Qualls' vision sorely needed

EDITORIAL | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COUIRER

February 1, 2008

 

Just days ahead of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory's "state of the city" address, former Mayor Roxanne Qualls gave a speech that sounded firmly mayoral. Mayor of Greater Cincinnati, that is.

 

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Just days ahead of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory's "state of the city" address, former Mayor Roxanne Qualls gave a speech that sounded firmly mayoral. Mayor of Greater Cincinnati, that is...

 

Yikes, no wonder we're losing so many young people. At least we have one leader who knows what's needed to keep or attract them. Qualls gave a vision for what we need. It's nice to have her back in office, even if she's not the mayor.

 

I'm not surprised no one responded to this post, because the article referenced in it was completely silly.  Qualls' so-called vision isn't unique to her.  I'm sure Mallory and a host of other local politicians would love to do something about climate change, regional government and intermodal transportation.  But our local government doesn't really have the capacity to positively effect most of these issues.  Meanwhile, issues the city can effect on its own, like the streetcar, are being actively pursued by Mallory and actively obstructed by Qualls.  Also, talk to any non-Cincinnati local pol in the Greater Cincinnati area who has been around since Qualls was mayor and ask them who they've had the best working relationship with: Qualls, Luken or Mallory?  I'd bet that the majority of them would say Mallory.

 

Two things in this article say it all- "...Qualls, mayor from 1993-1999.." and "At least we have one leader who knows what's needed to keep or attract them. Qualls gave a vision for what we need. It's nice to have her back in office, even if she's not the mayor."  But if she's so insightful as to what the City needs, why was she unable to accomplish anything of significance during her tenure as mayor?  At least Luken managed to create 3CDC (which has performed far better than I'd imagined it would), even though he didn't see any payoff from it before he left office.  What important initiative did Qualls husband through council during her six years of prominence?

Perhaps she did poorly enough to justify the adoption of the stronger mayor system. I would also submit that we could make a list of councilpersons during her reign that might have undermined her effectiveness.

Qualls is a JOKE!!!!  and so was her stint as mayor.   

Perhaps she did poorly enough to justify the adoption of the stronger mayor system. I would also submit that we could make a list of councilpersons during her reign that might have undermined her effectiveness.

 

I like the Devil's Advocate thing Dave, so I'll bite.  I will definitely agree that there were plenty of other city councilors [a bit more elegant a word than councilpersons that maintains gender neutrality- I strongly encourage all to adopt it] who actively tried to undermine Qualls' leadership.  I can think of Tom Luken & Dwight Tillery in her own party alone.  And certainly the top vote getter system of electing the mayor is unquestionably inferior to either the independently elected "strong" mayor system of today or the council elected mayor system that existed prior to the top vote getter era.  But I put it to you, isn't it the mark of a successful politician that he be successful with the system he is presented with?  Even if Qualls were legitimately thwarted in the 90s, her present attempts at political gamesmanship strike me as feeble, counter to her professed goals, and motivated more from sour grapes rather than insightful strategy.  When it comes down to it, I don't think they are going to get her either power or the goals she claims to want to accomplish.

She had the benefit of being the adult when the Councilors (I like) were mostly good for a laugh if not a cry. She had a bit of bad luck in that '98 would have been her best moment to make a run at state office but that was in the middle of the GOP ruling Ohio quite uncontested. And she ended up losing a bit of identity when she challenged Chabot, somewhere in middle age, her identity pretty radically changed.

 

I basically agree that she's been left behind, though I wonder if she could parlay this into a federal job (Asst. Secretary in HUD or HHS or something) if the Dems win in November.