District 3 incumbent councilman Mike Craig says the difference between he and challenger Shaun Enright is that he is pro-business.

Enright says he is all about neighborhoods.

“I have a different view than Mike on what’s needed for East Toledo. Our plan isn’t just something we pulled out of our pocket. I really feel our approach is the right approach. My plans are legit — they are well thought out,” Enright said.

The two went head-to-head in a debate held during an East Toledo Club luncheon at the Weber Block Thursday. One will be elected to a four-year term on November 8.

Craig responded to questions regarding the purchase of the Marina District by the Chinese firm Dashing Pacific and the use of union labor for construction.

“It doesn’t matter what business is coming in, we can start picking and choosing who comes in for business, who comes in to develop, just as soon as we have full employment here,” Craig said.

“We need to make sure we are not harassing them about who they employ. Those are dollars which are not here now. That’s going to make things work here — we’ve been doing that in America for 236 years now — making sure foreigners are welcome,” the incumbent continued.

Craig was also talking about a $200,000 LISC grant he helped secure to unite the Marina District with the Garfield neighborhood.

“Now that Dashing Pacific is here, now is the time to implement that plan. We can do that with a $3 million project along the river. Right now, the downtown market rate apartments are at 95 percent capacity — it is truly amazing. St. Clair Village had two apartments become vacant a month ago — they were only vacant long enough to paint them and that is an $1,100 a month apartment. We have people wanting to live in the city core and this is the city core — we are only divided by the Maumee River.”

Enright is employed at IBEW Local 8 as a membership/business development representative. He has worked at the IBEW 11 years and has been a resident of District 3 for 31 years.

Enright, wearing an IBEW shirt, said, if elected, he will take “the neighborhood approach.” He suggests an initiative to help tenants communicate with landlords.

“When the landlord dies, it either goes to the kids or a new landlord gets it — that’s how it is,” Enright said. “I don’t see the district councilman as the job creator but he is there for stabilizing the district.

“The main issue that I see in housing is, since I coach East Toledo Junior League football, I believe that we should start a landlord-tenant remediation program to keep the landlords more in touch with tenants so that we can help out our kids and maintain a more stable base,” Enright continued.

Craig notes that District 3 has more houses on the demolition list than any other district, with the exception of District 4. Enright does not believe tearing them down necessarily helps the situation.

Enright said he has already began a process to get new Community Development Corporations started, suggesting a private business approach should be taken to deal with housing issues.

“I don’t think tearing them down is always the answer,” Enright said. “You tear the house down and that becomes a vacant lot where people are just dumping their trash.”

Craig said, “Some of the houses I hate to see tore down, but there is nothing that can be done. Quite frankly, the city has gotten pretty good at tearing down houses. I don’t think there is a private contractor who can tear down houses as cheaply as the city.”

Craig believes that bringing business and people back to Toledo is the answer to rehiring policemen and firemen. He says police and fire currently make up 60 percent of the city’s budget and Enright wants to see more policemen and firemen on the streets.

“This is a huge nut to crack,” Craig said. “We’re going to have to work smarter because there really isn’t money in the budget. We need more development here so we can have more taxpayers to support the services that people in the neighborhoods need. I work every day with the neighborhood groups to bring people back in.”

Both candidates say they do not support Issue 2 on the November ballot, which if not approved would repeal Senate Bill 5 that limits collective bargaining by public employees, such as policemen and firemen.

“I’m against it. I feel it’s an attack on the middle class,” Enright said.

Craig said, “My stand is real simple. I’m against this because regardless of who you’re employer is, you should be able to bargain for wages and benefits. Taking away the right to bargain for benefits — it’s just wrong. Toledo’s school district has taken a tough stand, and unions are working with the school district and they are solving their problems.”

Enright, 32, is a registered Democrat who resides on Clark Street in East Toledo. He is married to Angela Enright and they have three children, Shaun Jr., 11, Andrew, 9, and Nicholas, 5.

Enright graduated from Waite, has an associate’s degree from Owens Community College and five years at the TJATC union electric trade school. He was Democrat a precinct committeeman for eight years. He is a former president of the East Toledo Democratic Club and member of the Lucas County Democratic Executive Board, Knights of Columbus Council No. 14155, F&AM Lodge No. 788 and Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Toledo.

Craig, 56, is a registered Democrat who has lived on Consaul Street in East Toledo’s Birmingham neighborhood for seven years and previously lived on White Street for 19 years. Craig graduated from Waite and has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toledo. He and wife Karen have three children, Erin, Kevin, and Nikki. He has served on council five years.

“I’m a neighbor here,” Craig said. “I’ve been in East Toledo 51 years. There isn’t anyone in this town who loves East Toledo more than I do. We have significant problems but we’re working to get them solved. I’m not going to let the administration neglect East Toledo and South Toledo.”

Currently, Craig is a member of the executive committee of the Lucas County Democratic party, a member of the Hungarian Club, the Birmingham Development Corp., and the Spanish American Organization.

In the past, he has served as a board of trustee for the East Toledo Senior Center; was a member of the East Toledo Family Center’s youth athletic committee, and also a board member for the Waite High School Athletic Boosters. He says “he also spent numerous years coaching my children’s baseball, basketball and softball teams.”

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