By Tricia Hall
The Truth Reporter
Lucas County residents, elected and appointed officials and media filled the first floor of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s downtown location for the 2024 Lucas County Commissioners Debate on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
WTOL 11 anchor Jeff Smith moderated the debate between incumbent Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken and challenger Tom Waniewski; then WTOL 11 anchor Caylee Kirby moderated the debate between incumbent Lucas County Commissioner Anita Lopez and challenger John Rozic.
Questions were selected in advance from WTOL viewers and in-person audience members. The event was organized and supported by Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated Xi Lambda Chapter of Toledo, WTOL and YWCA of Northwest Ohio.
The Gerken and Waniewski debate covered county spending and canine care control. The candidates both addressed economic development and the county jail.
County-focused economic development
“The increase in jobs were government jobs. We need to get workforce development dollars. I met with the Dorr Street Coalition, because they were interested in workforce development dollars to bring jobs back. I promise to put workforce development dollars to good use in the Dorr Street area. If we lower sales tax, we can bring people here,” said Waniewski.
“The county has spent the workforce development funding, we work with the workforce development board. We haven’t returned any money. We are careful stewards of the money, but we don’t give people money without a plan. We reimburse when the work is done,” said Gerken.
The Lopez/Rozic debate also touched on economic development.
“We have some good investments in Toledo like the Metroparks, beautiful libraries and Walleye, but we’re losing jobs. We should grow in employment, yet the Democrats have been in charge for years. Lucas County is in a great geographic area, there are two major highways and an airport, but all of these things are not being used to its fullest potential. Just focusing on isolated examples of where economic development has happened doesn’t bring jobs,” said Rozic.
“We faced a tough challenge during Covid, which is why I wanted to join the Lucas County Commissioners. I wanted to help businesses grow, to address the need for experience and knowledge of the county. The three of us may be Democrats, but we are all different. We make this county better,” said Lopez.
County jail
“The jail is tough to build, every county in this state is struggling with jail funding. We’re not spending more money on the jail because we’re under contract with a fixed cost to deliver what is needed. We are waiting on the jail to lower its operating costs, but haven’t received that plan yet,” said Gerken.
“The jail isn’t a good plan, it was poor planning when they wanted it in South Toledo and in North Toledo, the communities didn’t want it. You would have known that if you talked to them,” said Waniewski.
The Lopez and Rozic debate covered political careers, plans for the future and experience. The candidates both addressed economic development and the payout of Mr. Urrutia, Lopez’s former assistant.
In 2024, newly appointed Commissioner Lopez’s former assistant received a settlement from the county because of a unprofessional conduct investigate.
“I took responsibility for my actions. I know that I must do better. I was under stress and acted unprofessionally. I have worked on that, had time to reflect and rest. I am working tirelessly to make Lucas County better. That incident is in my past and can’t be allowed to serve as a distraction. I am ready to work for you for the betterment of the entire county. That short window in time is not a reflection of my work,” said Lopez.
“That was a concerning situation that developed earlier this year, and I appreciate her candor. The county hired an investigator to look into this, to produce a report. A report was issued, and we never saw the full report because it was redacted. I don’t know fully what happened. I don’t know all of the elements of the story. The county commissioners investigated themselves and we don’t have a full report to read,” said Rozic.
In addition to the Lucas County Commissioner race, residents are voting for United States President, Ohio Supreme Court Justice, Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Congressional House and Senate seats, Toledo City County and other uncontested races.
Early in-person voting is held at Lucas County Early Vote Center located at 3737 W Sylvania Ave, suite 121 is available until Sunday, November 3, 2024. Visit https://www.lucascountyohiovotes.gov/ for specific hours and absentee voting information.