Things Toledo needs most from Mike Bell

November 6, 10:42 AMToledo Conservative ExaminerJeff Tucker

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Toledo, Ohio

photo by zogmyster

In a November 1 guest column that appeared in the Toledo Free Press, Mike Bell wrote, "As a career fire fighter and first responder, I believe that public safety is city government's first and most basic function."     

There is a drop down menu on the City of Toledo's website titled "find a city department".  One click reveals well over two dozen departments where budget cuts could be made before ever considering "the city government's first and most basic function."  With the election of Mike Bell, police and fire departments should return to being the very last departments to ever be threatened with budget cuts, instead of seemingly the very first.  

At the outset of his campaign for the office of  Mayor of Toledo, Mike Bell clearly set himself apart from other candidates when he used the phrase "stay out of the way" in reference to what city government's role should be in job creation and growing business. Many months later, Mr. Bell wrote "Toledo must restore its reputation as a city where it is easy to locate and grow a business."    

Mike Bell was a dedicated, accomplished, first-responder before he was elected mayor.  He was not a politician.  Toledo will be greatly served over the next four years if Mr. Bell resists the temptation of elected office and chooses to run the city the way a dedicated, accomplished, first-responder would run it - with public safety as the top priority and the humility to "stay out of the way" regarding business and private enterprise.