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City commission race - Round 2, pick 3

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - The second city commission election in two years has generated just as much public interest as the first.

While many elections prior to 2003 had little to no competition, the past two have been anything but apathetic.

Nine candidates are running for three seats this year; in 2003, 11 ran for four seats -- believed to be the most ever.

"This election and last election you are getting more people who are running," said candidate Scott Hall. "They want a say-so, and then that gets people excited."

Unlike former campaigns, the weeks leading up to the election have busy with multiple candidate forums, door-to-door campaigning and meeting with current commissioners and business leaders.

Candidate John Mears served on commission for 20 years. He remembers running for office as an incumbent years ago, and people not knowing who he was even after being in office for 10 years.

"There seems to be an increased interest in being a commissioner and people are paying attention to local politics," he said.

Mears suggests the push to change Sandusky's form of government in 2002 led to the increased civic interest.

Candidate Pervis Brown Jr. agrees. The charter change, as well as the last election, generated excitement.

"I think the last election opened the whole arena for participation," he said. "The last election hyped up the enthusiasm of the community."

Helen Hessler, president of the South Central Block Watch, organized forums with the city commission candidates in 2003 and this year because of all the people running for office.

She said people are more interested in the election because more people are running.

More people running makes it harder to decide who to pick, which is why people are paying attention, Hessler said.

Frank Fosco is running for office for a second time. When he won in 1999, he was one of four people running for four seats.

Fosco said people aren't as interested in the election as it may appear. If you look at the people who attend the candidate forums, he said, it's the supporters, not the general public.

However, more people are running for office, he said. But he doesn't know why.

"Those people who haven't been there before, don't have the faintest inkling of what it is like to be a commissioner," Fosco said.

Last election, Fosco said being new was the vibe. This time around, voters are considering his experience an asset.

"They think the city needs me back there," he said.

Commissioner Dannie Edmon said people in Sandusky are finally getting involved in the campaign process.

While it may seem shocking for business leaders and current commissioners to endorse certain candidates, it's ethical.

"I think we are doing what other communities have been doing for a long time," Edmon said. "We got real stagnant as a community for a long time. We weren't getting politically involved."

Edmon gave campaign money to Brown and candidate John Jacobs.

"As long as they are new, I am happy," Edmon said of his picks for Tuesday.

Six of the nine candidates running for office have never served before. The four continuing commissioners are also first-time public officials, opening the door for a fresh start, according to Edmon.

Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards said the park has made a concerted effort to be more involved in local politics.

Although it wasn't because of the city's push in the past few years to tax Cedar Point, the park wanted to get more involved, he said.

Dick Kinzel, CEO and president of parent company Cedar Fair, gave money to three candidates this year: Brown and candidates Dennis Murray Jr. and Craig Stahl, according to the Erie County Board of Elections.

Mears said he also received money from Kinzel, but hasn't filed a report yet. Mears works at Cedar Point's Castaway Bay resort.

Edwards said it is a company policy to not endorse individuals, although employees can use their own money to support candidates.

Commission hopefuls said they aren't worried about getting money from Cedar Point employees, although candidate Ed Feick said people normally give in hopes of certain decisions.

"I am honored that the cross-section of our community has donated to my campaign, including Cedar Point employees," Stahl said. However, "none of the donations came with an 'Oh, by the way.'

"I will vote for what is best for the city. Period," he said.

For Murray, this election has had as much public interest as the last, but for different reasons.

The last time people were frustrated with the city's direction, rightly or wrongly, he said.

This time there is more of a sense the city is on the verge of important decisions. The direction has been set.

"The first time around we wanted a new course, this time around, we want the details," Murray said.

Raynell Bates organized commission candidate forums in 2003 and 2005. She was approached by residents at the Commons of Providence to do so.

Bates said people are excited about who is running because they have choices. When only three people run for three seats, it doesn't matter because everyone is going to win anyway, she said.

John Moldovan, executive director of the Erie County Chamber of Commerce, said attendance at the annual candidate forums was up in 2003 and 2005.

Moldovan said the business community is more tuned into local politics.

The implementation of the 8 percent parking tax in 2003 sparked some of the interest, although that wasn't the only reason, he said.

"The business community understands it can't just sit back and say that any elected body will take care of the business community," Moldovan said.

Candidate Brian Crandall said people are interested in this campaign because they want to see the city do better.

When he's campaigning, people are inviting him into their houses to talk about their frustrations. Sometimes they have so much to say he has to remind them he has to keep walking.

"They are sick and tired of being ignored," Crandall said.

Candidate John Jacobs said not everyone though is informed about the choices they face Tuesday.

"Some people don't even know an election is going on," he said.

Pervis Brown, 60, retired store manager of the Pharm.

Brian Crandall, 48, retired Sandusky firefighter.

Ed Feick, 85, former commissioner and past president of Feick Contractors and current Kelleys Island engineer.

Frank Fosco, 64, real estate agent and former commissioner.

Scott Hall, 31, journeyman at Hohler Furnace & Sheet Metal.

John Jacobs, 57, quality technician at Delphi Automotive Systems.

John Mears, 69, former commissioner and retired purchasing agent at Sandusky International.

Dennis Murray Jr., 43, attorney and local partner at Murray & Murray.

Craig Stahl, 49, president of Lake Shore Graphic Industries.

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