"Mr. McNamara said ethics sets him apart in the group. “Taxpayers cannot afford politics as usual. It happened too much in this town where insiders are given raises because they worked on political campaigns.” Helping Toledoans Like the local legend of his father, Mr. McNamara said helping Toledoans is his top goal. If elected mayor, he said job creation would be his main task. His five-point economic plan includes expanding the existing Better Buildings Program, which allows owners of older buildings to request an energy audit of their building; local preference for city companies; a building materials recycling plant; hiring a qualified economic development director; and creating an “evergreen co-op.” An “evergreen co-op” is an employee-owned for-profit business that lets workers gain ownership in the company through “sweat-equity.” Mr. McNamara, who lives in West Toledo, said he chose a North Toledo fire station to announce his run for mayor to emphasize his commitment to Toledo’s neighborhoods and safety. Additionally, he promises to hire more police officers; reopen the Northwest District Police Station; support community development corporations; and buy back the 69 acres of Marina District property sold to Dashing Pacific Group Ltd. for $3.8 million if not developed within five years from the July, 2011, sale date...... District Councilman Mike Craig, another Democrat is supporting Mr. McNamara to the point that he is going door-to-door talking with voters about Mr. McNamara and what he has to offer the city as mayor. “He has experience in city government, he understands the problems, and he knows what the solutions can be,” Mr. Craig said. “He’s not going to be creating a second youth commission or doing things to the water department that will cause the rates to go even higher,” he said referring to Ms. Lopez, who on Wednesday suggested creating a Toledo “Children First” committee. The proposed committee is strikingly similar to two groups already operating. Ms. Lopez also has hammered Mayor Bell for the state of customer service in the city’s water department, as well as the introduction of across-the-board $200 water account deposits and inaccurate water meter readings. Mr. Craig said his support of Mr. McNamara is not based on opposition to Ms. Lopez’s candidacy. “He understands city government, he has the temperament, he has the knowledge, he has concrete plans on what needs to be done for the city, and he could come in this January and wouldn’t need two years of training to figure out what is going on in the city,” he said. “He can bridge the gap between people of different ideologies.” Read more: McNamara says aiding Toledoans is his ‘dream job’ at Toledo Blade: toledoblade/Politics/2013/08/18/McNamara-saysaiding-Toledoansis-his-dream-job.html#o6rK7xJtpZhad9fz.99
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:16:55 +0000
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