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NewsPRIMER: The 2009 Recall
6/14/2009 12:15:03 AM | Tina Kaufmann, Larry States & Lindsay McCoy, AkronNewsNow.com
With just over a week to go before Akron voters resolve the showdown over Mayor Plusquellic, both sides are making their cases.
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Both sides claim victory from the most recent events in the 2009 recall election targeting Mayor Don Plusquellic. The mayor's supporters say last Wednesday's FOP Lodge 7 vote from Akron police officers was "a wash" because of the 168-166 vote. Critics of the mayor say it provides them with momentum. Both sides agree with in-house polls showing Plusquellic's defense of his job leading with more no votes in the recall question over those voting yes to recall the mayor.
Both the Akron Beacon Journal and 1590 WAKR provide special coverage today on the issue, including one-on-one interviews with key figures in the fight of Plusquellic's political life. As a public service, the newspaper provides comprehensive coverage in the Sunday morning edition. WAKR broadcasts the interviews from 12:06 p.m. through 2:00 p.m. on today. AkronNewsNow.com is also featuring a continuous streaming loop of the program for on-demand listening from noon through 10:00 p.m. tonight on WAKRNewsNow, our news audio streaming service.
Our coverage is by Tina Kaufmann and Larry States; video produced by Lindsay McCoy.
State Senator, and former congressman and Akron mayor, Tom Sawyer is chief spokesman for the group Citizens For Akron, who support the mayor and oppose the recall.
Sawyer says people have come up to him all across the state asking why is the recall election happening. He claims people across Ohio recognize Akron as a city that's doing as well as any city in the Midwest and they recognize that Akron has continued to move forward at a time when many similar cities have fallen during these hard times. According to Sawyer, people outside the Akron area see the awards, the city and mayor, have won and, how Plusquellic has kept the city in front in technology and development -- leading many to ask why there's an effort to try and remove him from office. A recall, says Sawyer, usually is prompted by criminal charges against a mayor or city officials, but he believes there are no such charges against Mayor Plusquellic yet Change Akron Now persists in trying to remove him from office. The former congressman and mayor says the issues raised in this recall are usually issues that come up in a general election to elect a mayor, not a recall. Sawyer calls the Akron city charter provisions for a recall a "death penalty" for the mayor's future if city voters oust him from office, making it impossible for Plusquellic to ever run again for the position. "The risk that we're taking at a fragile time to leave Akron without the steady leadership that it has, is a deeply reckless undertaking," says Sawyer.
When asked about mayor Plusquellic's temper, and his characterization of those who don't agree with him as villains, Sawyer says, "Don's got a short fuse sometimes. He can pop off, but it's the other side of being passionate about the things he believes deeply in. Don has some deeply held feelings about this community and has ever since he has committed literally his entire adult life to the work of this community, and he feels strongly about that. I have watched him become deeply emotional at times, and I understand that. I know that there are times when I suspect he had wished that he had not said some of the things that he said, but I know that he's never regretted the depth of his emotional commitment to the things that he believes in. He says what he believes and he doesn't hold back sometimes, and then moves on. I would always rather have somebody who cares deeply about what he's doing, than someone who doesn't, and I know that Don does."
LISTEN to Sawyer comment on his support for Mayor Plusquellic
Tom Sawyer says an approval poll taken recently by Citizens for Akron shows the recall election effort has boosted Plusquellic's approval rating to the highest point at any time during his tenure as mayor. Sawyer ended his one-on-one conversation with us by saying "The polling has indicated people recognize the job he has done is extraordinary. He has had enormous benefit for the city in terms of its reach across the country. He's made us sound and Akron's industry has remained strongly identified. It's not the product of one person but a leadership team in which he's the centerpiece. It isn't self centered but leadership centered. We have confidence people will reflect with their votes the way they polled. The big issue is whether or not people will vote on June 23. People can vote ahead by absentee ballot or go to the board of elections and vote in person. If people turn out and vote this city will remain in sound hands. If not, we don't know what will happen."
Akron attorney, and former Akron City Councilman, Warner Mendenhall is leading the recall effort. He created Change Akron Now, the group who wants Mayor Plusquellic out of office, but says it's not a personal vendetta, even though Plusquellic basically ran him out of city office.
"I think the Mayor takes it personally. I think the Mayor is a bitter man, but I don't take it personally and I don't think you've ever heard in my voice a tone if bitterness and revenge. But I think you do hear it in the Mayor's voice."
Mendenhall continues to say, "I think if you look at my record and my statements over 20 years, I don't think I have ever publicly used personally insulting terms for this mayor. Throughout my history as an activist in this town, I think I've done my best to stick to issues I think are important."
Patti Longville, an Akron resident who supports the recall, believes Plusquellic's language and how he treats people, demonizing them and condemning them to hell, makes him deserving of being booted from office. "In some ways it's insulting to the 170 of us who who have come together, to become a part of Change Akron Now, who circulated those petitions, to suggest this effort is merely a personality conflict between Don Plusquellic and Warner Mendenhall. It's much more than that and that's why I'm here..."
Mendenhall feels "...If you oppose [the mayor] on one issue, he won't accept your help on any other issue and I stood here one night last fall and told [Plusquellic] I'd support him if he'd come up and work toward a reasonable scholarship program. I will still, if the Mayor will come up and wants to be a leader in developing a scholarship program, I will still offer my assistance..."
The Basis For A Recall
WATCH Sen. Sawyer argue against the need for a recall
WATCH Mendenhall explain why the mayor should be recalled
Personal Ties
WATCH Sen. Sawyer decribe how he thinks this election has personal ties
WATCH Mendenhall defends it's not personal
Change Akron Now
Akron city voters will decide the recall issue on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Early voting is also available at the Summit County Board of Elections office on Grant Street, Akron.
On the Web: FOR the recall www.changeakronnow.com
On the Web: AGAINST the recall www.citizensforakron.com
Content © AkronNewsNow.com. All rights reserved.
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Comments
posted at 6/14/2009 8:14:52 AM (11226)
misstia said:i think the mayor needs to speak to the citizens himself...no conditions, speak to the citizens directly and let them ask questions...
posted at 6/14/2009 9:26:36 AM (11228)
malisam said:This is not going to happen misstia because he does not need to answer to the taxpayers. I have yet to understand why he will not step up to the microphone. I understand that he sticks his foot in his mouth but not answering the legitimate charges brought against you? This in my opinion is odd. There were thousands of signatures for this recall so in essence he has thousands of people that have questions.
posted at 6/14/2009 9:49:08 AM (11229)
misstia said:i know it's not going to happen, but it would be nice to hear him talk directly to the people...it's rare to happen anyway (even prior to the recall)...i think a mayor should be accessible to the citizens, same as council, etc...
posted at 6/14/2009 9:54:38 AM (11230)
Wayne In Akron said:Voters need to consider one thing...
Why has this Mayor who 'grounded himself' so that he could put forth his story, to fight the recall, now appear to be 'lawyer-ing up' and not answering any questions that the media asks him???
In February, Mayor Plusquellic stated in his State of the City address that this recall effort put him in "the fight of my political life".
With just over 1 week to the election, the Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com and WAKR/AkronNewsNow.com promoted that they would offer voters a detailed look at both sides.
The ABJ asked readers for questions to be asked to both parties for their Sunday article. WAKR invited both sides in for interviews.
When "the day" comes, we find...
The ABJ's article included just one question to the mayor, to which he objected and said 'there is no way to answer'.
As WAKR's Ed Esposito told us in his editorial this week, Mayor Don refused to participate in the station's interview unless WAKR/ANN was willing to accept pre-conditions. They wouldn't, so Don took home his toys and will not make himself available for the new interviews which will air today.
Why does Plusquellic, who his supporters claim has such a great record of achievements, vision, etc., refuse to be available or participate in the media's offers to tell his story?
What does Plusquellic have to hide?
Is he afraid that his 'true colors' will come out again?
The time has come for Akron to make a change at the top of City politics.
Vote YES on the RECALL.
posted at 6/14/2009 10:02:48 AM (11231)
misstia said:good points Wayne in Akron! i was really disappointed in those 'questions' too...of course i knew they wouldn't address mine which was 'why isn't all the travel of the mayor mentioned on the city website'...if it is so good for the city, why not list it? instead there are quotes attributed to him when things happen in the city when he is note there in the news releases...list the travel and put who went with him too!
posted at 6/14/2009 1:05:53 PM (11233)
warnermendenhall said:The Mayor sounds out of control. He calls me a liar and never mentions one lie. He talks about my obsession to be mayor of Akron yet I have consistently denied that I am running for mayor. He says that Change Akron Now has taken over Melissa Barnhart's domain name. I have no idea what he was even talking about. I have not even heard of anyone doing that until now.
Tom Sawyer has gotten bad legal advice about the Charter and the recall provision. Sawyer states that once recalled, forever recalled. That is not true. Plusquellic can run again were he to choose to do so in 2011. Sawyer didn't seem to know how to respond to Change Akron Now's offer to work on projects beneficial to the community such as a scholarship program.
The focus on Warner Mendenhall is misplaced and is confusing to the public. This is not about me, it is about a history of this mayor's abusive and irresponsible behavior.
The facts are on www.changeakronnow.com and www.akronwatch.com.
posted at 6/14/2009 3:55:11 PM (11234)
Bella said:
Warner, when this is over and goes down in a flames please promise that you will go away and stop trying to poison the city with your bogus accusations and flat out lies that you have built your campaign on. This has torn the city apart and you are to blame by spewing your negativity. We are living in tough times and our city is doing just fine, why do you want to do this now? You should absolutely be ashamed of yourself. Now I heard you are running a slate against the councilmen and we the people that live here are going to be forced to listen to more baseless accusations and negativity (god help us all). Everyone is sick of it. Please move along.
posted at 6/14/2009 4:01:53 PM (11235)
AltDelete said:
Mayor Don has appointed Mr. Fusco as treasurer to his supporting group. I thought this gentleman was suspended from city job for driving city vehicle under the influence of alcohol and subsequently retired from the job. This is no surprise that mayor's side lacks people with character and probably Mr. Fusco is the best he can find hanging aruond.
posted at 6/14/2009 4:31:42 PM (11236)
misstia said:@bella-what are the lies? no one will say what the 'lies' are....i think the mayor's side figures if they toss 'lies' out enough people will believe it? the FOP got to hear things and they voted to support the recall...
posted at 6/14/2009 5:03:55 PM (11237)
warnermendenhall said:Bella, Over two decades, thousands of people have worked with me and 2/3rds of Akron voters agreed with me that we shouldn't have a tax increase, sell or lease the Sewer system, and that we should limit campaign contributions. Did you oppose those issues? If you did, you need to realize that Don Plusquellic had to be fought very aggressively to stop the tax increase, the sewer lease, and limit campaign donations. Some of us recognize that Plusquellic is the problem.
Please list any lies that I have told and I will respond. This city is not doing fine. We have $500 million in liabilities not accounted for in the Beacon Journal article on debt. These liabilities could bankrupt us because Don Plusquellic has us $760 million in debt and there is very limited additional debt capacity.
I think it is good that you have an opinion. I would not ask you to go away because I disagree with your opinion. One of the issues in this election is that Don Plusquellic cannot agree to disagree on issues. If you oppose him on one, he calls you untrustworthy on others. Why do you think the FOP (the police union) supports the recall?
posted at 6/14/2009 5:25:59 PM (11239)
Retired APD said:
Couldn't have said it better, Warner.
posted at 6/14/2009 6:03:05 PM (11240)
Bella said:
The FOP endorsed by two voteshardly a strong message. And many of them were told that the mayor had said something that he clearly didn't. Also, you talk about the cities debt but look at the break down, specifically the 300 million that we the voters voted to on to rebuild the schools. You have made a career out of suing the city and then your followers wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on public records requests. You say that the mayor's girlfriend travels on the taxpayer dime but that was also proved to be a lie. I can go on. This is insane. Again, why are you doing his? And you say that you don't want to be mayor until you get those out of control tax liens under control. At least they aren't as bad as Bob Smith's. Wow. This is all crazy. I bet surrounding cities that actually do have problems think that we have all gone mad. This is embarrassing. VOTE AGAINST THE RECALL!
posted at 6/14/2009 10:43:58 PM (11246)
missfit said:Again Bella you must be reminded that its the mayor who is being recalled not anyone else. When someome is a figure head like a mayour of the city of Akron THEY are the ones who must have decorum and act in a professinal manner as per their being a represenative of the city they swore oath to. Point fingers all day long this still comes down to The people of this city want answers from the mayor himself, not you, not anyone else but him, he fails and has failed to do so.
You are right it is embarrassing isnt it for you to be standing by a man who Akron no longer wants to represent them, who is out of touch with the people who live here. Other citys dont think we have gone mad at all, they are cheering for the power of the people for a change. I will agree mayors in other citys might be getting their bloomers in knots knowing this could happen to them, the power of the people shines on! VOTE FOR THE RECALL!!
posted at 6/14/2009 10:55:28 PM (11247)
misstia said:right on missfit! vote FOR the recall!!!
why doesn't the mayor address the people? why won't he attend a debate with warner? why couldn't the mayor speak with wakr/ann without preconditions?
posted at 6/14/2009 11:06:05 PM (11249)
JOEBIALEK said:
In response to the articles concerning the recall election of Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic.
We too once had a mayor of similar style and temperament, but thankfully we recognized this early on and voted him out. Unfortunately, the citizens of Akron have had to endure the slash-and-burn style of this ogre. The number of disgraceful public incidents only confirms what is soon to be inevitable his removal from office.
It's too bad that he will be able to enjoy a pension when he finally gets voted out, but the sooner he is gone, the better. With his witless rantings, he has successfully done for Akron what Dennis Kucinich did for Cleveland.
Joe Bialek
Cleveland, OH
posted at 6/15/2009 7:46:45 AM (11252)
Old Man Grump said:
Bye Bye Donny Boy. Your days are now numbered and that is a good thing for Akron.
posted at 6/15/2009 8:31:48 AM (11257)
akroncitizen said:
Dear members of C.A.N., and I know you read this.
I have asked what your vision for the future of our city is, and I never even get the time of day. On previous posts I asked about the future of this recall, and nothing....
What are your plans for the future? What candidate will replace our mayor should he lose this recall? Will you back one of Alex Arshinkoff's GOP candidates to ensure a change in philosphy at city hall? Will you back Wayne Jones' party's candidate, and put a possible doppelganger into office? If somebody from council or a deputy were to run, would you support them, even though you dislike what they have been supporting (the mayor, in that people have said they are just Plusquellic's yes men/women)?
Oh well,
Only a week left, and then WE can get back to worrying about the important things in this community, because if this is all you have to worry about in life... well then I WANT your life so bad I can taste it.
Well, off to work. Can't be late, millions on welfare are depending on me.
posted at 6/15/2009 9:03:53 AM (11262)
Doglover2 said:
All of this is silly, I can't wait until its over. VOTE AGAINST THE RECALL ON JUNE 23RD!!!
posted at 6/15/2009 9:11:06 AM (11263)
misstia said:how can someone in CAN comment on a candidate that is not running?
posted at 6/15/2009 9:11:12 AM (11264)
pooh23 said:
VOTE FOR THE RECALL ON JUNE 23RD. Unfortunatlly I can't vote but I wish C.A.N. all the best.
posted at 6/15/2009 9:16:23 AM (11265)
misstia said:thanks pooh23!!
posted at 6/15/2009 9:18:35 AM (11266)
sts46 said:
I wonder how often we can hold a recall? I have a supspicion that what we get will be the same or worse than what we have.
posted at 6/15/2009 9:20:40 AM (11267)
sts46 said:
"how can someone in CAN comment on a candidate that is not running?"
They really can't, but am I the only one who finds it disturbing that no one has even mentioned possible candidates? Sounds like a lack of foresight, and pushes the borders of irresponsibility.
posted at 6/15/2009 9:47:28 AM (11270)
rayy said:
Warner, you say it is not personal, but you also say the Mayor is "out of control" and that "Plusquellic is the problem". You can't have it both ways. I voted against leasing the sewer system, but I support a lot of what the mayor has done in the city. I'll bet there are a lot of us out there.
posted at 6/15/2009 9:52:32 AM (11271)
whocares said:Nobody has an idea as to who we would have to choose from for a mayor if the recall passes. Guess what, to the people that see the "average" amount of debt that Akron has as being bad, the next mayor may double it. Or the next mayor may enjoy sitting on his hands watching all the businesses move out of state. Now that all the businesses are gone, we can focus on the $20 that we have left in the budget. Maybe they can have an essay contest to figure out whose pot hole to fill. Should we have another election to figure who will be the lucky one to get the one at the end of their driveway filled? CAN people seem to have inhaled to much helium and just can't seem to follow the whole idea that business is needed to attract more business. That a large portion of the debt comes from building new schools. That the police and potholes are not the only places the money is budgeted for. That with jobs lost, as has happened across the country, comes less tax dollars. The city has to stretch the money out the best it can. Someone will always complain. I am very curious to see how far ahead the "against" recall votes will be compared to the "for". I'm betting at least 75% will be against it.
posted at 6/15/2009 10:09:43 AM (11272)
misstia said:"Maybe they can have an essay contest to figure out whose pot hole to fill. " THAT is the funniest thing i have read on here in a long time whocares!!! thanks for the morning laugh!!!
posted at 6/15/2009 4:41:31 PM (11286)
FirestoneParker said:
This is my favorite Mendenhall quote - "Finally after 22 years the people have a voice, a chance to get rid of the mayor."
This quote shows exactly how dellusional Mendenhall is..
posted at 6/15/2009 7:03:29 PM (11292)
cruisemeister said:
They have had a choice every 4 years. Why is it now of such urgency.
posted at 6/16/2009 6:45:49 AM (11312)
akroncitizen said:
whocares,
Well the only problem the mayor may find himself in, in terms of support, is that people will not GO VOTE. That may be his downfall, overconfidence on the part of his supporters.
Just under a week, and we can get back to our "normal" lives, worrying about impoertant things... like paying bills and feeding our family's.
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