LIMA — Backers of both Lima mayoral candidates made their cases Friday for why their candidate of choice is the best choice for the city.
Lima Mayor David Berger held a media conference at his West Market Street campaign headquarters to highlight bipartisan efforts and cooperation during his tenure. Joining him were Kelly Kirk, former liaison for the late Rep. Mike Oxley, former Allen County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Siferd and former Ben Rose, a former State Representative who also served in the Pentagon during the Bush administration. Backing Cheney Friday was Ohio Sen. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, speaking at the Allen County Republican Party luncheon.
“The race for mayor is considered non-partisan, but it should be called bipartisan, because the mayor has to work with all sides,” Kirk said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with both mayoral candidates, and [Berger] is definitely my pick for mayor.”
Siferd reminisced on poor services the city offered under previous administrations, saying that fire department hoses looked like “sprinklers” because they were in poor condition.
“With David [Berger], you have competence in government,” he said.
Rose expressed concern over Cheney running for mayor while retaining his position as chairman of the Allen County Republican Party.
“Keith Cheney cannot do a good job as Republican chairman and a good job as mayor,” he said. “He has to choose.”
Berger said he does not approach the office through ideology, but rather from a practical perspective.
“Good ideas can come from everywhere and anywhere, so we have sought solutions to real problems,” he said. “We have gathered folks together to work on them.”
For Huffman, ideology is at the center of the choice voters face for mayor, saying that Cheney would create an atmosphere where individuals and businesses can thrive while Berger favors more of a central government, collectivist approach.
“For the past 28 years, the administration, by and large, has been a government-centric central planner,” he said. “The problem with that is that true economic success comes from free markets and small businesses. In Keith Cheney, we have a candidate who wants local people and local businesses to be successful.”
Cheney asserted that any partisan division in the mayoral race is due to Berger drawing attention to Cheney and his role in the Republican Party. As for his priorities, he said his singular focus would be on serving as mayor should he be elected.
“I am going to do my job until I take office as mayor on December 1, the same as [Berger] remained in his job in 1989 when he first ran for mayor,” he said.
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