Mayoral Recall Losing Its Luster

The Warner Mendenhall recall may be developing a toxicity that could doom it to failure. There are some recent developments that seem to indicate a weakening of the populist wave that Warner and Co. were hoping to surf to victory.

All of these indicators of recall sentiment trends were neatly presented in a piece in today's ABJ . The article headline sings about Chrissie Hynde hosting a rally for the besieged Mayor Plusquellic. The rally held at Summit Dem HQ in Akron is serving as an official launch of the anti recall, pro mayor canvassing push. The rest of the story actually follows the details of the rally.

At this point in the game any effort to unseat a sitting mayor should be building towards a crescendo. There is some evidence in today's report from the ABJ that the Change Akron movement is losing some steam.

When asked about gathering the required 3,200 signatures Mendenhall kind of balked at the question:

Mendenhall said Friday he thinks the group will reach the 3,200 mark but might need another 20 days to gather enough valid signatures — a provision permitted under the city's charter.

So much for overwhelming force. Isn't the whole thrust of the recall effort getting the signatures?  The hint of fizzle on the Change Akron Now side contrasts with gathering of pro-Don forces in an organized front. The other problem for Mendenhall is the apparent epidemic of defections plaguing his inner circle of followers.

Association with the Mendehall lunacy is starting to develop a taint. The most revelatory nugget is the announcement by one time mayoral candidate and poster boy for anti-Plusquellic contrarianism, Joe Finley , that he is not supporting the recall. Say it ain't so Joe. He was for the recall before he was against it.

Both Joe and ward 2 councilman Bruce Kilby indicate that their future plans to run for elected office outweigh the desire to carry on with the recall nonsense. This could be proof that being identified with the Mendenhall faction could be hazardous to your political health. With Finley out the that only leaves the hapless former opponent of the Mayor, Brian Williams, that has any name recognition. I'll leave that one alone.

Kevy wants to Be Governor When He Grows Up

State Senator and Cuyahoga Falls resident Kevin Coughlin got a swell write up in today's ABJ. Dennis Willard fashioned the piece as story on a rising star in the Ohio GOP. The profile focuses in on Coughlin's prolific legislative tenure and his aspirations of running for State wide-office. Kevin like many of his colleagues is term limited in 2010 and will be in need of new career path, preferably in the public sector. So the guy who has proposed orange license plates for sex offenders (yellow is already taken), special education school vouchers and a potential ballot amendment on eminent domain is hinting that he may one day run for Governor.

I think we would be safer if guys like Coughlin were not term limited and could spend the better part of their working lives in the legislative bubble of the Statehouse. There they are free to dream up a panoply of laws that address the seemingly endless stream of issues that need remedied. I know that I sleep better at night knowing he is on the job thinking about the proper color of license plate for the cars of sex offenders . No instead they are forced out of office and look for other ways to infect our eyes with their presence. In this case Kevin says, “I have a lot of ideas about what Ohio should be doing...” in regards to a future run for State-wide office. This ambition to rule a la the style of Ken Blackwell using conservative polemics didn't move voters in 2006 (remember that trouncing). Why does stupid think that it will work for him considering that our current Governor, a moderate liberal, has had success governing from the center? The tide is not turning for conservative blow hards like him. Ohioans are getting used to the sensible and bipartisan approach to public policy that seems to be gaining a foothold in Columbus.