Inaugural events will be pricey affairs
Two weeks after retaking office, Mayor-elect Carty Finkbeiner will celebrate the occasion with an inaugural party at the Toledo Country Club.
Those who attend the Jan. 14 soiree almost surely will be helping to retire Mr. Finkbeiner's campaign debt, which as of Dec. 17 was reported at $83,298. Especially helpful will be those attending a "preinaugural" campaign party at the downtown home of supporters Richard Rideout and Janet Albright, where admission will be a hefty $1,000 per individual and $1,500 per couple.
Elizabeth Phillips, a spokesman for Mr. Finkbeiner, said the events will be "a night of fun and frill for Toledo" and also an opportunity for the mayor-elect to clear up his campaign bank account.
"We're going to be on city time now, and we'd like to wrap this up," she said.
A page on the cartygetsresults.com Web site lists the preinaugural as running from 6 to 7:30 p.m., while the country club event will begin at 8 p.m. and last until about 11:30 p.m. Admission to the latter, black-tie-optional gathering is $200 for individuals and $300 for couples.
Eighteen individuals and couples have been named "honorary co-chairs" for the inaugural party, including Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications, Inc., The Blade's parent company, and Myron and Sandra Stewart; Mr. Stewart is editor of the Toledo Journal.
Cocktail-party host Mr. Rideout, a local agent for New York Life, and his wife, Ms. Albright, the principal of Garfield Elementary School, are also among those listed as "honorary co-chairs" for the inaugural party.
Ms. Phillips said there's no financial quid pro quo for being an "honorary co-chair." Rather, she said, they are campaign supporters "who are going to help us out with the party."
The Rideout residence, a large loft condominium in a former warehouse building at 1 South St. Clair St., was the scene of a fund-raising party during the campaign, too, she noted.
Other "honorary co-chairs" include restaurateur Tom Cousino and his wife, Eileen; banquet-hall and catering executive Tim Gladieux; Dennis Duffey, the business agent for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 8; former Perrysburg mayor Jonathan Orser; and Tom Palmer, a managing partner at the law firm Marshall & Melhorn, and his wife Susan.
Also on the list are Bob Moore, owner of Moore's Plumbing Supply, and his wife, Lori; Harley Kripke, whose family owns Arlington Rack & Packaging on North Detroit Avenue, and his wife, Stacey; Bill Lichtenwald, the president of Teamsters union Local 20; and Jim Hoffman, the northwestern Ohio district president for KeyBank, and his wife, Kristine.
Wrapping up the list are Jim Jeffery, a partner at the law firm Spengler Nathanson, and his wife Kristin; Ed Reiter, the retired senior chairman of Sky Financial Group, and his wife, Linda; Jim Smythe, the owner of Habitec Security, and his wife, Nancy; Al Sprenger, the owner of Imperial Temporaries, and his wife, Marica; Jim White, a partner at the law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, and his wife, Sue; and John Szuch, chairman of Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio), and his wife, Yolanda.
Twelve years ago, after election to his first term as Toledo's mayor, Mr. Finkbeiner threw a similar fund-raising gala, starting with a $1,000 per head reception at the Ohio Building and then moving to a ball at the Radisson Hotel for which tickets cost $25 and $150.
Sixty of the $1,000 tickets were sold to the event, which grossed $130,000 and whose proceeds were used in part to retire a $25,000 debt from that campaign. City council members received complimentary $125 tickets, which provided access to a five-course dinner as well as dancing.
Contact David Patch at:
dpatch@theblade.com
or 419-724-6094.
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