Dayton mayor brushes off critics’ comments

Gary Leitzell says he hasn’t changed and doesn’t care about a career in politics.

Mayor’s Leadership Council has disbanded

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By Lucas Sullivan, Staff Writer Updated 1:26 PM Friday, November 26, 2010

DAYTON — For many high-ranking representatives of the region’s largest employers and community leaders, their first impressions of Gary Leitzell came two weeks after he was sworn in as Dayton’s mayor.

It was his first Mayor’s Leadership Council meeting in January and Leitzell, a stay-at-home dad, showed up with his then 7-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

Leitzell spoke to the group and they watched at times as Elizabeth tussled her father’s hair and flicked water at him from a glass. Some thought it was a playful, candid moment that showcased a strong father-daughter relationship.

Others were appalled.

“I’ve heard the criticisms of that since the beginning,” Leitzell said Monday. “She is a really well-behaved girl and she’s extremely bright. My response (to critics) is maybe they should get themselves a 7-year-old daughter and try to home-school her.”

Leitzell also brushes off critics of his daughter’s presence at events as petty. He said he is aware of his image as an atypical, plain-spoken mayor who sometimes is absent from events attended by other politicians.

His response: “Who cares?”

“I’ve held my own throughout the year and I haven’t changed,” he said. “Some people said they see me everywhere and there are certain business people that say they don’t see my anywhere. I didn’t do this because I cared about a career in politics.”

He also appears to be unconcerned about his Leadership Council dwindling from about 22 active members to six in the last two months after some on the council voiced concerns of the group’s mission and questioned why Leitzell didn’t attend some of the meetings.

Leitzell said he plans to attend all three meetings next year and believes his council, now called an Economic Development Task Force, can help the city.

Leitzell felt slighted Monday when he wasn’t asked to speak at General Electric’s announcement that it was going to build a $51 million research center near the University of Dayton. “I don’t know why they left me off the list, but no county commissioners got up and spoke ... .,” he said.

David McDonald, a Leitzell adviser and co-chair of the mayor’s council, said the two have had “blunt” conversations about Leitzell’s image.

“He tells me how I am perceived by certain people. I am sure there are certain business people that think I am nothing. But there are a lot of voters that tell me I am the best thing that’s happened to this city.”

Remaining members of Mayor's Leadership Council

David McDonald (co-chair), author and developer
Jeff Samuelson (co-chair), developer
Greg Gantt, attorney and chair of the Montgomery County Republican Party
Glenn Alexander, former Moraine city manager and Dayton fire chief
Thomas Raga, vice president of advancement with Sinclair Community College. Ran for lieutenant governor in 2006 with Republican Ken Blackwell
Mark Henry, attorney and former Dayton city commissioner

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