Should Plusquellic serve another term?
It's been a great run, Don, but it's time to move on
Mike Rasor
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Opinion
Mayor Don Plusquellic, thank you for your 19 years of service as mayor of Akron. You have rejuvenated downtown and made headway in restoring the Rubber City economically. It's time, however, for you to move on.
Plusquellic is up for re-election. And as sure as any warm body on campus can win a spot for a vacant student government senate seat at the University of Akron, he will win.
But is he the best option for Akron the next four years?
Probably not. There are several members of city council who have watched Plusquellic perform his job with skill and hard work.
They can bring fresh ideas to the office, while restoring the respect the mayor has for the public. In a well-publicized dispute, Plusquellic cussed out a parking attendant last year. He also has the reputation of belittling fellow public employees.
It's a dangerous thing when a politician can go around his own city without the compulsion to respect people - even if it's just a parking attendant.
Joe Finley, Plusquellic's opponent in the primary, criticizes the mayor for giving "sweetheart" deals to developers so they open shop in Akron. Truth is, those deals are necessary for the city to build a tax base and improve the area in the long run. But Finley doesn't stand a chance at dethroning Plusquellic anyhow, nor will the candidate that Republican Party chairman Alex Arshinkoff throws out there.
In the end, the only real way for Plusquellic to leave is to install term limits. Or the mayor can retire before his act becomes completely stale.
Plusquellic is up for re-election. And as sure as any warm body on campus can win a spot for a vacant student government senate seat at the University of Akron, he will win.
But is he the best option for Akron the next four years?
Probably not. There are several members of city council who have watched Plusquellic perform his job with skill and hard work.
They can bring fresh ideas to the office, while restoring the respect the mayor has for the public. In a well-publicized dispute, Plusquellic cussed out a parking attendant last year. He also has the reputation of belittling fellow public employees.
It's a dangerous thing when a politician can go around his own city without the compulsion to respect people - even if it's just a parking attendant.
Joe Finley, Plusquellic's opponent in the primary, criticizes the mayor for giving "sweetheart" deals to developers so they open shop in Akron. Truth is, those deals are necessary for the city to build a tax base and improve the area in the long run. But Finley doesn't stand a chance at dethroning Plusquellic anyhow, nor will the candidate that Republican Party chairman Alex Arshinkoff throws out there.
In the end, the only real way for Plusquellic to leave is to install term limits. Or the mayor can retire before his act becomes completely stale.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Fed up
posted 8/27/07 @ 10:48 PM EST
Well the way it looks right now with what Russ Pry also said Joe will win, barely. Polling is coming back just a little different than what you think. (Continued…)
Post a Comment