Commissioners hire Ujvagi
State representative wins county administrator post
Peter Ujvagi says he expects to take his new post between March 15 and March 24. He replaces Michael Beazley in the position.
By TOM TROY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER
The Lucas County commissioners yesterday voted to hire state Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D., Toledo) as their new county administrator, setting up a political round of musical chairs to fill his seat in the Statehouse.
Mr. Ujvagi, 60, of East Toledo will replace Michael Beazley, following yesterday’s 3-0 vote. Mr. Beazley, 55, is leaving to become Oregon city administrator.
Mr. Ujvagi would receive about the same salary Mr. Beazley is paid, $105,684, Lucas County Commission President Pete Gerken said. As a state lawmaker, he has a base salary of $60,584 a year.
Mr. Ujvagi, who is finishing up the last term allowed him as the representative of House District 47, said he expects to take on his new role between March 15 and March 24, saying he needs time to wrap up legislation important to Lucas County, including the creation of a land-banking program.
Mr. Beazley will remain until Feb. 26, which means the office would be run by Mr. Beazley’s staff for nearly three weeks.
“This gives me the opportunity to pull together so much of what I’ve done in public life in terms of communities, financial issues, public policies, bringing together regional efforts, and take all the different experiences I’ve had and put them at work for the whole county,” Mr. Ujvagi said.
Mr. Ujvagi is president of E&C Manufacturing Co. Inc. in East Toledo, in which he and his brother, Edward Ujvagi, hold a minority interest. He said he will step down from day-to-day operations, but will be involved on weekends.
Mr. Ujvagi served on Toledo City Council beginning in 1981, and was council president in 1997-2002. He was elected to the state House in 2002.
He came to the United States as a child when his family fled Communist-controlled Hungary. He is a graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School and attended the University of Toledo.
Mr. Ujvagi was Lucas County Democratic Party chairman 1989-1993.
Commissioner Ben Konop made an unsuccessful attempt to delay the appointment to allow more public input. The motion was defeated 2-1, with Mr. Gerken and Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak voting no.
Mr. Konop said that although he sought the delay, he feels Mr. Ujvagi is qualified to be county administrator.
“The public deserves a little more openness, a little more transparency, a little less smacking of insider politics than this sort of, in my mind at least, reflects,” Mr. Konop said.
Mr. Gerken defended the choice not to run a national search, saying the county administrator position is similar to that of chief-of-staff to a president, governor, or mayor, none of whom go through a public national search.
“He has represented us well in Columbus. Certainly [Mr. Ujvagi] would be an asset to the board of county commissioners,” Mr. Gerken said.
“This is the kind of hiring decision that is owned by the board. He’s going to work directly with us. It’s a sensitive position.”
The appointment opens the way to a series of vacancy appointments stretching all the way to Toledo City Council.
State Sen. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo), who is already running for Mr. Ujvagi’s seat, is expected to be appointed to the post.
Ms. Fedor applauded Mr. Ujvagi’s achievements in the House.
“It would be a privilege to return to my former House district and continue advocating on issues of human trafficking, education, children’s health, and election reform, veterans’ benefits, and most importantly, jobs for Ohioans,” Ms. Fedor said.
Replacing Ms. Fedor in the Senate would then be up to the Senate Democratic caucus.
Both Rep. Edna Brown (D., Toledo) and Toledo City Councilman Joe McNamara (D., at-large) have announced their interest in running for Ms. Fedor’s seat in the May 4 primary.
Ms. Fedor’s replacement would be selected by the 12 senators making up that Democratic caucus, a forum in which Ms. Brown could have the upper hand.
Ms. Brown said she was happy for Mr. Ujvagi, who had previously considered running for the Senate seat against her and Mr. McNamara.
“It’s an excellent fit for him, and I know he’ll be happy with that position. That narrows the field for the Senate,” Ms. Brown said.
Mr. McNamara yesterday declined to comment on the vacancy appointment, should it occur.
He said Mr. Ujvagi is “an exceptional public servant,” and wished him well in his new job.
If Ms. Brown gets the Senate appointment, city Councilman Michael Ashford has been mentioned as a possible replacement for her 48th District seat. He is circulating petitions to seek the Democratic nomination for the race.
Schylar Meadows, an area TV and radio personality, also has taken out petitions for the race from the Lucas County Board of Elections.
The name of WilliAnn Moore, president of the Toledo branch of the NAACP and a retired Toledo teacher, has surfaced as a possible appointment to Mr. Ashford’s council District 4 seat.
Contact Tom Troy at:
tomtroy@theblade.com
or 419-724-6058.
So there we have it. The decision has been made. I can speak for the immediate family, at least, knowing that we are pleased with this route and have great faith in my father’s abilities to guide this office well. So many people have had so many things to say on the subject of where my father’s political life would go after this year. I know he appreciated all the opinions and took many of them into consideration, and I know firsthand that this circumstance was not mulled over lightly. So many thoughts, conversations, ideas - even arguments – go into making decisions like this, as a family, which we have always done.
I’m excited about this development, wary and holding my breath on what it means for the Statehouse, etc., but ready to face the world proudly and not let all the negative comments I’ve seen and heard overshadow all of the well-wishes and support I’ve received from so many. It’s been a hell of a ride. Hopefully the road’s less bumpy here for awhile. I mean, lets be honest. There’s always something coming down the line to throw a wrench into your plans, but it would be nice to have a calm row to hoe for just a little bit. Saw the poem below this morning, hit me square in the chest:
Only a Dad ~ Edgar Guest
Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame,
To show how well he has played the game,
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.
Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more.
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.
Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent, whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.
Only a dad but he gives his all
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing, with courage stern and grim,
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.
