"Politics as usual" will win in Newark

One of the three candidates for Newark mayor is running against "politics as usual," and I'm betting on politics.

With only three candidates for mayor, two of them are the personification of politics as usual, which is almost always wins in Newark Ohio.

Bob Diebold, long-term politics-as-usual councilman, and Bruce Bain, long-term-politics-as-usual mayor are running against non-politician Michael Bowers.

Bowers and Diebold square off in the Republican primary tomorrow (5/8/07).

Bowers mostly had all the right answers when he and Diebold answered questions from ThisWeek (Dispatch) for an article April 15, 2007.

You should go read that article if you haven't done so. One of the key questions asked both candidates is: "Would you support an additional tax or fee to fund maintenance and repairs for city streets and alleys? Explain."

Blowers answered: "I am opposed to additional taxation or fees..."

Diebold answered: "I would support another $5 license plate permissive tax increase to help pave our crumbling streets. I am the only city council member that signed the petition for a referendum on the $15 plate fee. I would sign it again to support the voters' right to decide on the ballot. I will not take without asking."

What a bunch of crap.

Go read what I wrote September 7, 2006 after Diebold and all but two other councilmen stuffed voters on this tag tax. ("Council rejects voters' directive on Tag Tax") And now Diebold says that because he signed a petition for a referendum that this somehow nullifies his council vote against the majority of citizens?

Politics as usual. If he gets the GOP nomination tomorrow, then - no matter who wins the November election - Newark is going to get more politics as usual from the mayor.

I hope Blowers can pull it off, but I don't think he has made enough noise and I don't think enough people care one way or other about what goes on at City Hall, with the exception of those who are politicians and business managers who require political favors.

Blowers, I think, is outgunned - as am I.