MYOB - Don Robart was right on in his comment.

Wonder if some of these mayors are worried that they may be next?

Let's be honest if it's in the Summit County Charter anyone of those Mayors are exposed to recall, their just covering their own rears when they see the mayor of Akron can be so easily recalled

The essence of the this letter is terribly misguided. The reason the number of voters to trigger a recall is so low is because there were so few people who voted in the last general election for Mayor. The issue is not the percentage (2%) is too low. It's that not very many people felt enthusiastic enough to turn out to vote for Don Plusquellic. The Akron charter is fine. Akron politics is another matter.

Good! It's about time that someone put this recall in perspective -- it hurts the entire region, not just the city of Akron. If Akron isn't strong, then the surrounding communities will also suffer -- just look at Youngstown, Canton, Toledo, or Dayton.

If Warner and Company really had the city and regions' best interests at heart -- not just their personal beefs with the Mayor -- they'd recall their petitions and wait until the next election cycle to take on the Mayor (like they do in every other city in Ohio).

Robart can't stand Plusquellic. I have been out in Cuy Falls at night, and Robart goes out with his wife and spends time with the public, and not the rich people. Plusquellic would never do that. This letter was a poor last-ditch attempt to make Plusquellic look good. The election cannot come soon enough. However, I would rather see Plusquellic step down and give the money that would have been spent on the election to programs and people that really need it.

The Spirit of 76 demands an end to autocracy and a revival of democracy, just the opposite of what these autocratic mayors want. Read your Declaration of Independence, folks, it is our citizenship right, even our duty, to remove autocrats from power.

If Plusquellic would resign can't he run in the sept primary to fill his own term?

i'm with you welcome. whoever loses, pays for the entire recall effort. this is frivolous and ridiculous. if king don is ousted, he pays. if warner loses, he fronts the whole cost...he can put it on his tab after his taxes etc.

Hundreds of people volunteered to help remove Plusquellic, 6600 people signed the petitions, this is far beyond any "personal" beef. Read the docs on the website at www.changeakronnow.com. We believe Plusquellic is damaging to our community and we have met the threshold requirements to put him on the ballot to try to stop him from doing more damage.

the recall isn't about "policy decisions" it is about abuse. don't you just love it when the issue at hand is rephrased to de-emphasize or misdirect? classic political move.

you also have to love the timing of this...don't insult us and say this is about a flawed process and not about Plusquellic. if it wasn't about him, i think the recall language would have been addressed long ago

i guess the status quo has to stay in tact.

((chucklin')) Oh look, a bunch of mayors bandin' together to protect their jobs. Imagine that.

My only hope is, that should the council put forth an amendment to the charter, it's only for the number of times a recall can be done concurrently.

Aside from that, it's good as written.

The only folks that are against the recall are some politicians, their business associates, and a few misguided souls.

As I've said many times now, all the city hall hero had to do, was produce evidence that debunked the allegations and all of this would never have moved forward. We can assume he didn't because he can't.

Should the voter's allow a change to the charter, they insure that thier polticians have total control of their lives, without any recourse to change what's wrong with the system.

So lets see here, run Don out of town.
Who's the new Major going to be?
Are they going to bring in real jobs?

Is this recall attempt legal? Yes.

Is it a wise use of tax dollars..up to $500,000? No.

Though legal, is it a appropriate use of the tools of democracy. No.

Is the recall based upon substantce, illegal acts, immoral acts? No.

Has the May been guilty of personal behavior that could be construed as "boorish"? Absolutely.

Is this recall based on personal dislike for the personal behavior of the mayor? Probably.

Is "boorish" behavior, though reprehensible, reason for recall? Absolutely not.

The citizens of Akron have the opportunity to vote the mayor out, and thus replace, him every 4 years. What Change Akron Now should have done is identify a viable candidate who has something of substance to offer and run him at the mayor in the next appropriate election. This sure beats having a small minority of voters spend hundereds of thousands of taxpayers money and taxpayers' time, as well, for this inappropriate action that will serve only to make Akron, and it's citizens, a joke on Jay Leno and/or David Letterman.

Mendenhall - Stop blogging and get a job so you can pay your taxes!

Don Robart, Phyllis Mayberry, Bernie Hovey, and Victor Milani are to be commended for refusing to support yet another effort to take away the rights of citizens.

I've never, never seen a mayoral recall effort in this area.

The process has been in place for many, many years. It is now being exercised. There MUST be a reason it has gone as far as it has.

I think everyone involved in the recall effort should face the music, though. When put to a vote, the chances are slim and none that the recall effort will succeed. The energy and funds would be better focused on finding and supporting a good candidate to oppose DP in the next election.

Warner --

6600 people signed, but only around 4000 were registered and qualified to do so -- and it took you two tries to do it. Out of a city of over 200,000 people, that's hardly a mandate for the mayor to be thrown out.

Once again, if you have actual proof of criminal or unethical activities by the mayor, then present the proof
to the proper authorities. Otherwise, admit that all you really have are a series of personal and policy disagreements with the Mayor.

In the meantime, please do us all a favor -- don't preach about a lack of financial responsibility at city hall. This city is in far better shape than every big city in Ohio, and no one has complained about the city not paying all of its bills.

You talking about financial responsibility while still owing the IRS back taxes is the equivelent of a married minister preaching about fidelity on a Sunday morning after having spent Saturday night screwing his secretary.

@Betamax Since when is the burden of proof on the person accused, at least in our form of democracy? You make the accusation then YOU must back it up with the evidence, anyhow that's what I've come to learn. Oh, by the way, apparently anyone who disagrees with you is a "misguided soul". Interesting comment and so open minded ((chucklin')).

@Irishlou Well said

I know one of the Mayors that signed this thing. When I asked him why he signed it, knowing his contempt for Mayor Don. He said he has several deals in the works with Akron, and summit county. To not sign would have cost his town dearly in backlash. Standerd strongarm politics from Akron...

Again, the Beacon is only reporting on one side of this storie

RECALL the voice of the people.

Mayor it came to late you have put Akron into one big nose dive

@The Ghost of Tom Joad

You stated it well until that last paragraph. WOW!
With a comment like that one might thik you are the mayor, himself. That paragraph was quite uncalled for.

@akros - Hmmm, gosh. Last time I looked, there was indeed, proof to support the allegations.

That's called evidence. And it will continue to support the allegations, until the city hall hero produces information that totally refutes them.

They backed up their claim. What part of that didn't y'all, as not bein' one of the misguided, didn't y'all understand??

Disagreein' with me doesn't make one misguided. Blind support does.

Now, tell me how open minded y'all have been concernin' the evidence produced to support the recall groups allegations???

Iff'n none of that has raised a single question in y'alls mind, then indeed, y'all are about as closed minded as they come.

Those other mayors should MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS!

They DO NOT LIVE IN AKRON, they DO NOT PAY TAXES IN AKRON, they do not have to put up with a mayor who has driven the city financially into the ground.

For those who live in the cities where their mayor signed this letter, bet you can find some ghosts in THEIR closets, mismanaging, etc.

What nerve! Clean the dirt from under your rugs!

RECALL MAYOR PLUSQUELLIC. Why?? The FACTS can be found at:

www.akronwatch.org and www.changeakronnow.com

It really is comical to hear that clown in Hudson Bill currin weighing in on the city of AKRON.

The Summit County Mayor's Association is run by Sweet Lou Beroterran, former congressional aide to Tommy (NAFTA) Sawyer, and he put this whole thing together.

@Betamax
I can't speak for the others who post here but I've been to the Change Akron Now site and if that's what constitutes "evidence" and "proof" then I sure wouldn't want Mr. Mendenhall defending me in court but I would love it if he were the prosecuter! I tried to change my screen name to "Misguided Soul" but line to do that ran out the door and the waiting time was 4 months. I think The Ghost of Tom or Akros or others beat me to it. I'm not a blind supported of Mayor Don just an open-eyed opponent of this costly and unecessary recall..iffin y'all git my drift.

Warner - You are complaining of wasting tax payer's money...DON'T YOU HAVE TO PAY TAXES TO LODGE THAT COMPLAINT?

If you focused this much energy on paying back your own portion, maybe your complaint would hold a little more weight. While you may not personally like the mayor, why don't you find another way to voice your complaints? Run for council or run against him. Quit trying to figure out ways to have others fund your fights and start doing your own part!

We elect officials to represent us. The problem is that we tear apart every aspect of our elected officials lives and no one wants to run for fear of scrutiny. If you look at any ballot in Akron, Summit County or any other part of Ohio - how many people run uncontested? The real problem is why would any qualified person want to put themselves or their family through all of the BS?

Two points:

(1) It does not matter how many votes a person or issue receives; it matters who counts how many votes a person or issue receives; and,

(2) This language needs to be added to our Constitution: "No vote of the people is valid if it consists of less than fifty percent of those persons eligible to vote." (Source: T. Coyne, 6/1/2003.

Tom Coyne

I should listen to the advice of guys who party with the mayor?

No, thanks.

Recall.

This story is really not that hard to figure out. The reason that so many area mayors are against Minusquellic's recall is because they are all politicians and that makes 'em THICKER THAN THIEVES.

can anyone answer the question. If Plusquellic resigns before the council sets a date for the recall election can he run in the September primary to fill his term.

@Irishlou LOL Nope I wasn't in that line. Your comments prompted me to revisit the Change Akron site though. After review, I couldn't agree with you more. The evidence put forth there is so lacking that if a prosecutor attempted come to trial with it a judge would toss the case, and the prosecutor, out of court! If I were advising the mayor I'd tell him to ignore that stuff and groundless and incomplete. If that's the stuff they're basing this recall on it's an affront to any reasonable thinking person. What a pile of conjecture and just plain garbage.

Even William Currin, Republican mayor of Hudson and one of Coughlin's boys thinks this is a bad way to handle personal and policy disagreements. The writing is on the wall and only 2% of citizens aren't able to read it.

All they give is spin, conjecture and innuendo. You've talked and talked for months and STILL have nothing to offer except website addresses. I also encourage readers to visit those sites so they can get a better idea picture of these recall folks.

Make sure and check out the section about Larry Parker's business interests that are never discussed. I assume, in the interests of disclosure, that that information has been put forth, right?

www.akronwatch.org
www.changeakronnow.org

What a waste of time.

I have lived in other cities in this country. I came back to Akron. Akron is doing well compared to others. I also went to that website... Changeakron. Where is the illegal activity? There was nothing there.

Hundreds of people volunteered? Why not use that time to pick up trash? Keep Akron Beautiful? Use the powers for good... Rather than a HUGE waste of time.

bill currin has gottten involved in partisan politics now . i thought hudson was non partisan .
does currin know that mayor don's charter commission changed the akron charter on recalls to read as it is now in 2000 .
passed by city council , endorsed by the AKRON BEACON JOURNAL and passed by the voters of akron .
what would the voters of hudson do if an akronite got involved in hudson politics.
if currin is so concerned about akron maybe hudson or akron can share their tax base or even better combine their schools that would be a hit in hudson .

Working Joe,

They're not concerned with Akron's business per se, but rather the low standard for recall. The thinking is that leaders can't lead when one spurned group of people can gather 2% of voters and cause an expensive distraction. I agree with them 100%. If you don't want DP in office, help support another candidate in 2011 and, most importantly, vote. If DP loses in a regular election, then THAT is democracy. This is far from a movement of the people, or at least 98% of Akron.

@Barbara - MYOB? Love your chauvinism. Please explain, oh queen of the benighted parochials how this issue is not their business. Perhaps, you should mind your own business, Babsie?

hey jason why didnt mayor don change the rules back in 2000 when the city addressed the recall rules ... because they like them the way they wrote them .
know that dog has come back and bit them in the well... leg so to speak

this is going to a recall election.if the mayor wants to save akron the expense,he could resign.the ball is in the mayor's court now to do the right thing. but he won't.

@RUNUTS - It is their business. Next you'll want to build a wall around Akron preventing people from other cites entry. You are such a typical Akron hill jack! Telling other mayors to mind their own business can only come from people who don't have much going on upstairs. Now get back to detailing my car.

Imagine that the CLINTON mayor was NOT aware , she is not aware of where the front door is! I went in front of her one time to get something taken care of and it WAS A JOKE. She does NOT have a clue!

@DemocracyinAkron, go look at the numbers. It was 2% of the Akron population that was needed in signatures. It had nothing to do with past turnout at the polls or they would have need even less in signatures.

I like having Bill Currin as my mayor but let's be realistic: he shouldn't be involved in this dispute for many reasons, the biggest being that Hudson has an incredibly weak mayor structurally who's main job is basically showing up at parades.

I have been asking for weeks to for someone to show me a city our size that has less debt load? I have also asked for a comparison of Ohio city debt loads? The recall groups refuses to oblige because the numbers would show that Akron is in better shape than most cities in Ohio.

The bottom line is Don knows he's going to be recalled if he isn't saved by some political machinations to keep this recall off the ballot (like an "emergency review of the charter.") He's trying to circle the wagons with the help of his crony fellow mayors.

The ability to recall him is in the charter and the procedure was followed to put it on the ballot.
Now....let's have the election, and we'll see if the citizens of Akron really want this egomaniacal tyrant to remain as their mayor!!!

First, I think a recall effort should be made by taxpayers.

2% is not a mandate, it's a JOKE. And they had difficutly even getting that.

Warner, I want you to respond to this...if you lose, you first pay for this effort, and the next day you pay your taxes...all of them.

Please respond in affirmation that you WILL do the right thing if you lose.

The Mayor and my tax dollars have more important things to do.

@irishlou - Well, there we have it. Y'all looked and don't see a single item that's questionable.

So what does that say about y'all?? Y'all are a crony? A business partner or political friend?? One of the faithful that can't admit fault even when it hits y'all over the head?? Mebbe y'alls political convictions jes' don't allow y'all to admit fault because it would then make y'alls ego look silly. Who's to say what drives y'all's reasonin'.

It certainly isn't facts. The facts are, as of today, that the recall folks made allegations of wrong-doin'. They provided evidence to support their allegations.

No matter what, neither the city hall hero, nor any other supporter, that includes y'all, have provided a single shred of evidence to disprove any of the allegations.

Most reasonable folks would see that as a sign of guilt, or at the very least, a dodge of the information.

Why, is the question.

I've said many times now, that all the city hall hero has to do, is provide evidence that each allegation is on the up-and-up, and this all goes away.

He's chosen not to, instead to use the political machine to overcome the recall. Basically, he's chosen to use power over the vote.

As y'all stated about the courts, no matter how poor the evidence against sum-buddy in a court of law, it takes a tad more than some moron standin' up and jes' sayin' "gee that isn't true", to get a not guilty verdict.

@The Ghost of Tom Joad said: {{{if you have actual proof of criminal or unethical activities by the mayor, then present the proof
to the proper authorities}}}

Again, this little piece of mantra doesn't hold water. As metioned before, Toledo's mayor is bein' recalled, and no such accusations of illegal activities have been made against him. In his case, the city council is spearheadin' the drive to have him ousted.

He's bein' recalled for many of the same reasons as Akron's city hall hero.

One of the stranger things to me is the article says that Mayor Myberry said she did not know about the letter. The response was "we didn't have her email and needed to get signatures in a sort amount of time" - how hard is it to get the Mayor of Clinton's email?
Silver Lake mayor said he responded to the email and doesn't know what happened?

Betamax - its YOU ALL.

I agree completely with Irish Lou. This sets a terrible precedent for our region because, guess what - 2% of the voting populace will ALWAYS be unhappy with the results of an election because, well, its just a mere 2%!!!! Since when should such a small minority have the right / ability to throw a wrench into the outcomes of the democratic process? Just because they don't like the guy we elected?

This recall effort is shaming our region, tainting the image of our city, and makes me quite frankly EMBARASSED to say that I share the same town as Mendenhall and the people spearheading this effort. What I have yet to hear from these people is a plan of substance they seek to pursue in place of Don's agenda. What are you people planning on doing huh? Getting the guy out of office doesn't amount to anything if you can't put forward an alternative solution that takes our town in the right direction.

You people highjacked our city and quite frankly - make me sick.

2% of the population signed. Now, what percentage will go to the polls? No matter what you may think or feel, the names were collected in accordance with the law, and now there is going to be a vote. If you don't plan on going to vote, then it is probably best to shut your pie hole!

And to "the ghost"...Hi Mayor P....

{{{ I have been asking for weeks to for someone to show me a city our size that has less debt load...I have also asked for a comparison of Ohio city debt loads}}}

Iff'n we are to follow this logic, then we can also say that Toledo's mayor is bein' recalled for many of the same reasons as Akron's city hall hero is.

Therefore, our city hall hero must be recalled because Toledo's mayor is goin' to be recalled.

We certainly want to be compared equally, to the other city's our size.

Now that we have that settled, all we need to do now, is figure out who we like for our next mayor.

A lot of this appears to be based on the fact that the republican party has no chance of putting up a viable candidate in Akron. That is sad but true. Thus, the mayoral election becomes a settled matter during the primary. I would suggest, though I know it will never happen, that the elections for all offices in Akron be non-partisan. If that had been the case in the last election I wonder if the present mayor would have won? He didn't win the primary by that great a margin and the non-democrats in a non-partisan election may have been enough to oust the mayor with, yes another democrat, but NOT the Don..

Original Jason - Bill Currin endorsed Obama in the general election. It is a big stretch to call him a Republican.

Currin is a joke. He is a weak mayor and is only trying to earn points with King Don.

@whodunit - ((chucklin')) Oh no, it's y'all.

As for the rest of y'alls comments, try readin' more. All of those remarks have been answered.

The only person ashamed is the city hall hero. His dirty laundry has finally been aired, and he's blubberin' about, instead of answerin' the charges against him.

Any-buddy else that's ashamed, needs to get their water level checked. They are a quart or two low.

@deidre, it seems like it may be hard to get Clinton Mayor's email considering their website is not even working. The group of Mayor's probably decided not to waste their time with a Mayor that cannot even keep a web presence running with contact information.

@Betamax, not that is not the logic at all. I love every time you twist someone else's post and put your backwards logic to it.

The recall group is making such a big point about the debt load of the city per person. The fact is every major city I have looked up has a larger debt load per person. I have yet to find a city the size of Akron or larger in Ohio that has a lower debt load.

@Gale, Summit County charter has NOTHING to do with this recall so your statement is misguided. It is totally guided by the Akron charter.

@working joe

I said it before, and I'll say it again: You don't know squat about Bill Currin. you should shut your jealous mouth up. You will never be good enough to live in Hudson, so you can't possibly know what you are talking about.
These mayors are trying to tell you people that the recall vote is BAD FOR AKRON. Learn to listen, and listen to learn.

Bata and Mendenhall will soon fade into the sunset still thinking that they were right!!! How sad to see them go down in the sinking ship. However, many are in the same boat aimlessly sailing around looking for controversy to feel of some importance.
I have known many who will never admit their folly and still pay their taxes!!!!!

Americas Founding Fathers put us, the government of the people, by the people, for the people, responsible to hold EVERY elected official accountable. To comply with demands of Natural Law (what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world), God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Demanding every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church markets the cost in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of every workers, consumers, and taxpayers living (including pension and health care). Enabling parents to love, nurse, nurture, discipline, protect, and provide, for every child (job) they conceive and fund schools, infrastructure, national security, government services, and etc.; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.

WOW Loren! I see you are off your meds again.

Test

Is the Don Mayor for life?The people of Akron keep voting him in so maybe he has developed a "dictator mentality".Pass a referendum calling for "term limits.Do something for crying out loud.
Port Saint Lucie,Fl.
PS,I knew DP at Kenmore.

@Betamax you said to me "So what does that say about y'all?? Y'all are a crony? A business partner or political friend?? One of the faithful that can't admit fault even when it hits y'all over the head?? Mebbe y'alls political convictions jes' don't allow y'all to admit fault because it would then make y'alls ego look silly. Who's to say what drives y'all's reasonin'."

Well I'm none of the above. I'm just a "misguided soul" who happens to disagree with you and stating my opinion, as you have done numerous times.
I am a rational, thinking person who has the ability to sift through the "evidence" you say exists and find it nothing but groundless suppositions and conjectures assembled to bring forth personal agendas at great taxpayers expense.
How arcane a tactic. But then your screen name says it all.... "Betamax". Obsolete and of no further use.

Warner -- how can you afford to spend money on the recall when you can't afford to pay your personal taxes?

@Gain Some More Reality - Nice. Comparisons are only good as long as y'all want them to be.

Well, I'm glad y'all cleared that up.

ya never know is what racy say

Comparisons allow you to judge how our city is doing against others. If our debt load per person is too high, should I not find that we are one of the highest for cities our size or larger in Ohio? All the numbers I have found say Akron is doing better than cities our size or larger, but the recall group has not shown any data or analysis that shows Akron's debt load is bad.

I wonder why all of you who so passionately advocate for this ridiculous waste of money don't work your tails off to get another Mayor elected. The silence at election time is deafening. Oh, right- that's because 2% of you can't do jack except this waste of money. I wonder just how many of the recall supporters have real jobs?

@KWP - term limits are for the intellectually lazy and say to the voters, "your decision doesn't matter anymore." Term limits are Un-American.

Loren cuts and pastes this same garbage over and over. No one has yet to make any sense of it. I think Loren thinks he/she is being cryptic. I've got news for Loren: There is a rubber room with your name on it.

@ Gain Some More Reality - good point. Opinion and conjecture are not a sound basis for engaging in something as silly as mayoral recall election

@ irishlou - ((chucklin'))A tad bitter aren't we.

I'll remind y'all, that y'all were the one that wanted to make legal comparisons, and now are jes' an opinionated soul.

No matter. The fact remains that allegations were made, and those allegations were backed up.

It doesn't matter iff'n y'all agree with the evidence. Unless they are refuted by sum-buddy other than a misguided soul with an opinion, they remain the only evidence before us.

On the otherhand, y'all have made a claim that this is all for a personal agenda. Do y'all have evidence of that??

Or is that more of that conjecture and supposition y'all spoke of??

No need to thank me for helpin' y'all out with this. I'm glad to help out.

@ Yes. That is stating the obvious. The whole point is that the law is ridiculous and unfair in that it grants 2% of the voting population too much influence in determining electoral results - allowing them to throw their weight as if they were a majority. The law and minimum percentage of signatures should be revised and raised.

{{{but the recall group has not shown any data or analysis that shows Akron's debt load is bad.}}}

Nor has the city hall hero or any of his advocates justified his expendatures.

I do like this comparison thing though. Comparin' Akron's city hall hero to Toledo's mayor, who is goin' to be recalled, is comparison enough to recall Akron's mayor.

Thanks for bringin' that to ever-buddy's attention.

I am fairly neutral on the issue of the Recall efforts of Mayor Plusquellic. However when I hear such distortions of facts such as those presented by Hudson Mayor Currin in this article, I get annoyed. Specifically Currin is quoted as saying: "To allow such recalls to proceed if 2 percent of the voters sign petitions is silly, he said. ''Who can't get 2 percent of voters to sign petitions today?''
The truth is that 20% of the voters are required, not 2%. The fact is that Plusquellic was elected as Mayor last time around with a total vote count of less than 16,000. This in a city with over 160,000 eligible voters doesn't speak well for their confidence in Plusquellic even if he did run unopposed. Plusquellic was put in office by 9% of the eligible voters in Akron. Now this group of Don Plusquellic's buddies are trying to pull another last ditch blindsiding to circumvent the laws in place. Come on! Perhaps what we need to have an emegency review of is that part of the charter that allows the election of any official with such a ridiculously low, low % of votes in the first place. Don's ego needs knocked down a few notches. Hopefully, if nothing else is accomplished by this recall election, it will be.

@Because- Would that be like the waste fo money to buy Youngs restaurant?? Or the loss Akron took on the Portage hotel?? Or the loss Akron took on the loan to the Raddison?

How about the $6 million in improvements for Summas Acute Care Center? That's a lot of gas, water and sewer lines.

How about the $800,000 to move the Howe house?

When can the taxpayers of Akron expect a return on those investments??

Ooops, gosh, we went far beyond that piddly little recall election amount already.

Good thing the city hall hero isn't wasteful. Why, iff'n he was, why then he'd have to wait each week, to see how much revenue has come in, so he knows how many of the city's bills he can pay.

Ooops, he's doin' that now. Must have been all the waste.

So the recall effort has reached the final phase and only now do they come up with reviewing the city charter......seems a bit fishy.

It appears that Don is getting worried.

To all the Anti-recall people (and newspapers): The people have exorcised their right to have a recall election. Now it is up to the people. That is still the American way (as much as you don't want it to be)

whodunit...the law may be ridiculous, but it is the law. Quit complaining on here and take measures to have the law changed.

@Betamax, no one has done a comparison versus Toledo or any other city. I have asked for such several times now, but the recall group does not want to share data that justifies their decisions. They only post piece of data that do not paint the full picture (good or bad). If I was running such a recall, my website would make it very clear why things were happening. Instead this group decides to post tidbits and push for recall on emotion rather than facts.

I personally am not taking the Betamax approach to the election/recall process: if Toledo does, it we should. Is that how you really live your life?

@Jackson, look back at all the elections. The numbers that voted is no different than the normal turnout. You really cannot judge the support for or against a person if they run unopposed.

@Betamax, the problem with your examples of "waste" is the entire community does not feel such improvements are waste. If they did, the Mayor would have already lost an election.

To: Gain Some More Reality: The fact that the numbers were no different than the normal turnout is irrelevant. The fact is only 15,895 citizens in a City of 200,000 voted FOR Don.
"You really cannot judge the support for or against a person if they run unopposed." You are right. I guess we'll get the answer to that from the recall election, won't we?

These mayors are worried about their own jobs. This is hillarious! Robart has it right, stay out of our business.

God forbid the citizens should be involved in their government! Bye, bye Don!

To: Gain Some More Reality:
That the numbers that voted are no different than the normal turnout is irrelevant. The fact is that ony 15,895 in a city of 200,000, voted FOR Don.
"You really cannot judge the support for or against a person if they run unopposed."
You are right. I guess that's what we'll find out in the Recall election, won't we?

@Jackson, the is no reason to vote for a candidate if they are unopposed. The numbers really mean nothing unless there are competing candidates.

Crooks supporting crooks. All mayors are scared that Mayor Don will be out and they will be next.

The whole lot of them deserve to be thrown out of office !!!

Recall "The Don" to start the ball rolling.

to Gain Some More Reality: Earlier you commented: "@DemocracyinAkron, go look at the numbers. It was 2% of the Akron population that was needed in signatures. It had nothing to do with past turnout at the polls or they would have need even less in signatures"
Wrong. The charter reqired 20% of those voting in the election for that Office. 15, 895 voted for Plusquellic (actually voted period). 20% of 15,895 = 3,179 which was the # of signatures required.
Re: your repetitive comment above: Huh?

From what I have read on AkronNewsNow.com
Mike Williams is going to run for Mayor.

@Jackson, your right I mixed up the two sets of numbers people were throwing around.

But even to that, DemocracyinAkron stance is not based in fact. The Mayor was not the only thing on the ballot and not the only event going on that you can say the turnout was poor or they did not care about the Mayor's election. The numbers were typical of Akron elections for the types of things on the ballot.

hahahahahahahahahaha

Amazing hos ridiculous it is to put this on the ballot after Don was elected and the people spoke. Oh wait, don;t they hold special elections to get school levies passed and when they are defeated they keep putting them on the ballot till they somehow pass?

The citizens of Akron are intelligent enough to decide whether or not to recall Mayor Plusquellic without the input of outsiders.

Would the Mayors who signed the letter please mind your own business?

This is like a list of former steroid users recommending that Manny Ramirez not be suspended. How funny.
Maybe the Mayors would like to send out their opinion on waterboarding, as well, because everyone cares what they think.

"Currin said Friday that recall efforts such as the one going on in Akron are ''frivolous'' and
hurt the region's image and economic vitality."

I don't care about Plusquellic one way or the other, but can't help but agree with that statement.

@IrishLou - I am in agreement with you.

I am still waiting for Warner to answer the questions I asked him! O wait he doesn't play by the same rules that he preaches. Never mind I won't wait anymore. Thats like me being one of his children waiting for the child support check so I could by some shoes. But my rich dad wanted to spend it on himself. Warner (DAD) I NEED SOME SHOES MY FEET ARE COLD AND HURT! SORRY SON I RATHER RECALL THE MAYOR AND PUT MY PICTURE ALL OVER THE CITY AND INTERNET! GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SHOES SON WILL YOU SIGN MY PETITION PLEASE!

The Recall folks have not exercised democracy they have abused it! The so called proof they keep putting forward is so petty, factless and baseless that the way to beat them is to let them talk. Any logical thinking Akronite knows exactly what this recall is. The Akron Debt is the recall groups talking point but still fail to give comparisons of our debt to that of similar cities! Why is that Warner? Why can't you back that up? Is it untrue?

Zzzzzzzzz...

@IrishLou - "Is it a wise use of tax dollars..up to $500,000? No."

Sure it is. It'll stimulate the local economy and keep the funds from going into the pockets of the Mayor’s “friends”.

Dsmith, if you want it to stop then the Mayor can simple give all the information the recall people are asking for. Then he can answer the questions put before him on why his girlfriend travels at the citie expense on trips. Don is refusing to disclose his situations they are claiming are troublesome. Don is hiding something and needs to come clean. Let's debate the issues in an open forum and see what BS Dumb don is willing to try and lie about. Like it or not the law provides for a recall and Mr Mendenhall and his group have followed the law. The Recall is on and going to happen. That's the facts and they can not be disputed.

To: Gain Some More Reality:
Good point. I guess we'll find out how the voters feel about Plusquellic soon enough.

while we're at it, I think it's time to recall the mayor of Hudson. I recently got a bad bottle of Chardonnay and my filet was overdone. This city is falling apart. before you know it, people will be parking Winnebagos in their front yards.

Bill Currin says that this is will hurt the image of the region and the economic vitality...HAHA like Don's erratic spending for his girlfriends trips out of the city tax money, and the lawsuit filed by the EPA havent hurt it already...Maybe Bill should focus on his crappy town of Hudson and how mayor Don has already screwed him over rather then spending Hudson's city tax money on a stupid campaign that is not even for his city....

Oops! Now I have to recall myself. Who would order chardonnay with a filet? I must have lived in Akron in a previous life.

I know. Bad joke. And so is this recall. Like there's no other pressing problems to deal with.

Too bad so sad Donnie boy, YOUR city council approved this charter Nov. 7, 2000 NOW deal with it. www.akronwatch.org

@RUNUTS, outsides are allowed to express their opinion. Half the people participating in these discussions on these forums are not even Akron residents. The same freedoms that allow outsiders to have an opinion are the ones that are even allowing yo to vote onthe recall in the first place.

@stephyyyyy, I am not sure that girlfriend traveling his hurt the reputation of the region at all. All the politicians travel with people, this is not unique to our Mayor. At least we know how he is bedding with, instead of the other politicians how are getting a little on the side.

Real Voice - If the Mayor does confront the issues the recall group puts forth. It will not change a thing, due to the fact that he is guilty in your eyes of something! You and your recall group don't know what that something is all you know is he is guilty of something!

Stephyyyy - Crappy Hudson???

Those mayors should consider the reality that they are committing political suicide and is it worth it? www.akronwatch.org

These mayors are right on! It takes 50 % of the vote to get elected in a general election, but only 2% to get a recall on the ballot. So it only takes a relatively few disgruntled losers to trigger an expensive re-election. What a waste!! Some of these 2% are probably the biggest complainers about budget cuts - now there will be even less funds available to pay for vital services.

Dsmith, He has been repeatedly ask to explain why his expenditutres are so large and include things he shouldn;t be putting on the city bills. Don's response is nothing. this is the attitude that got him to this point in the first place. being Mayor doesn't give you dictator status. Those people he shuns are citizens of akron who are asking questions and want answers. they are entitled to nothing less then an open honest answer. I am in no way affiliated with the Recall people. I just enjoy watching a loud mouth arrogant man who feels he is above everyone else getting smacked around like he is. I don't live in Akron nor would I ever. This is all entertainment to me and would gladly show up to watch Warner Mendenhall debate Don Plusquellic. Warner would bury him.

real voice of reason

Posted 10:38 AM, 05/18/2009 Dsmith, He has been repeatedly ask to explain why his expenditutres are so large and include things he shouldn;t be putting on the city bills. Don's response is nothing. this is the attitude that got him to this point in the first place. being Mayor doesn't give you dictator status. Those people he shuns are citizens of akron who are asking questions and want answers. they are entitled to nothing less then an open honest answer.

I completely agree! But a recall is not appropriate for these actions! Any logical thinking Akronite can see this. The Mayor has done a great job! His accomplishments far outweigh his faults!

Tony James,

He also supported LaTourette over the nurse in the last election. I also crossed and voted McCain. You don't have to vote 100% party line.

akronwatch,

Did you disclose your business interests yet? Me thinks you and your boy won't be able to throw a puppet into office to take care your needs. To quote you, too bad, so sad. Try to make money with competence, not connections.


Please, everyone check out:

www.akronwatch.org
and
www.changeakronnow.org.

...and then ask yourself if you would call that proof of anything.

@AkronCrotch wrote:"Those mayors should consider the reality that they are committing political suicide and is it worth it?"

Could you be more clueless? All this whole thing does is reinforce the feelings in the 'Burbs about how broken Akron is.

Where's the chime-ins from all the local politicians who support this recall effort?

The silence is deafening......

Bravo to the Northfield mayor. It is indeed no other mayor's business. Unless, of course, they have a vested interest.

Tallmadge Mayor Grimm should've known better than to sign, given what Old Man Grump has on him. Start passin' around the recall petitions, Grumpster.

Because Summit County has more people than the entire state of Wyoming maybe we should consider secession from the state of Ohio.

Because then everyone in our new state could elect Don Plusquellic governer and then at that point all of the people who have an opinion/say about the most powerful politician in our new state and how our goverment works.

Until then have fun being a small town mayor.

I find this all very amusing. The same people keep electing Mayor Don and you think the recall is going to work? Are you kidding me? As long as there is a "D" after the mayor's name, the simpletons in Akron will vote for him. In fact, you could probably dig up Mayor Ballard & everyone would vote for him since he was a Democrat. Cleveland is the same way; but at least we don't have an illiterate buffoon who can't speak proper English as our Mayor. You have to look on the positive side! LOL!

Can the recall proponents please clarify your position on attracting and maintaining jobs? Are you for or against using incentives in attracting and maintaining jobs? If you are against, what would you use to attract companies to move here?

yankeescot,

Good post and I agree that the simpletons should have voted for the Republican candidate last time.

dsmith as an outsider who views Akron I will tell you Akron looks like a joke too me. Your Mayor exemplifies himself as a total idiot and someone who cares only about himself. he's known as a bully and appears as crooked as they come. That's the view from someone outside Akron.

Ballard was, and is, a Republican. No need to dig him up.

But we get your point, yankeescot. It's the mindset that has, and probably will forever, hold Akron back.

real voice of reason,

Akron is a joke and yet you are so interested that you post on every recall story. Why worry about Akron then?


TruthPatrol,

Get "your party" to run a candidate. It's easy to criticize when you don't step up and play ball.

Real Voice - As an outsider I could see how your views would be so out of line. Calling someone with the accomplishments, accolades and Mayoral career Don has an idiot is quite an idiotic statement. He has not been proven to be crooked at all so that statement is also false. I'll give you the bully one! What would you like a pushover running your city?

@ Jason: You are correct. Have to wonder what skeleton-in-the-cloakroom keeps Alex & Co. from producing a real candidate from their party.

Evidently in Akron, no rank-and-file GOP members care enough to ask.

Not my party, BTW.

@loren:
where is Gwen to translate what you say? You are a pscycho-babble nutjob. Do you think you've ever made any sense to ANYONE?

@Loren --> I have seen your "comment" on several different articles on several different occasions... however, I still don't have a grasp on what you are trying to "say". IMO, I don't think you have much of a grasp on it either... I am assuming you are trying to make a valid point, but I can't decipher the language in which it is written.

As for the actual subject at hand... Mayor Don has been in office way too long, we should have had a regime change long ago. The problem is that there hasn't been a viable opponent for quite some time (and if there was, I am (unfortunately) under the belief that the fear of change thwarted his/her hopes) Mayor P has done a heck of a lot for this City, but since he has been in office so long (like any other politician that has been in office that long) there seems to be a lot of "pocket padding" going on, i.e. you scratch mine, I'll scratch yours, which is how politics works usually, but Mayor P (appears to be) in quite deep!

VTBO --> Vote the Bums Out!!

However, we cannot just vote someone in for the simple fact that he or she is not Mayor P. Seems as if we are stuck between a rock and a hard(case)!!

IMO, this recall is a waste of money/resources and those things (money/resources) should have been used to fund/develop a viable opponent. I will be quite shocked if the recall election is successful. My main worry, if it is successful, is that there doesn't seem to be a "contingency" plan, or any plan for that matter, once Mayor P is ousted... Simply getting him out seems to be "the plan", and it definitely doesn't mean the person coming in to replace him will do any better.

don plusquellic, marco sommerville, and the APD, are the reasons I refuse to live in akron. It has gone to the dogs. Moved in 1995 and haven"t look back !!!

WOW mayors objecting to mayors being held accountable-this shows the corruptive power of the plusquillic machine/gang
the raw power it took for don to order those mayors to publically back him in such a fashion is a good example of why he has to go-20 years of underhanded dealing backed by the coffers of kenmore const and testla asphalt has dons gang in control of alot more than akron-this is proof-God almighty please help us get him out of office

I understand that the FBI is look at Mayor Plusquellic very close. Are formal charges far behind? How about the whispering about Workman's Comp kickbacks at City Hall? Very interesting ..

@ Truth Patrol-my bad! It just frustrates me to no end that Akron voters insist on keeping the same people in place, regardless of their record.

Since I am new to this board, would someone please explain to me why Akron does not have term limits? I think it would be much more effective than a recall effort.

Common Man,

Your tactic has already been played by several posters. So, I issue the same challenge of asking you for proof. I want to see something, anything at all. Otherwise, that is a lame attempt at innuendo, which is the name of the game in this "movement."

Let's see it.....

i wont put big don down because i hate akron hated growing up there and dont care about akron all i have to say is cuyahoga falls rules

The people of Akron need to get serious and pass some kind of term limit legislation. That would solve this whole mess. Any politician who stays in power for that long will become enamored with the money available to him from lobbyists and other sources legal and shady! I sure don't see any jobs all his traveling around the globe has produced for the city!If the people of Akron want a new mayor, which they should, they better start looking for a replacement. Myself, I can't wait to retire so I can move out of this disgusting excuse for a city! I know why it is called "The Butthole of Ohio". It is a very apt and fitting nickname!

@Franco, and we will all hold a party when you take your negativity elsewhere.

The other mayor's praise him cause he invites them to his very expensive golf outing. Top of the line steaks.