Candidates prep for race

With the primary elections for Toledo's next mayor looming just around the corner (voting takes place Sept. 13) six candidates made their stances known yesterday afternoon at a mayoral forum held at Beaner's in the Cricket West plaza.

Among the issues discussed was the need for Toledo to become competitive in the job market.

Keith Wilkowski, a Democratic candidate and Toledo native, was the first to speak at the forum and he addressed the issue.

"I am running for mayor because Toledo desperately needs new leadership to bring jobs and people back to this city," Wilkowski said. "The record for jobs and economic development in Toledo over the past 12 years has been dismal."

Democrat Jack Ford, the current mayor of Toledo, was also present and defended himself.

"It's true there has been a decline in certain kinds of jobs Toledoans have," Ford said. "[But] if you look at the [job] report closer ... there has been a trend of more technology jobs coming into the city."

Wilkowski said these few jobs aren't enough.

"Even though we were creating some jobs, our median income is going down and down and down and our standard of living is going down," he said.

Ford added that, while there could be more jobs, Toledo, unlike bigger cities, has yet to lay off any of its emergency workers even though the budget has decreased by over $8 million in the past four years and other troubles he's had to endure as mayor.

"I inherited a $15 million deficit," he said.

Opal Covey, an independent candidate who is running for mayor the second time, was also present and spoke on what she believes Toledo needs to get back its jobs and get back on its feet.

"I want to give you the key that's going to ... put Toledo back on the map," Covey said. "[God] gave me a prophecy to read to you today."

Covey said God has given her the only way to put Toledo back to the way it was.

"[Toledo has] fallen so hard and so dangerously that no man can bring you out, save God," Covey said. "I have shown my servant the miracle it will take to bring Toledo back to prosperity. This is the amusement park installment."

Covey said an amusement park in Toledo would bring tourists, create jobs, bring restaurants and increase the revenue of the city.

A warning was also given by Covey to Toledoans about what will happen if she's not elected.

"[The population over] the next four years will decline more rapidly than ever before.

It's now or never ... there will be no third chance," she said.

Don Gozdowski, a Democratic candidate, said he wasn't surprised when he heard Covey was running for mayor again.

"Three things are certain in Toledo - death, taxes and Opal Covey is running for mayor," he said.

Gozdowski also said that though he's never even been to a city council meeting, he has the ability to recognize and appreciate the heart of man.

Other issues addressed at the forum included Toledo's smoking ban.

Ford said he was most proud of the smoking ban.

Martin Okonski, an independent candidate, said he was disappointed in the ban.

"I think the smoking ban ... could have been written better," Okonski said. "We don't need to take away from adult fun."

The only candidate to address UT was Wilkowski, who said he has developed a plan to create more knowledge-based jobs in Toledo.

"I have a plan that does just that. That seeks to take advantage of the University of Toledo," he said.

Wilkowski added after the forum that a partnership with universities and other education institutions is a "fundamental requirement" when trying to create these jobs.