"He also didn't expect the politically inexperienced Change Akron Now group to raise great sums of money among its supporters."

Folks, this is exactly what happens when you DON'T have your own VISION for Akron's future. It is hardly enough to simply be "Anti-Plusquellic" and it doesn't really matter what YOU THINK he has or has not done. People will continue to back him because they cannot envision a viable and purposeful alternative to him. No one claiming to oppose Plusquellic has, as of yet, articulated this alternative.

Once again, to succeed in replacing the mayor, YOU must be PRO-SOMETHING other than just diametric opposition to the mayor.

If you are to have any hope for amassing genuine public support and therefore, victory, in terms of establishing new leadership over the city, you MUST your idea of what that leadership is.

Urban Politics 101

Special Note to Warner Mendenhall: VINDICATION is not a replacement for VISION.

Support the Machine!!

Vote No to Recall!!!

The average per contributor was $632. (A complete list of donors is available at http://www.ohio.com.)..WHERE? WHERE?

@ignorancekills....dead nuts on....he can't beat something with nothing.

Dems should have beat Bush in 2004 but ran a campaign based on Bush is bad and nothing else ....todays Republicans attack Obama 24/7 but don't offer any solutions of their own.

Mendenhall doesn't have a vision...just unbridled hatred for the mayor....I have talked to his followers....just incoherent rants about unproved allgations....the mayor is guilty on all charges unless he can prove himself innocent.

I am one that thinks the mayor has done a good job...but if you want to beat him lay out specifically what you want to do.

The debt issue goes nowhere with me..every city, township, county, and state government in the country is struggling right now during this recession...Akron is doing better than most.

Citizens for akron spends 37 grand for design and printing services and awards work to a Columbus contractor. Are there no companies in akron that do this kind of work? Oxymorons !!

The Mayor has raised a quarter million dollars to fight the recall. That tells you how crooked he really is. His supporters do not want to lose their inside connection to the city.

It's time for a change in Akron and the recalling of Mayor Don.

The donations from companies are no surprise i hope the FBI takes note of these contributionsand any possible conflicts!

Old Man Grump is on fire!

I am cosigning him two days in a row.

----

Did the Department of Justice finish finding the dirt on the Akron Police Department? When will their final report surface?

@retiredcopwife....suggesting something sordid in these contributions without any proof....that is the recall in a nutshell...recall by innuendo.

Here is a conspiracy theory for you. Mendenhall makes a living suing the city....the recall is good for his business...hope the FBI takes note of this for possible conflicts!

If the recall vote loses and the mayor wins again, all the oppostion on government wasting money, can complain about more lost revenue with this exercise.

But, we just have to wait and see.

Does the mayor's supporters not think that it is an excessive amount of money for someone who has done nothing wrong to spend on a recall election and whose material was bought for in another city? Isn't there anything that you can see wrong with this picture? Chief complaint is that he wastes taxpayers money and he does not support the city of Akron. The mayor's people really cannot see something wrong with this? Also, do they not see that the majority of the money came from the same people that get the bids for the contracts in this city? Why would these companies give thousands of dollars to keep him in office. They know what side their bread is buttered on. If these same companies are charging fair prices and putting in the lowest bid then they have nothing to fear when a new mayor is elected. Theyy will still get the work.

Common sense = $219,282

neo-anarchism = $7,500

Enough said!

Tammy - you are stupid. Is your real name Patti Longville? Your side is losing so what do you do? What you have been doing all along...Lie some more. Classic Akron hick!

vote FOR the RECALL

Your vote is priceless!

This man has had his hand in the affairs of Akron for 36 years. Can't he just go away....and if not, then vote for the recall. Fresh leadership is good. Regime change is very good.

Don is like a cold that won't go away, it just lingers.

Some of the Plusquellic supporters who voted with their wallets won't be able to help him at the polls June 23, the day of the recall election. More than one-third of the donors listed addresses outside Akron on campaign finance reports. Only Akron residents can vote on the recall.

Financially love him, but don't live in his city. hmmm.
Perhapse he's lined there pockets enough, they can afford to live in Bath, Hudson, etc. So they give some back to help a business partner out.

Immaculate is just waiting to laugh and heckle everytime an anti don person types when this is over. Yea next there gonna be saying, the voters were intimmiidated at the booths ha. Mendenhall, Akron's joke of the year.

Wow Warner, way to raise that money haha. One more thing for me to laugh about. You might want to hit up Citizens for Akron to help you out with those tax liens? As usual where these people are concerned, all talk and zero action. This is almost as hilarious as the Miss Tia story. Almost.

Im just waiting to laugh and heckle everytime an anti don person types a statement when this is over. Next there gonna be saying, the voters were intimmiidated at the booths. Mendenhall is Akron's joke of the year.

OldManGrump RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!!

Did the article read most people that contributed to the mayors campaign cannot vote because of their addresses?

Sounds about right to me.

RECALL THE MAYOR.

Bella, You're not bright. Upon reviewing the list, every contributor to Plusquellic either

A) does business with the city. or

B) Is an employee of the Democrat Party patronage machine.

I re-read the article about one third of his supporters are non akron residents.

When the city police force votes to recall the mayor I think the citizens should take special note.

Once again I am against any person holding public office for more than a decade.

Lets end his decade plus run as akron's dictator.

Too bad Mendenhall wasn't able to get that kind of support from his low-rent backers. Then maybe he could have paid off his taxes. Oh well, maybe next time.

Canton, Youngstown, Cleveland. Spend a day in any of those cities and come back and tell me how Akron compares.

225 Akron addresses contributed to The DON. 25 for the opposition. 5 to 1. I expect to see the same or better at the polls come the 23rd.

KEEP THE DON!!!

I will be glad when this is over .But I will miss these very funny posts . I don't agree with everything the mayor has done or tried but I haven't heard anyone tell me who can do a better job. People should be pushing for term limits not
recalls. As a long time Teamster (independent) I know the longer people stay in office the more it looks like they are corrupt and anything they do is bound to make some group unhappy so people need to get together and work to make Akron a better place.It probably starts within City Council.

Like I have said before, spend a day in Cleveland, Canton and Youngstown. Come back and tell me how Akron compares.

I've been to the ChangeAkronNow website and looked through the "evidence" page. That is the weakest argument for a recall I have ever seen. It's not even good material for a campaign to run against him. I guess that's why no one stepped up and did that last time. Hmmmmm.

@EducatedOne, it would seem by your name you should be able to at least read.

The article says "some" and "more than one-third". That is not the same as your statement of "most people".

Jester wrote "This man has had his hand in the affairs of Akron for 36 years. Can't he just go away....and if not, then vote for the recall. Fresh leadership is good. Regime change is very good."

I do not live nor work in Akron, so I do not have a vested interest either way. What I do think is ridiculous about this recall is that this man was ELECTED by the MAJORITY in the past election. If you want a change in personnel, do it through the electoral process.

It is obvious that no one believes they can win an actual election against this man, so they're trying a back-door approach to get what the MINORITY wants.

This reminds me of my three-year-old who throws a fit and tries to manipulate his way into getting what he wants. What a crock and a waste of money.

@EducatedOne, the city police force did NOT "vote to recall the mayor" as you state. They only voted to support the recall and the margin was only 2 votes. They get to go to the polls just like everyone else and decide.

Pay to Play....just look at the contributors, and WHAT THEY GET IN RETURN FROM THE CITY!!!!

Just another reason to RECALL the mayor June 23!!

PS- The FOP, who supported the recall, is not "low rent", and neither are the othe pro-recall folks!! GROW UP!!!

I'll support the Akron Police. RECALL !!!!!

The median contribution from the 359 contributors is $173. I think that goes to show that most of the support in numbers is not from big-money firms, but from regular individuals. Don't listen to the "machine" talk. Numbers don't lie, but many ohio.com recall proponents do.

The argument, "well go to Cleveland, Youngstown, etc. and see how you like our city" really doesn't wash. Do Clevelanders and Youngstowners say, "go to Somalia, then decide?"

How about we change the argument to, "go to Hudson or Tallmadge or Munroe Falls, then decide."

hope the feds take note of what business are giving money

Retired Cop Wife,

That is my favorite play by the recall folks. I guess they can incorporate these companies into their ongoing and very huge investigation into DP, right?

Typical post by someone standing on nothing.

You have to open your wallet if you want to play ball with the city. These donations bring Ray Kapper to mind for some reason...

http://www.summitmemory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/gangl&CISOPTR=177&CISOBOX=1&REC=1

http://www.afsc.net/PDFFiles/2001PayToPlaySeries.pdf

hope the feds take note of where the big dollars come from. Power corrupts absolute power absolutely corrupts.

Shouldn't representatives of the Secretary of State's office and the media remain "impartial"???

The Anti-Recall contributor list includes:

James J. Hardy
Regional Liaison for Ohio Secretary of State

Eric S. Mansfield
WKYC Channel 3 News Anchor and Host of PBS 49's NewsNight Akron

Isn't it also interesting that Billy Soule didn't bother to list his "occupation" and "employer" as Assistant to the Mayor and City of Akron? Instead, he listed himself as 'consultant' at Billy Soule Co.

Wouldn't you think, with a taxpayer provided salary of $73,176-$113,505, that Billy would proudly mention his primary income source?

Is it possible that he is embarrassed to tell the people that he works for the City of Akron?

10 days till this recall falls flat...Can't wait to see Mendenhall then.....I think I raised more my at my yard sale last week.

Jax...

Fortunately, the price for a voter to cast a ballot is still FREE.

((chucklin')) Despite the meanin'less rhetoric from the cheerleaders today, The recall isn't about money. But since they brought it up, let's take a look at this.

The city hall hero raises a quarter million, and spends what?? I doubt that his piddly 2000 signs cost but a couple thousand dollars. Let's face it, not a lot of thought or design went into those signs.

Where does the rest of the money go???

Raisin' campaign money isn't always about usin' it for the campaign. And certainly not for this one.

I suppose iff'n nuthin' else, this recall afforded the city hall hero with another cash cow.

As for the hecklers who don't think the recall folks evidence is worth spit, I'd remind folks, they also think drugs should be legal, because they obviously use them and scoff at laws like speed limits on the xway. Besides, not a one of them, as well as the city hall hero, has been able to refute a single item with contrary evidence.

I will vote to keep our current mayor, I share a locker next to Mendenhall at the Y, it stinks just like his politics. If you want to be mayor Warner you need to run in a regular election.

Hey Betamax, I'm glad you brought up scoffing at laws like the speed limit. Your fearless leader, Mendenhall, was the one who sued the city when his wife got a speeding ticket IN A SCHOOL ZONE! There's some real character there. What's good for the goose...

And as for the genius Whatevs, when comparing cities I typically try to stick with ones that are of similar size and demographics. If you want to pay the same taxes as Hudson, Tallmadge or Munroe Falls then go ahead. Our city would be alot different if we were getting the kind of tax money that Hudson is. Last I checked, Hudson's demographics along with Munroe Falls and Tallmadge are a little different than Akrons. Not to mention that Tallmadge is definitely in worse shape tax wise than Akron is. Maybe you haven't been reading the news about their budget cuts and not being able to pass a school levy to save their lives.

Reality demands we the government, of the people, by the people, for the people, support recalling EVERY Elected Official and Bureaucrat with wages or independent business profit. That defies demands of Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, 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.

No surprise--more outrageous & non-specific charges from Mendenhall--about donors being rewarded & fear of retribution. If you can't be more specific than that, you should just keep your mouth shut & pay your taxes like a good citizen.

Mendenbots can't raise any money cause they have very slim support. All he can afford is annoying robo-calls, which didn't work for McCain, either.

Prediction: Landslide, against.

BTW, there are no prohibitions against news media or state employees contributing, on a personal basis, to a campaign.

Overtaxed.... I find it interesting that NONE of the pro-recall supporters listed their occupations. Other than Warner, do any of them have jobs?

@samhall, I find it more funny that Mendenhall is not even on the list of contributors.

If Warner would have come up with anything legitimate to recall Mayor Don then I would have gladly considered voting him out. But all they seem to come up with is problems with his personality and no quality evidence of any wrong doing. Sounds to much like a personal vendetta than anything else.

classic example of why he should be booted. All his payoff companies want to make sure the mayor stays in their pockets...

The mayor is getting rich even on his recall election... Is this what politics is about? Scratch my back and Ill scratch yours?

Pay me off and Ill pay you off? Classic.

Boot this guy

@Gain some reality. Here is a dose of reality.

The police force voted to support the recall of the mayor.

I am not donating a penny to either campaign and I am voting early in the morning!

swallow it deep

@whackamole, if political contributions is your "classic example of why he should be booted", you clearly know nothing about our political system. EVERY politician receives fund for re-election or in this case the political groups representing both views of an issue. It is not proof of anything.

@Educated One,

Compelling arguement with "the police voted to support the recall of the mayor", but the vote differential is hardly a mandate. What was it? Two votes or something? LMAO!

KEEP THE DON!

Again, the main issue I have is the recall supporters RIDICULOUS assertions as to why he needs to be recalled.

ex. A: because he has been in power too long? the vote against him in the regular elections.

ex. B: I dislike his personality. Again, you have the opportunity and right to vote against him in the election. Holding a special election because you dislike the guys personality is not a legitimate reason.

ex. C: I disagree how he spend taxpayer money. Guess what? many people disagree with how the government spends our money. And that's why it's almost impossible to have standing as a taxpayer to sue government on the way your money is spent; there will NEVER be universal agreement. This is a policy decision and again not legitimate grounds to hold this recall.

This whole recall is absolutely a ridiculous waste of time and the cities money. If you disagree with the mans politics or personality then vote against him at the regular elections. using unfounded (and they are as no one has a shred of evidence of impropriety) allegations of wasteful spending to try and force out the man you dislike is cowardice.

Take a look at the land sale for the current Main and Exchange project....

Pay back or kick back. Don't trust the democratic curruption of Akron

Those of you who choose to say "It is what it is, just leave it alone" are NEVER going to change anything..

Has anyone actually read the position paper for the pro-recall group? Appalling! Besides the fact that is reads like a 6th grade effort, there is nothing substantial to justify putting this city through a recall election. Waste of time, waste of money, waste or resources. A hijacking of our democratic system by a small disgruntled minority. We had a mayoral election in 2007. The only reason we should be going back to the polls again with a recall is if there was malfeasance in office or some proven illegal activity that ocurred between the election and the start of the recall. all the issues the recall group bring up to justify their position were brought up in the 2007 election. The Akron majority of the voters rejected those arguments. There is nothing proven or even alleged that rises to the level justifying overturning the electorates decision in 2007. Akron needs to change its recall criteria to prevent this travesty from happening again.

nothing new he takes illegal contibutions all the time to stay in office.

Citizens for Akron already has spent $117,844 on its anti-recall campaign, with the largest expense being $35,742 for design and printing services from Jonathan Varner & Associates of Columbus.

appreciate you spending the money in columbus mr mayor....since my husband a printer for 35 years just lost his job due to declining business... THANKS for the local support!!

@wilma, "illegal" means a court has ruled. I bet you cannot point to that court ruling, because it does not exist.

@Betamax, politics is all about money and you, madame, are stupid.

It seems that Plusquellic's "Citizens For Akron" group (Jeff Fusco, Treasurer) has filed a campaign finance report that contains an error.

The campaign listed "Eric S. Mansfield" as a donor, but the WKYC Channel 3 anchorman says:

"Here's the truth: It wasn't me."

Seems that Plusquellic/Fusco didn't bother to pay attention that it was the 2009 Akron School Board Candidate, (Mrs. Eric S) Lisa Mansfield who wrote the check, not her husband.

I guess when you have nearly a $ 1/4 million coming into the campaign bank account, it is tough to keep up with who actually is attending the events and writing the checks.

"Citizens for Akron already has spent $117,844 on its anti-recall campaign, with the largest expense being $35,742 for design and printing services from Jonathan Varner & Associates of Columbus"

As the owner of a sign company in Akron, Ohio - can someone tell me why $35,742 for design and printing services in Columbus? Great show of support to the local community!

Lynne...

I guess no Akron printer or designer was willing to provide enough grease to the palms of the decision makers in the Plusquellic/Fusco camp to get the job.

The same thing applies to their website. They are using a Grove City company instead of someone local.

29 people, that's it? In all of Akron there were only 29 people who would contribute financially to the campaign to recall the mayor? Yeah, grass roots effort, with a very small number of people behind it. No wonder they have to resort to innuendo of scandal to convince people the mayor should be removed.

Thumps up to the posts of Bergermeister, Julie, JSandy and Steven.

Overtaxed, well I'm just starting to ignore your worn out rhetoric. At least that AkronWatch with their "see my website for evidence" has left.

If the mayor used local companies you recall supporters would claim he was playing favorites, using his pals that do work for less, or get special favors. There is no pleasing you people.

You complain that media (Eric Mansfield) should be impartial and not support political issues or candidates. Then you say it wasn't Eric, but his wife, and somehow that proves that the Mayor and his anti-recall campaign are cheating.

Ha-Ha, what a joke you are. 29 people gave financial support to the recall. That's a very small number, it shows the complete lack of any real grass roots support for the recall.