IBEW Local 8 (Toledo) Member Steps Up for County Treasurer Position

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New name tossed into tussle for treasurer

Union head challenges elected Kapszukiewicz

By DALE EMCH, BLADE STAFF WRITER

Saturday, January 1, 2005

The choice for the interim Lucas County treasurer apparently won't come down to Wade Kapszukiewicz and John Irish when the county Democratic Central Committee meets Tuesday night.

Dennis Duffey, head of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 8 and chairman of the central committee, will challenge Mr. Kapszukiewicz, who was elected to the office for a term that begins in September, according to a letter sent to central committee members by a faction of the group that helped topple party leadership last year.

The party must name someone to fill the unexpired term of Ray Kest, who was forced to resign to avoid a felony theft charge. The meeting, set for 7 p.m. at the United Autoworkers Local 12 meeting hall, 2300 Ashland Ave., is open to the public.

The struggle for the office materialized after it became clear Mr. Kapszukiewicz wasn't going to keep Mr. Irish, who had been Mr. Kest's top deputy, on staff. Mr. Irish needs about eight months to get his full benefits from the state's public employees retirement system.

In previous interviews, Mr. Irish said he was seeking the position so he could obtain his full pension and protect some of the Democrats in the treasurer's office. He did not return a call yesterday seeking comment, but it appears he is stepping aside to let his political ally Mr. Duffey lead the charge.

Mr. Duffey, Mr. Irish, and others were instrumental in the coup that ousted former chairman Paula Ross. A letter signed by Kenneth Roach, vice chairman of the party's executive committee, and Nancy Norman, treasurer for the executive committee, states that Mr. Kapszukiewicz has promised to fire "six good Democrats" when he takes office. Mr. Roach is an electrical union employee under Mr. Duffey, who could not be reached for comment.

"Dennis Duffey, who has been involved in electing many former and current Democratic office holders, has come forward as the neutral candidate for the interim position," the letter stated.

That stance puts Mr. Duffey, Mr. Irish, and others in the leadership in direct opposition to Sandy Isenberg, the party chairman, and Jerry Chabler, the party's finance chairman. Ms. Isenberg and Mr. Chabler support Mr. Kapszukiewicz to take the office before his term officially begins in September and said to do anything else would be thwarting the will of the voters.

Ms. Isenberg said backing Mr. Kapszukiewicz is the right thing to do, and she is surprised fellow party leaders are willing to squander the gains they've made just to benefit Mr. Irish. She's been criticized by Mr. Duffey, Mr. Irish, and former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner for her stance.

"I'm trying to reunite the party, and we have our own people taking pokes at us because we're not doing what they want," she said. "It makes it very difficult to keep mending the fences. I want to do the right thing."

Mr. Kapszukiewicz ran on a reform platform after The Blade reported in 2003 that Mr. Kest spent nearly $17,000 of taxpayer money to pursue a PhD at Cleveland State University. Mr. Kest had to leave office in a deal that also called for him to pay back the money.

Mr. Kapszukiewicz said he never said he was going to fire six office employees. In previous interviews, he said about six people who were part of the "Kest political machine" were in jeopardy of being fired, but their performances would be evaluated first. Mr. Irish is a target because of his decades-long association with Mr. Kest and because Mr. Kapszukiewicz believes he worked for his Republican opponent, Betty Shultz, during the treasurer's race.

"Elected officials have the right to make changes when they take office," Mr. Kapszukiewicz said. "It is no different than when Democrat Carty Finkbeiner took over [as mayor] for Democrat John McHugh.

"The public did not vote for the status quo on Nov. 2. Unfortunately, this group is trying to protect the status quo."

Contact Dale Emch at:
daleemch@theblade.com
or 419-724-6061