Akron mayor under serious recall threat

Akron mayor Don Plusquellic, who has been mayor of Akron since I was in high school (I’m two months shy of 40 now), is under a serious threat of being recalled from office.  As a resident of Cuyahoga Falls, I am in full support of the effort to oust this “bad neighbor.”

Local attorney Warner Mendenhall is spearheading the Change Akron Now campaign to recall Plusquellic, who is another fine example of tax-and-spend. And since he is apparently being protected by more vice-mayors than Michael Bloomberg in New York (14, versus 11 for Bloomberg) as well as the Akron Beacon Journal, he seems to be untouchable. Heck, he only won the 2007 Democratic primary (the TRUE mayoral election of 2007) 57%-43% over Joe Finley. In past elections, Don Don won with at least 70% of the electorate for him.

When you consider how Don Don was trying to sell the city down the river by “leasing out” the city’s sewers and to take that money to fund scholarships ERRRRR college loans for Akron’s school kids ERRRRR scholarships to people who promise to stay in the city of Akron for 30 years after they graduate from college. What’s left in Akron ? Goodyear…and if you visit Mendenhall’s site, you’ll learn that he’s trying to sell the Chinese on taking over Goodyear !

That, plus the city’s in debt to the tune of…are you sitting down…$760 million. Three-quarters of a BILLION dollars. So while he’s supporting efforts to raise the highest income tax (2.25 percent) to one of the highest in the country (2.58 percent was his most recent effort), he’s flying to Disney World, China, Tampa…eating dinner on the “company dime” (and I’m not talking McLunch either). That, and breaking campaign finance law, using city workers to work the polls on election day (and possibly unconfirmed] having them knock on doors against the recall). And while he’s doing all that, he’s making cuts at the city’s police department, and home invasions are so old-hat, they barely make the news anymore.

And that’s not even what he has to say about the listeners of talk radio. Like I said, the Beacon Journal seems to love Don Don, even in a February 26 editorial, editor Steve Hoffman (who is a regular on the decidedly left-wing News Night Akron) basically says the recall effort is a waste of taxpayer money…not that each CITIZEN OF AKRON (not to be read as “voter” or “adult”) owning $4000 of the city’s debt is any sign of wastefulness of taxpayer money.

And why would a city of 210,000 need to have 14 vice-mayors ? Is it because, uh, the mayor isn’t doing his job because he’s too busy globetrotting and bad-mouthing listeners of talk radio ?

Speaking of all of us who are going to hell (according to Plusquellic after the failure of the referendum that would allow for the lease of the city’s sewer system) for listening to talk radio, Mendenhall stated on last night’s Tom Erickson show on WNIR that he would need to gather about 3200 valid sigantures from Akron voters in order to get the recall on a ballot, and they would like to gather these by April 10 in order to get the matter on the ballot in the summer, which will likely require at least 5000 signatures to be able to weed out the 3200 necessary.

And just for the record, if the recall goes forward and succeeds, Don Don will be replaced by Akron law director Max Rothal. The Beacon Journal’s Steve Hoffman would have you believe there is no candidate to replace The Don. There is, and it’s Max Rothal…at least until a special election can be held.

Mendenhall has called a meeting on March 11 – tomorrow night – at 7 pm at the downtown library in Akron. Petitions will be available for folks to collect signatures at the meeting.

Here are some points of contact for the Change Akron Now effort, which I fully support…

Warner Mendenhall’s website, complete with quotes and evidence to show folks why indeed it’s time for a change.

You may e-mail Warner Mendenhall at warnermendenhall@gmail.com .

For the non-multimedia savvy, you may call (330)474-3939.

It’s time for Don Plusquellic to find something else to do. Props to Warner Mendenhall for taking the initiative to make that a possibility.