Carleton S. Finkbeiner

Infobox_Politician
name = Carleton S. Finkbeiner


caption = Mayor of Toledo, Ohio
birth_date = May 30, 1939 in Toledo, Ohio
birth_place =
death_date =
residence = Toledo, Ohio, United States
office = Mayor of Toledo, Ohio
term_start = 1994
term_end = present (Not continuous)
predecessor = John McHugh and Jack Ford
successor = Incumbent
party = Democrat
alma_mater = Denison University
religion =
spouse = Amy Finkbeiner
children =
website =

Carleton "Carty" S. Finkbeiner (born May 30, 1939) is an American Democratic politician who is the current mayor of Toledo, Ohio. First elected in 1993, he took office on January 1, 1994. In 1997, he defeated challenger Nick Wichowski to win a second term. Term limits prevented him from running a third consecutive time. He was succeeded by former mayor, Jack Ford in 2002. Following his first administration, Finkbeiner served on the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board. He joined the ABC affiliate in Toledo and hosted "Carty & Company", a Sunday morning public affairs show. He also contributed a weekly editorial segment, "It's Just Not Right!" Finkbeiner left WTVG in May 2005.

On June 30, 2005, Finkbeiner announced that he would seek a third term as mayor. He won the Toledo Mayoral Primary, winning roughly 37% of the vote in comparison to 29% earned by incumbent Ford. On November 8, 2005, Finkbeiner was re-elected mayor. Finkbeiner was sworn in for his third term as mayor in a private ceremony on January 3, 2006.

Finkbeiner currently resides with his wife, Amy Finkbeiner, in South Toledo. He has three children: Ryan, Jenny, and Katie, and five grandchildren.

Background

Finkbeiner was born (1939) and raised in Toledo, graduating from Maumee Valley Country Day School. He received a B.A. from Denison University. Prior to his political career, he taught at Maumee Valley Country Day School, St. Francis de Sales High School, and the University of Toledo.

Finkbeiner is something of a political weathervane. During his long career in public service, Carty has been a member of multiple parties. At various times and for various offices he has run as a Republican, a Democrat and an Independent.

Finkbeiner served eight years as a city councilman and two years as deputy mayor.

In 2004, Finkbeiner experienced health problems and underwent bypass surgery. [ [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050809/COLUMNIST03/508090346 toledoblade.com - Carty's back: The old one or a new one? ] ]

Accomplishments

As a city councilman, Finkbeiner led efforts to the change from city manager/council format of government to the strong mayor executive style Toledo currently has in place.

During his administration, Finkbeiner oversaw Toledo's largest building growth in decades, including construction of:
*The Cesar Pelli designed Owens Corning World Headquarters
*Chrysler Jeep Plant
*State Prison
*Dana Corporation Headquarters
*Erie Street Market
*The Docks-- an upscale restaurant and entertainment cluster on the Maumee River
*Buckeye Basin Greenbelt Parkway
*Fifth Third Field-- a new downtown stadium for the Toledo Mud Hens
*Additions to The Toledo Hospital
*Improvements to General Motors Transmission Assembly Plant

Finkbeiner spearheaded the "Keep Jeep" movement, helping to convince Daimler-Chrysler to keep Jeep production centered in Toledo. The new plant brought an estimated 6,500 jobs and $2 billion in estimated annual payroll to the city.

Extensive downtown redevelopment was a hallmark of the Finkbeiner administration. Under the Mayors leadership the city invested eagerly in the public infrastructure. The city systematically improved thoroughfares, sidewalks, and landscaping throughout downtown and along the adjacent riverfront. Crime was reduced and a number of undesirable businesses were closed.

Large public investments were made in the baseball stadium, the [http://www.cositoledo.org/ COSI Science & Industry] museum, and the [http://www.eriestreetmarket.org/ Erie Street Market] , to varying degrees of success.

These strategies combined with tax incentives lead to significant private-sector investment. Many historic buildings were renovated and today house reduced- and market-rate housing, small shops, and trendy, upscale restaurants and nightclubs.

In 1998, during Finkbeiner's second term in office, these improvements culminated in Toledo winning the title of "All-America City Award of the National Civic League." Only 10 cities a year are given such a distinction.

In 1999, the White House Millennium Council dubbed Toledo an official Millennium Community.

Controversy

Known as much for his temper as his work ethic, many allegations surfaced throughout Finkbeiner's two terms, and more continue to surface in his third.

* Toledo restaurateur John Skiadas filed a law-suit alleging that Finkbeiner physically and verbally assaulted him at the Erie Street Market in 2000. The lawsuit was dismissed by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Charles Wittenberg in 2004. [ [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050513/NEWS16/505130359 toledoblade.com - Erie Street Market restaurant shuts down ] ] [ [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041125/NEWS02/411250356 toledoblade.com - Judge dismisses lawsuit filed against Finkbeiner ] ]

* Finkbeiner was the focus of a segment on the Daily Show poking fun at statements he made suggesting that Toledo could be the next Hollywood. During the interview, Carty expressed his ideas while the camera fixated on Toledo's most rundown neighborhoods, contrasting them with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. The segment aired during the 1997-98 season.

* On July 1, 1998, Finkbeiner was fined $400 and court costs after pleading guilty to ethics charges when he was Mayor, realized a $10,000 profit from Owens Corning's purchase of his condo, and his failure to publicly report the gain [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20050926&Category=NEWS09&ArtNo=509260327&SectionCat=&Template=printart Printer-friendly version ] ]

* He plagiarized a single line in his KICK-OFF speech in 1998. [ [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050716/NEWS16/507160394 toledoblade.com - Finkbeiner owns up to lifting quote ] ]

* Finkbeiner suggested relieving the problem of noise complaints from neighbors of Toledo Express Airport by selling homes nearby at low cost to deaf people. [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051103/NEWS09/51103044&SearchID=73225970471704 toledoblade.com - Foes say Finkbeiner’s ‘passion’ is really just abusive behavior ] ]

* In early 2006, political adversaries scoffed over the Mayor spending $9,996 of city money to complete the installation of shower facilities in his City Government building office. The project was considered "controversial" in part because the shower quote was originally $10,006, six dollars over a threshold that requires approval from City Council. The contractor was able to shave $10 from the project, thus avoiding a Council vote on the proposal. [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060225/NEWS16/602250376 toledoblade.com - Finkbeiner defends $9,996 shower stall ] ]

* In May 2006, he called Toledo's African-American Fire Chief Michael Bell “King Kong” at a staff meeting. Finkbeiner later clarified his remarks as relating to the Chiefs physical stature, and Chief Bell has acknowledged in public that he took no offense to the remarks. [ [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060531/OPINION02/60531030 toledoblade.com - Carty’s slip of the tongue ] ]

* In June 2006, Jack Smith resigned from his brief tenure as Chief of Police after what he described as a near-physical confrontation with the mayor after they exchanged words. [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060701/NEWS16/607010388/-1/RSS toledoblade.com - Navarre glad to be back ] ]

* In January 2007, Finkbeiner claimed that both he and wife Amy were treated unprofessionally by Ottawa County sheriff's deputies when they tried to visit Amy's son, an inmate, on separate occasions. Amy Finkbeiner claimed she was not allowed to use a ladies' room at the jail, while Finkbeiner said he was denied a chance to visit after visiting hours had concluded. Sheriff Bob Bratton said the deputies were only doing their jobs. [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070106/NEWS03/70106037 toledoblade.com - Finkbeiner miffed at Ottawa County jail staff ] ]

* Also, in January 2007 Finkbeiner and his press secretary were sued by radio station WSPD, claiming that First Amendment provisions regarding freedom of the press were violated when the press secretary forcibly kept a station employee out of a public press conference. Finkbeiner's objection to the employee is that he produces opinions and editorials, and is not in fact a reporter on behalf of WSPD. On January 31, a federal judge granted the station a permanent injunction requiring Finkbeiner and his staff to admit station personnel. [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070117/NEWS02/701170428 toledoblade.com - Mayor must allow WSPD into news conferences ] ]

* Finkbeiner has also suggested a cafe be built on the Martin Luther King bridge so city employees could eat there while the bridge was undergoing construction. [ [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070403/COLUMNIST03/704030371 toledoblade.com - Let's order a giant helping of pie in the sky ] ]

* In August 2007, Finkbeiner was confronted on two occasions by reporters because he parked in a handicapped spot and left his dog, Scout, in the car during a hot spell. Finkbeiner was ticketed and fined, but denied mistreating the animal. [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/NEWS16/70807014&SearchID=73289616752507 toledoblade.com - Leaving dog in car risks its health, mayor is told ] ]

* In February 2008, Finkbeiner refused to let a company of 200 [ [http://www.nbc24.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=94192 Mayor kicks Marines out of Toledo : News : WNWO NBC24 ] ] Marine Corps Reservists engage in urban patrol exercises on the streets of downtown as well as inside the mostly vacant Madison Building, 607 Madison Ave. Toledo police knew about the event three days in advance, but it wasn't until the Marines arrived that "the mayor asked them to leave because they frighten people," said Brian Schwartz, the mayor's spokesman. [ [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080209/NEWS16/802090394 toledoblade.com - Mayor to Marines: Leave downtown] ] Finkbeiner defended his decision to cancel the exercise, but in an e-mail to Marine Corps officials, he expressed support for the Marines and the military and invited the Marine unit to return to Toledo for training, but not downtown. In reaction to the uproar Finkbeiner has offered conflicting explanations for his denial. During a recent interview Finkbeiner used the profanity to describe the situation he caused as a "f*cking ruckus." In a related note, Schwartz was suspended by the city for 15 days without pay for a series of alleged incidents toward members of the media, particularly one in which he used obscenities toward a producer at radio station WJR in Detroit, who had called to arrange an interview with Finkbeiner. Schwartz later hired an attorney, claiming Finkbeiner and chief of staff Bob Reinbolt violated his civil rights. [ [http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=7290 toledofreepress.com - Suspended employee hires attorney to investigate mayor, chief of staff] ]

References