Saturday, October 15, 2005

Edgewater School, Point Place

Edgewater School, Point Place
I've been talking to a few of the Point Place residents about the school situation. If ever there was a community that needs a middle school in their neighborhood, Point Place is it. We're going to work together to draw attention to the need and try to model a program similar to Beverly School. It is such a waste of fuel and time to sit children on a bus and drive them over 5 miles to a middle school. I can just see the dollar bills spitting out the exhaust pipe of the school busses! Consider also the amount of time the children spend riding the bus... at least 45 minutes from the first student. It would be time well spent in a classroom or the exercise in walking to school. So many neighbors are upset about this and it is a main cause of so many children attending the charter schools from this area. Wake up TPS and School Board.. listen to the community that is footing the bill... they want there children attending school in their neighborhood!!

Good News / Bad News -- What gets reported?

Today is a sad day for Toledoans and it seems some of the problems were driven by free media exposure provided throughout the past week. As I was driving to work earlier this week, I caught some of the interview with a Nazi protestor on 1370. The comments were inflammatory and disgusting. As I listened (briefly because I couldn't handle many of the comments) I wondered why the news media was providing so much free exposure to a group of out of towners bent on causing a caustic situation. This past Friday night I attended a wonderful free Gospel concert at Friendship Baptist Church with over 700 people attending this motivating, uplifting event. Would we not have been better to spend the time on the air and in the paper providing free exposure to such a magnificent event? As we all look inward to the cause of the events for today, perhaps we need to wonder the cause and effect of the free media exposure. The comments made by the Nazi members are disturbing, irrational and inflammatory and the best I could do was turn off the radio and put down the paper in embarrassment at the comments. As a candidate, I marvel at the multitude of great events available in Toledo and am amazed at how little coverage they receive in the news. But then, a great concert without a riot isn't nearly as exciting.

Monday, September 26, 2005

What's next?

Since March when Frank Szollosi introduced me at his fund raiser, I've attended every imaginable festival and event, smiled and shook hands with thousands of people, walked in parades, held press conferences and walked and walked and walked. It's been quite an experience and I'm so thankful to Frank, Teresa Fedor, Marcy Kaptur and Wilma Brown for the encouragement and enthusiasm for my campaign as they were the very first to believe in me. My Husband of 40 years, Rex, just keeps ticking... putting up signs, running errands, driving to events and ever and always helpful.

Do you know the very hardest part of all? Fund raising. Campaigns need money to run, money for the signs, the literature, mailings, advertising, stamps, paper, food..... it's hard to find time for a meal or to clean the house or do the laundry or pay the bills, go to the bank, visit a friend, get to church... because there is always something to do for the campaign.

We are quick to investigate then criticize the source of campaign funds and very quick to suggest we need campaign reform; however, how else does a candidate run for office without money? It would be true revelation if the news media spent as much time just covering the candidates without commentary as they do in editorializing on those that are chosen to review. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get any press coverage at all. In regards to the council candidates, Tom Troy of the Blade did an excellent job in 2 synopses of the candidates; but six times that coverage should be done so people are informed and know who is running for office.

There are a number of forums scheduled ... how many will you attend?

When a candidate approaches you at an event or even at your front door, do you duck and hide, turn away? or are you interested enough to say hello? If we don't visit the events or walk door to door, how will you get to know who we are?

Then there are the events which are open to the "sitting" candidates who already hold office and are running for re-election, but closed to candidates who do not hold office. At parades, we walk along the side of the rode as we are not permitted to have a float or participate. At dinners, those holding office are introduced, those who do not hold office are not. And yet, so many people have been so instrumental in helping the new candidates. Without the help of the PAC and Mayor Ford, I would not have survived the past 6 months of campaigning.

One of the best events of all is when the "seasoned" elected officials share their past experiences as a way to bolster the morale and keep us going. It's tough out there, but it's exhilerating, exciting, exhausting and an experience I will never regret. Thank you to every Toledo voter who cast a vote for me in the Primary. I'm out there working hard and again trying to raise some funds for the final 5 weeks before the election. See you November 8th if not before.