LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gabriel has qualifications for elections board

4/21/2017

Recent stories and editorials have me questioning The Blade’s treatment of Theresa Gabriel, former Toledo councilman and now deputy director of the Lucas County Board of Elections.

The Blade questioned Ms. Gabriel’s lack of board of elections experience in an April 4 article, “Lucas County elections board boosts Dem director’s pay by $5,000.” In that story, The Blade failed to report her nearly 50 years of experience with the city of Toledo — most in management or administrative positions.

I have worked with Ms. Gabriel on several occasions, including her two runs for Toledo City Council. I can tell you that she treats her years in public service as a vocation, which is why I found Keith Burris’ April 5 column, “Everyone gets a cookie,” degrading.

Mr. Burris wrote that Ms. Gabriel’s appointment to the board was the result of “purely insider dealing.” To me this contradicts The Blade’s Feb. 26 article, “GOP finds few black supporters in Toledo region,” that chronicled Ms. Gabriel’s tough start to find political party acceptance. No cookie here.

Additionally, Mr. Burris suggested that Ms. Gabriel got her gig because she is someone Jon Stainbrook can control.

Ms. Gabriel served as the assistant chief of staff under Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner. Mr. Finkbeiner had a reputation of being a tough person to work for. Not only did Mrs. Gabriel survive that experience, but she will proudly tell you that she got the upper hand on Mr. Finkbeiner a time or two. Nobody controls her.

Finally, I took offense at an April 10 letter in which the writer questioned Ms. Gabriel’s age and wrote, “At her age, she should retire and spend her time volunteering.” Ms. Gabriel already volunteers and has done so for more than 50 years.

We have all witnessed the value of seniors who work well into retirement age. Their actions have taught us that as long as people have the knowledge, the wisdom, the experience, and God’s gift of good health, they should be allowed to do what they do best. In Ms. Gabriel’s case, that is public service.

MATT ZALESKI

Summerdale Avenue

Editor’s Note: Mr. Zaleski is the vice president for Hubbub Marketing LLC, which handled Ms. Gabriel’s 2013 Toledo City Council campaign.

 

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City needs new mayor and council

It’s time for a change in this city.

Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, you’re out because there have been too many lies. This city has been run down for a long time. When it comes time to vote, two words should come to mind: roads and blight. Nothing is being done.

As far as city council, pack your bags. We need people who can stand up and say no.

These people are bought by lobbyists, and you know who you are. I believe Kroger or ProMedica would have a place for you and the mayor.

It’s time to drain the swamp and make Toledo the way it used to be — alive and kicking, rather than bars downtown.

People in this city need jobs, not grocery stores. It’s time for change.

DUANE JOHNSON

Brooke Park Drive

 

Why wasn’t Trump in South Korea?

Am I missing something?

On April 18, the front page of The Blade included an article about Vice President Mike Pence being briefed near the border of North Korea and another picture of President Trump blowing a whistle to start an Easter egg roll.

Shouldn’t the President have been in South Korea?

DAN SEEMANN

Maumee

 

Remove the sign near Whitehouse

I understand the concern for safety around the illegal 35 mph speed limit sign when approaching Whitehouse (April 12, “Fraud as public policy”).

But, so far, we have heard officials trying to explain and justify the sign, talk about determining the real speed limit by working with the state, and the police chief saying he wasn’t aware of this controversy until the meeting in March.

With all this posturing going on, shouldn’t the sign be removed until the issue is reolved? Isn’t that the moral thing to do? How long could it take for village workers to remove it?

RON EMCH

Maumee