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Election
This map shows the percentages of registered voters who voted in Dayton wards, the percentage of voters who supported each candidate, and how many votes McLin lost compared to 2005 in the 2009 election. Turnout was heaviest in Gary Leitzell's home territory in southeast Dayton, where he is president of the Southeast Priority Board.
Staff photo by Jim Noelker
Dayton's Mayor-elect, Gary Leitzell and wife Deborah Cool-Llorens, celebrate after learning of Leitzell's mayoral victory Tuesday night, Nov. 3, 2009.
Ron Alvey
Rhine McLin, mayor of Dayton, has a short meeting with her supporters at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Frank Ware Sr. Memorial Banquet Center in Dayton. The two-term mayor lost by less than 900 votes out of about 29,000 cast.
Staff photo by Teesha McClam
Dayton mayor Rhine McLin holds a press conference at City Hall Wednesday, Nov. 4, about her loss to challenger Gary Leitzell in the mayoral election Tuesday.
‘I just think voters chose for change,’ McLin says after loss
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By Joanne Huist Smith and Steve Bennish
Staff Writers Updated 2:41 PM Thursday, November 5, 2009
Staff Writers Updated 2:41 PM Thursday, November 5, 2009
DAYTON — Mayor Rhine McLin has already started taking down the pictures in her office at City Hall.
A difference of 878 votes stripped the two-time incumbent of her job as Dayton mayor and will pass that responsibility to neighborhood activist Gary Leitzell.
In final unofficial results, Leitzell had 14,923 votes to 14,045 for McLin.
“I just think voters chose for change,” McLin said on Wednesday, Nov. 4. “When you’re an elected official that happens. Somebody wins, somebody loses — that’s why they call it a race.”
A Dayton Daily News analysis of Tuesday’s election found that McLin lost votes in traditionally Democratic West Dayton and in all 22 of the city’s wards compared to the 2005 mayor’s race. Turnout was higher in southeast Dayton where Leitzell is chairman of the priority board.
“I believe everything happens for a reason. I’m not bitter. I am content and focused on the next phase of my life,” McLin said.
McLin believes that in the last eight years she has touched people along the way and made a difference.
“To be the mayor of Dayton, you have to love people,” McLin said. “Who I am and what I am comes from being a native Daytonian.”
McLin said she has no immediate plans to move from her hometown, but mentioned she does have family in Virginia.
Professionally, McLin is keeping her options open and said she is considering teaching, perhaps at the college level. She also has talked to Gov. Ted Strickland since losing the race, “He’s giving me a lot of encouragement.”
McLin said she’s proud of the strides the city has made on her watch, including Tech Town construction, bridge repair and replacement and neighborhood development.
Later this week, she leaves for a vacation in the Bahamas – a trip she plans after every election. McLin says that when she returns she will go back to work at City Hall.
“I haven’t taken a vacation in four years, since the last election.” McLin said. “I’ll come back and complete the job. I’m going to work hard for this city. It’s the city at stake, not an individual.”
McLin has instructed city staff to invite Leitzell to upcoming budget meetings. He takes office in January. The 2010 budget should be set by then.
McLin acknowledged the mayor-elect at Wednesday’s City Commission meeting.
He was seated in the back of the audience.
“I’ve run priority board meetings. These are just a little more formal,” he said. “I have stood before these people before. Today, I sit in the back, not the front.”
McLin offers advice for Leitzell
When asked what key issues Leitzell will face, McLin didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Number 1, the budget, number 2 the budget, and number 3 the budget,” she said.
Leitzell plans to move from speaking broadly about creating change in Dayton to laying out a plan to create jobs and improve quality of life in neighborhoods.
“I’ll do this the same way I fixed up my house, the same way I ran my campaign. I’ll be looking at things methodically,” Leitzell said. “Once I start evaluating the real situation, I can devise an effective plan.”
Leitzell said he will take on the task, one step at a time. He’ll begin by looking at city ordinances and the zoning code.
“I’ll look at things that are road blocks to economic development, that aren’t there for the health and safety of citizens,” he said.
To city employees Leitzell offered this reassurance: “They shouldn’t be nervous at all. I’m one vote. What do they have to fear from me?”
Working with Democratic commission
As for the City Commissioners — Democrats Dean Lovelace, Joey Williams, Matt Joseph and Nan Whaley — they have operated as a team under McLin. Leitzell, an independent, said he doesn’t foresee problems having dialogue with them.
“If they choose to be an obstacle to me, that’s their choice,” Leitzell said.
Commissioner Joey Williams said he has called Leitzell to extend a welcome.
“We have to welcome Gary with open arms and do what’s best for the city,” Williams said. “We have no choice and it really is the right thing to do.”
Williams added that he considers McLin a friend.
“She should be applauded for her years of service to the city,” he said.
As the news broke of the mayor’s defeat, Whaley was at home suffering from the flu. Whaley won re-election on Tuesday as did Williams.
“The mayor is my friend and she will always be my friend. I am proud of that. She has taught me a lot,” Whaley said.
Whaley believes McLin had no control over some things that led up to her defeat.
“It was not a good night for incumbents around the country,” Whaley said. “I think we’re all anxious to hear what Leitzell has in mind. I believe we all love the city, but we may have different ideas.”
Whaley pointed out that Dayton has a weak mayor form of government and each commissioner and the mayor has one equal vote.
“(Leitzell’s) going to have to reach out, a lot,” Whaley said.
David Esrati, who lost his bid to join the city commissioners, did win a victory of sorts, Leitzell said.
“He’s got an open door to the Dayton mayor now. He’s never had that before.”
Throughout his campaign, Esrati called for an end to City Commission work sessions that are not broadcast on television and no minutes are taken. Esrati called the meetings a violation of the City Charter. Leitzell says he will look into that.
“If we feel the work sessions are necessary, I say we document them, do it in a legal way that follows the City Charter,” Leitzell said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Quotes about the Dayton mayoral election
Gary Leitzell’s surprise defeat of Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election drew the attention of political leaders across the state and beyond.
Here’s a sample of their comments:
“I called Mayor-elect Leitzell last night to offer my congratulations and assistance as he begins his transition to City Hall. This is an exciting opportunity to take a critical look at new ideas to move forward with job creation and economic growth for the city. I look forward to his leadership and to a brighter future for Dayton.”
— Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, the former Dayton mayor who was defeated by McLin in 2001
“The guy who won in Dayton did not get elected. She (McLin) was defeated.”
— Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, who said McLin didn’t commit enough time to campaigning early in the year
“For a McLin to lose a re-election in the city of Dayton is nothing short of stunning.”
— Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine
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Copyright © Sat Nov 21 17:43:36 EST 2009 Cox Ohio Publishing, Dayton, Ohio, USA. All rights reserved.
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They refused to recognize that the private sector can create the jobs that are needed. But, then if people aren't working for the city or the state, that reduces the power of the liberals. They told several generations of Daytonians that we can't do anything without them. Look at Detroit. 40% of the people work for the city/state. 50% are on welfare. No private sector!
1:23 AM, 11/7/2009
12:07 AM, 11/6/2009
If you need to know, i'm white, and in MY neighborhood on the *EAST* side, more than 50% of the houses were boarded up. Most of our neighbors were white hustlers "working hard" to sell or buy meth or crack or stolen goods. And having babies left and right. And robbing people. Et cetera.
11:41 PM, 11/5/2009
11:04 PM, 11/5/2009
Ummmm...Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall...
10:36 PM, 11/5/2009