Republicans want Dayton to be led by full-time mayor

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By Lucas Sullivan, Staff Writer Updated 11:13 PM Wednesday, September 1, 2010

DAYTON — The chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party is leading a charge to change Dayton’s city charter to allow for a full-time mayor form of government and abandon the city manager structure that has been in place for decades, according to a high-ranking Republic party official.

The Dayton Daily News has learned Greg Gantt plans to help organize the collection of about 10,000 signatures from registered voters in the city necessary to get the issue on a ballot for voters’ approval by as early as next year, though he has yet to formally ask for the petitions.

Voters must approve any change to the city charter.

Gantt was contacted several times for this story, but declined to comment through a third party.

If Gantt does get enough signatures, his petition would have to be validated by city commissioners. An election could then be announced as soon as 60 days later.

Mark Owens, county Democratic Party chairman, said he has heard of Gantt’s plan and would join in a nonpartisan effort to help change the city charter depending on the language contained in the charter amendment.

“I’ve got a call into Greg to talk about this because I think there are some positive things that a strong mayor form of government could do for the city,” Owens said. “But the devil is in the details and I have yet to hear any solid details.”

Dayton is run by a full-time city manager who is paid about $145,000, while the part-time mayor makes about $45,000 to run city commission meetings.

“It was set up to professionalize the city civil service and remove graft that was prolific in the early 1900s,” said Nan Whaley, a Democrat and city commissioner. “But I am supportive of a strong-mayor form of government as long as the community buys into the proposal.”

Such a change in the charter has been discussed over the last 20 years, officials said, but a proposal has yet to materialize.

It is unclear why Gantt and Republicans are seeking the change. The move would follow the election of independent Gary Leitzell as mayor over Democratic incumbent Rhine McLin in November.

Neither Leitzell nor Riordan returned calls late Wednesday seeking comment.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2494 or lsullivan@Dayton DailyNews.com.

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