Mendenhall and others in his camp from the task of presenting an alternative vision for the city's future. So far, all they have is a sketchy, back-to-the-basics approach. As Plusquellic has learned the hard way, cities like Akron must push relentlessly to find new ways of doing things and new partnerships to get them done.
Such efforts will be put on hold in the weeks ahead as the mayor gears up a campaign to keep his job.
Hoffman is a Beacon Journal editorial writer. He can be reached at 330-996-3740 or e-mailed at slhoffman@thebeaconjournal.com.
At the conclusion of his State of the City speech, Don Plusquellic chose to confront the grim reality of a looming recall campaign. ''Soon, I may be in the fight of my life,'' said the mayor, quite a statement, really, given 23 years as the city's chief executive and, before that, 13 years as a member of the City Council.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 06:44 AM, 02/26/2009
My money is on The Don!
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:36 AM, 02/26/2009
Steve, I don't think that most people know that we are almost one billion dollars in debt or that we have exhausted our debt capacity. You call bankrupting our city "tired stuff." Put that information on your front page and you will see that people think that it is news in the classic sense of that term. The State Auditor was in town yesterday examining the City's books where is that story? As for an alternative vision, this recall campaign is about the Plusquellic administration's tragic failures including: 1.) misuse of taxpayer funds for the Mayor's luxury travel, accomodations, and dining; 2.) reckless and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars benefitting his cronies and resulting in a huge city debt; 3.) administration decisions that put us in violation of federal laws; 4.) his childish and insulting behavior; and 5.) his failure to address the City's pressing neighborhood needs. A vision for the future direction of our city will be developed by Mayoral candidates in the Fall election. @ PacMan, your money has already been spent by The Don. You owe about $4,000 on the city debt. So does each and every family member, friend, neighbor, and co-worker.
Posted 08:33 AM, 02/26/2009
I once sat in the interview room at the Beacon as a political candidate and was interviewed by Mr Hoffman. Trust me he has no clue what tired and boring is in his feeble mind. The man is completely one sided and loyal to his political friends. If i ever run for office again I would decline any interview with the Beacon. They would never support anyone but a Democrat even if he had just been convicted of murder and child rape 3 weeks before the election. That view is why the ABJ sets up shop in all the Grocery stores begging people to take a free newspaper.
I don't live in Akron but i see what happens there and it's like little Hitler Plusquellic has that city legally sewn up. he has manipulated the election law to benefit him as long as he wants to be Mayor. you can only raise so much money per election cycle while he already has a huge war chest. It makes it almost impossible for anyone to mount a serious challenge due to funds. Don's arrogance is unbelievable. He wants to lease off the Sewer system yet he can;t even lease off the steam plant without costing the taxpayers big dollars. I remember when the AERO's moved here he had to grandstand on their opening day and make a complete fool of himself. Akron would be better served if a chimpanzee took over the Mayors office. Call it what you want but Mr Mendenhall has some very compelling facts listed on his webpage with factual receipts to back up the claims he makes over Plusquellics waste of funds including the city paying for his girlfriends travel. Hopefully every Republican gets out there to vote and helps Mendenhall get rid of this cancer. I would suggest Warner Mendenhall put a certain amount of concentration on doing a phone call drive to the Republican voter call list to get them involved in Dons recall. That is the silent vote wich hasn;t had a chance to vote on the Mayor fo so many years.
Posted 08:40 AM, 02/26/2009
Comparing the mayor of Akron to Hitler. Nicely put, "real voice of reason." I'm shocked - SHOCKED - that you didn't get elected.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:48 AM, 02/26/2009
The city hall hero is worried, and rightly so. The years of fiscal mismanagement are finally comin' back to haunt this loser.
Tired Stuff Steve??? Hardly, when the taxpayers are the ones that have to foot the bill for this bozo's antics.
Singin' his own accolades is one thing, but not acknowledgin' the faults and failures, jes' shows that that city hall hero is out of touch with reality.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:08 AM, 02/26/2009
The mayor is running our city into a tremendous debt- even more so than now. As taxpaying constituents of this fine city we have a right to have our voice heard and hold our elected officials accountable. We also deserve a fair and unbiased media to look at the facts correctly and accurately- but do we? It appears not. Visit www.akronwatch.org to see a glimpse of the work of Mayor Don and the effect it has had on our fine city and stay tuned for the re-launch of the site on March 13.
Posted 11:05 AM, 02/26/2009
I can't help but wonder how much of the almost billion dollar debt came within the past 23 years! I also don't understand what is so tired old news about Warner Mendenhall's campaign if he is trying to encourage a positive change for Akron with these kind of facts behind it...
Gee Whiz, I'm starting to get hopping perturbed that while my small Internet business provides the Akron Public Schools Remote Digital Academy students Internet access in such a manner that they even control their own billing saving tens of thousands annually, at a time when I'm laying off my staff. The main reasons I haven't taken my small business to bankruptcy court is a sense of moral responsibility knowing that we are helping the system in our small little way and that there is hope for the future by adapting to change.
Why isn't the local media concerned about government contributing fiscal responsibility as it's merchants and taxpayers are expected? I also can't help but wonder why the bankers don't hold government as responsible as they would a small business? Could it possibly be their lobbyist, political pull, and that they profit the most from it.
I can't help but respect people like Mr. Mendenhall who aren't afraid to utilize their right of free speech to educate those of us ignorant to the issues resulting from the lack of unbiased journalism which I thought is supposed to present both sides!
Posted 12:14 PM, 02/26/2009
I'm amazed that Mr. Hoffman doesn't recognize that the Mayor received so few votes in this past election not because he was running unopposed, but because citizen's who disagree with him actively chose not to cast a vote for him. We didn't know at the time we were opening up an option for a recall, but I'm not sad that we did.
The Republicans really missed the boat by not running someone against him, and the Democrats won't put anyone else up or back anyone else. The way the Democratic machine has worked in the city seems to be the real problem. I have been a Democrat all my life, but would vote for a Republican mayoral candidate at this point just to get new blood with new vision running the city
In his "State of the City" speech, which sounded more like a "State of the Mayor" speech, the Mayor claimed we want change and he tries to bring it to us. The change we want are safe neighborhoods and a change in the way dollars are distributed, with not all the money flowing downtown. Why are we building new townhomes near Luigi's when the warehouse hasn't sold, agreed to build even more condos on Hickory where, again, no homes have sold, and agreed to the Spicer Village deal where, again, nothing has sold? Nearly$4,000,000 in improvements to create an area no one will buy in. What if we had used that money to actively enforce the housing codes in that area and assisted both the homeowners and renters in making improvements?
My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 12:56 PM, 02/26/2009
@ warnermendenhall – Clarification to “my money is on The Don” simply meant I wouldn’t bet against a recall being successful and/or a reelection being unsuccessful for him. It is extremely difficult to unseat an incumbent - and he says he’s worried, but he is not.
@ real voice of reason – I believe the phone call suggestion has started as I have already received one adverting the recall meeting earlier this week.
My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 01:17 PM, 02/26/2009
@ mdr966 – I agree - and your post looks very similar to one I posted last fall - and the Rs really missed it big time.
Tepplin, DC
Posted 01:39 PM, 02/26/2009
This recall, aside from being a tremendous waste of taxpayer's money, is very clearly Warner Mendenhall's vendetta against Plusquellic. All the evidence you need is in the fact that Mendenhall ran Joe Finley's Mayoral campaign in 2007 and that all of Finley's views were 100% diametrically opposed to Plusquellic's. If Plusquellic stood on the right of the line, Finley would stand on the left. And vice versa. That's not about presenting an alternate vision for Akron. That's just about being an idiot with an agenda.
I'll say it again. Mr. Mendenhall, if you care about this city, stop hiding in the shadows like a coward, and behind your cadre of puppets, and run against Plusquellic yourself in 2011 with your own vision for the city's future.
Tepplin, DC
Posted 01:41 PM, 02/26/2009
This recall, aside from being a tremendous waste of taxpayer's money, is very clearly Warner Mendenhall's vendetta against Plusquellic. All the evidence you need is in the fact that Mendenhall ran Joe Finley's Mayoral campaign in 2007 and that all of Finley's views were 100% diametrically opposed to Plusquellic's. If Plusquellic stood on the right of the line, Finley would stand on the left. And vice versa. That's not about presenting an alternate vision for Akron. That's just about being an idiot with an agenda.
I'll say it again. Mr. Mendenhall, if you care about this city, stop hiding in the shadows like a coward, and behind your cadre of puppets, and run against Plusquellic yourself in 2011 with your own vision for the city's future.
akron, oh
Posted 06:07 PM, 02/26/2009
Word on the street is that Hoffman spends the weekend cleaning the mayors boxers.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:18 PM, 02/26/2009
Warner Mendenhall exposes THE TRUTH. Vendetta? Hardly. We, the citizens of Akron, deserve to know about the abuses of authority being dolled out by our Mayor. The Don, and his cronies, have used the vendetta excuse over and over again.
I applaude Warner Mendenhall, and all who are assisting, in making public how bad of a mayor Akron has.
Keep up the good work www.changeakronnow.com . Every resident of Akron should be paying attention to the truths, instead of the babble that comes out of Don Plusquallic's foul mouth.
Rio Linda, CA
Posted 08:27 AM, 02/27/2009
I had a great comment yesterday rebutting Hoffman's column that was never printed.
The absolute greatest part of all of this is no matter what the Beacon does to try and protect Plusquellic, the people will ignore it, just like the sewer issue..
The editorial board is powerless.
Rio Linda, CA
Posted 08:29 AM, 02/27/2009
If Mendenhall has the money to run the capmaign, he will crush Plusquellic thanks to the obscene travel and expenses Plusquelic ran up....
akron, oh
Posted 08:41 AM, 02/27/2009
All you had to do was read what was posted on Mr. Finlay's website during the election. The grammer was so poor that no one in their right mind would vote someone with a website like that into office.
Tepplin, DC
Posted 09:08 AM, 02/27/2009
Some of you folks sure have your fantasies. Look, I don't agree with everything Plusquellic has done. But more than not, he has been a good mayor for Akron. For those of you who complain about his traveling around the world to bring new business to Akron, I say to you, what would you prefer that he do? Stay home and pine like you do for the loss of the rubber factory days of Goodrich, Firestone, General Tire and Goodyear? Had he done so, he would have been voted out of office long ago, and Akron today would look a lot more like Youngstown.
You don't like his attitude? Fine. I don't either. But I say again, if you are going to challenge the man, tell us what you would do differently, and what you would do better. Otherwise, yes, this whole recall looks like the petty vendetta of a few people in a small part of town against the will of the majority.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:34 PM, 02/27/2009
Read what the ABJ has failed to allow the taxpaying citizens know about Mayor Don by visiting www.akronwatch.org . Stay tuned for the re-launch March 13!
rootstown, oh
Posted 12:57 AM, 03/01/2009
time for a change.is anyone really satisfied with akron?not hardly.
Posted 07:44 AM, 03/02/2009
fromCleveland
Posted 08:40 AM, 02/26/2009 Comparing the mayor of Akron to Hitler. Nicely put, "real voice of reason." I'm shocked - SHOCKED - that you didn't get elected.
Who said i didn't get elected? Three terms
everett, ma
Posted 01:59 PM, 03/11/2009
peolple of akron..stop and look around to see how far your city has come in 23 yrs. "the Don" has done an outstanding job. mistakes..yes everyone makes them but he has had more victories for akron than loses. not being a btting man ,i would bet the house that..you will not find a mayor who fights with more passion,dedication,and determination for your city than don plusquellic.
it seems that mendenhall is throwing stuff at a wall and hoping some sticks. facts are what should be out there not whatever some cowards think...
oh. mendenhall..i have never known "the Don" to back away from any type of fight no what the odds..so if are so sure of all your allegations then why not take him on ..one on one...hmmmm i know because the backdoor eliminates the face to face contact and you do not have to stand up for what you believe.....and your people call "the Don" a coward....
mendenhall...be a man and do your own bidding....
