Toledo Mayor Mike Bell (I) made the announcement people had been expecting: He will run for re-election. Bell told an audience of his intentions at end of his State of the City address.
Now that he's running, we get an idea of who may challenge him.
The mayor's announcement itself was no real surprise. Many of the 250 Toledo Rotary Club members he spoke before in delivering his State of the City address will support him.
But the mayor says he's running again because Toledo is headed in the right direction. Bell told 13abc reporter Bill Hormann, "It's about bringing everyone together and moving us all in the same direction."
Bell is a political independent. But as an independent, you expect fire from all sides during a campaign.
Bell used to be a Democrat and Democrats haven't forgotten his switch. The Lucas County Democratic party chairman, Ron Rothenbuhler told 13abc, "Many of the working class people believe he (Bell) has forgotten where he came from."
Democrats will likely run two candidates: Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez and city council president Joe McNamara.
McNamara thought the mayor's announcement during a State of the City address was inappropriate but he did give us a sense of his likely campaign talking points when he runs for mayor himself. "People are worried about jobs, they're worried about crime and they're worried about the safety of their neighborhoods," McNamara said after the speech.
Republicans will field a candidate even though mayor Bell enjoys the support of many Republican business leaders and politicians. That's a fact not lost on Lucas County party chairman, Jon Stainbrook who admitted, "Our battle is to have a candidate in this race and someone who is viable."
But perhaps the mayor's toughest opposition will come from labor. Unions in Toledo are upset with the mayor's use of exigent circumstances to take savings from union contracts and his support to limit collective bargaining. The Vice President of Firefighter's Local 92 says, "Taking away your rights doesn't sit well with our members."
For the mayor, his campaign begins today; but his opposition is organizing.
The mayor's campaign team admits it will take at least $400,000 to run an effective re-election race. The Republican candidate may have trouble raising that kind of cash but the Democrats will have a lot of financial help from the unions.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:34:48 GMT
13abc and the Red Cross are teaming up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters. Volunteers will be at the station
13abc and Red Cross teamed up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank Thursday to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:03:13 GMT
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location. We're told an agreement allowing Diamond Crystal Brands to sell Splenda sweetener will expire at
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:02 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:02:06 GMT
The 27-year-old woman who was on the ground staring into the barrel of a shotgun says Toledo police officers saved her life. Valarie Williams tells 13 ABC's Christine Long that it is nothing short of
The 27-year-old woman who was on the ground staring into the barrel of a shotgun says Toledo police officers saved her life. As a man stood over her pointing a shotgun to her face, Valerie Williams says, "It was like an angel came because the cops pulled up."
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:25 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:25:21 GMT
Planning is underway for the First Annual African American Male Wellness Walk in Toledo. The walk will be held August 3, 2013 at the African American Legacy Project located at 1326 Collingwood Boulevard.
Planning is underway for the First Annual African American Male Wellness Walk in Toledo. The walk will be held August 3, 2013 at the African American Legacy Project. Go to 13abc.com for details.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:57 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:57:54 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana and certain uses of hemp has cleared Ohio's ballot board. The panel's approval Thursday sends the issue into its
A proposed constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana and certain uses of hemp has cleared Ohio's ballot board.
Thursday, May 23 2013 4:02 PM EDT2013-05-23 20:02:17 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's elections chief said Thursday a first-of-its-kind statewide review found instances of voter fraud in the battleground state during last year's presidential election but not
Ohio's elections chief said Thursday a first-of-its-kind statewide review found instances of voter fraud in the battleground state during last year's presidential election but not rampant abuses.
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:33 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:33:40 GMT
If you're in Archbold and you hear the sound of 100 harps, you're not just hearing things. The 6th annual Harp Gathering is underway May 16-19th.Denise Grupp-Verbon co-founded the festival with her husband.
If you're in Archbold and you hear the sound of 100 harps, you're not just hearing things. The 6th annual Harp Gathering is underway May 16-19th.Denise Grupp-Verbon co-founded the festival with her husband.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:46 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:46:40 GMT
The month of May will likely end up in the top 10 list for the driest May's on record. Despite the dry month it does not look like we are headed for a repeat performance of last year's drought and extreme
The summer forecast calls for above average rainfall for most of the Great Lakes region with near average temperatures.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:11:42 GMT
The Toledo mayor's race may be a crowded affair but so far no viable Republicans. All seven announced candidates have to first file petitions and be certified by the Lucas County Board of Elections.
Toledo Mayor Mike Bell has the financial backing of Republicans and the Independent could get the party's endorsement.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:03:13 GMT
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location. We're told an agreement allowing Diamond Crystal Brands to sell Splenda sweetener will expire at
A Perrysburg Township packaging plant is closing this summer, affecting 126 employees at the location.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:34:48 GMT
13abc and the Red Cross are teaming up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters. Volunteers will be at the station
13abc and Red Cross teamed up for our Road to Recovery Phone Bank Thursday to provide information about helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornado and other disasters.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:10 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:10:04 GMT
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - The Washington State Patrol says the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon has collapsed, dumping vehicles and people into the water. Trooper Mark Francis
The Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River at Mount Vernon collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:57 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:57:54 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana and certain uses of hemp has cleared Ohio's ballot board. The panel's approval Thursday sends the issue into its
A proposed constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana and certain uses of hemp has cleared Ohio's ballot board.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:40:05 GMT
PHOENIX (AP) - The jury in Jodi Arias' trial was dismissed Thursday after failing to reach a unanimous decision on whether the woman they convicted of murdering her one-time boyfriend should be sentenced
The jury in Jodi Arias' trial was dismissed Thursday after failing to reach a unanimous decision on whether the woman they convicted of murdering her one-time boyfriend should be sentenced to life or death in a case that has captured headlines worldwide with its sex, lies, violence.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:38 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:38:38 GMT
(ABC News) -- The Boy Scouts of America today voted to lift its longtime national ban on admitting openly gay Scouts but will continue to exclude openly gay adults from leadership roles. The vote
The Boy Scouts of America today voted to lift its longtime national ban on admitting openly gay Scouts but will continue to exclude openly gay adults from leadership roles.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:02 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:02:06 GMT
The 27-year-old woman who was on the ground staring into the barrel of a shotgun says Toledo police officers saved her life. Valarie Williams tells 13 ABC's Christine Long that it is nothing short of
The 27-year-old woman who was on the ground staring into the barrel of a shotgun says Toledo police officers saved her life. As a man stood over her pointing a shotgun to her face, Valerie Williams says, "It was like an angel came because the cops pulled up."
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:22 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:22:19 GMT
Some families in Maumee were surprised to open their utility bills and find some were ten times the normal amount. Many come from the Wrenworth subdivision and say they've been getting these very high
Some families in Maumee were surprised to open their utility bills and find some were ten times the normal amount. Many come from the Wrenworth subdivision and say they've been getting these very high bills recently and now they're asking why. At least one family did not get an actual meter reading in several months.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:25 PM EDT2013-05-23 22:25:21 GMT
Planning is underway for the First Annual African American Male Wellness Walk in Toledo. The walk will be held August 3, 2013 at the African American Legacy Project located at 1326 Collingwood Boulevard.
Planning is underway for the First Annual African American Male Wellness Walk in Toledo. The walk will be held August 3, 2013 at the African American Legacy Project. Go to 13abc.com for details.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTVG. All Rights Reserved.
