I guess it comes down to how you measure the word “success” though when I read the Blade headline – GOP chief: Reform petition drive a ’success’ (link) for a brief moment I thought that Stainbrook had actually pulled off getting the required 14,289 signatures.
The story doesn’t state how many signatures were collected – the first few paragraphs as it appears online:
In less than 10 days, volunteers went door-to-door in 90-degree temperatures to collect signatures and learned that many Lucas County voters are ready for reform in county government.
“Volunteers collected thousands of signatures from voters who clearly see that the Democrat stranglehold on our county’s government has to end,” said Jon Stainbrook, chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party, who directed the volunteers.
Yesterday was the deadline for the signature drive to get the county reorganization plan on the November ballot.
Although it fell short of a minimum 14,289 signatures, Mr. Stainbrook called the effort a success.
I still find it interesting that this effort has been stated would end the “Democratic stranglehold” on county government since it’s up to the voters of Lucas County to pick their representation. If there were quality Republican candidates running for County office and the voters of this area were truly tired of electing Democrats? They’d pick Republicans…Even if the charter was changed, the key element that exists no matter what is the voters…
While some here have speculated on the chances of Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou winning his second attempt at Lucas County Commissioner, Mayor Mike Bell (once a Democrat now an independent) threw a fundraiser for the Sarantou for Commissioner campaign on July 13 at El Camino. How much support will Bell give him and will this increase the odds in the favor of Sarantou possibly being the only Lucas County Republican elected official, remains to be seen.