Close the Barb, Bob & Betty Loophole

Recently, attention has been paid to the abuse of City Charter Section 87D, Term Limitations.

It is called the Barb and Bob & Betty Loophole for a good reason.  Barb Herring, Toledo City Law Director offered a legal opinion (page one, page two) that allowed Betty Shultz and Bob McCloskey to circumvent the will of the voters in the last election.  Dave Schulz, former candidate for Toledo City Council, was the only person who raised an objection to this during the 2005 campaign.  After filing two unsuccessful lawsuits after that campaign, Schulz joined forces with City Councilman Frank Szollosi in the summer of 2006 to amend the city charter to clarify term limits in Toledo.  Voters overwhelmingly passed the change 75% to 25%.

Term Limits News Stories

Sleazy politicians raise the ire of Dave Schulz on March 11th, 2005.

City finally releases Term Limits memo after pressure on March 13th, 2005.

The Toledo Blade slams McCloskey for legalistic weaselry.

Dave Schulz calls on City Council to clarify term limits on September 29th, 2005.

Schulz files lawsuit in Court of Appeals to oust McCloskey, December 2005.

Court gives McCloskey 30 days to respond.

City responds to lawsuit.

Toledo Blade admonishes Bob McCloskey.

Court of Appeals rejects lawsuit, January 2006.

Schulz comments on McCloskey bribery case and announces re-filing of lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court, Spring 2006.

City responds to Ohio Supreme Court lawsuit (see Term Limits Lawsuit for copy of case)

Supreme Court chickens out and dismisses lawsuit, April 2005.