And the winner of the Press Release Extravaganza is...

Bob Vasquez!

Though the Toledo Blade did write an article yesterday about Bob's press conference, it appears from my non-scientific evaluation of column size that Bob got the least amount of space. Next up was Dave Schulz who also had his press release on his latest campaign proposals written about. Joe McNamara got the most coverage today with a front page picture featuring him and Ted Strickland as well as an article about his plan to combat brain drain.

Being a blogger of my word, let's talk about Bob.

Bob Vasquez ran for Toledo City Council in 2005, he missed winning a seat on Toledo City Council by a little more than 900 votes under Mark Sobczak. When Bob McCloskey stepped down, many of us (this blogger included) assumed that Bob would be a logical selection to be appointed to finish McCloskey's term. That of course did not end up happening, Lourdes Santiago was the choice of the Lucas County Democratic Party and City Council approved Lourdes being appointed. However, Bob decided he was going to run despite the lack of the endorsement of the Lucas County Democratic Party. Yesterday as his press conference and the Toledo Blade article stated he turned in his signatures as required and will be on the November ballot facing Lourdes Santiago who is the endorsed Democrat; Joe McNamara, who also appeared before the Screening Committee and made the decision to run as an unendorsed Democrat and Dave Schulz who is the endorsed Republican.

Some bio information:

Bob is the grandson of hard working immigrant farm workers. His father is a WW II veteran who was widowed as a young man, raising four men of public service. Bob's three brothers are Toledo Police officers. Bob grew up in East Toledo, graduating from Waite High School. He earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in public administration from The University of Toledo where he is a part time instructor. Bob serves on the Community Block Grant Citizens Review Committee, Northwest Ohio Criminal Justice Advisory Board, and Hispanic Affairs Commission, City of Toledo. Bob is Director of Special Projects at The Twelve Inc., a statewide nonprofit child welfare agency for children and families.

What the Toledo Blade article on Bob's press conference yesterday did not mention was that according to the formal press release; Toledo City Council members Michael Ashford and Mike Craig were going to be there with the Vasquez supporters when the signatures were turned in to the Board of Elections.

While I haven't met Bob in person, he is a reader of blogs, including this one. Maybe depending on how busy his day is he might even stop by to add some additional points, or to say "hi".



:-)