Resendez, Calhoun Seek 2012 Democrat Lorain County Commissioner Nod
December 21, 2011
Richard Resendez and Don Calhoun are Democrats running in 2012 for Lorain County Commissioner seats held by Lori Kokoski and Ted Kalo
From the Amherst News-Times, Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Two more Amherst men have joined the free-for-all over two Lorain County commissioner jobs.
Former sheriff’s captain Richard Resendez and Dynamic North America general manager Don Calhoun–both Democrats–are running in the March 6 primaries, although they are seeking different seats.
Resendez is looking to oust incumbent Lori Kokoski in a three-way primary showdown that also includes outbound Elyria mayor William Grace.
Robert Meilander of Kipton and Michael Musto Jr. of Columbia Station have also thrown their hats in the ring on the Republican side of the aisle.
After 34 years in uniform, Resendez was laid off from the Lorain County sheriff’s department in August 2012 after steep budget cuts.
A veteran patrolman, narcotics officer, and sheriff’s administrator, Resendez said as commissioner he would work to restructure county law enforcement.
“When you look at the county budget, 71 percent of the general fund goes to the criminal justice system,” he said.
Lorain County should consolidate its police forces to save money by sharing funds and collectively bidding for cars and other equipment like many metropolitan areas across the nation, Resendez said.
Administrators should also talk about reducing the number of local police chiefs over the next couple of decades, he said.
Other planks include courting new industry and jobs as well as launching a campaign to woo shoppers from surrounding counties.
Resendez said Lorain County should market its 6.25 percent sales tax–one of the lowest in the state–as a benefit of shopping here.
Meanwhile, Calhoun is gunning for incumbent Ted Kalo’s job in a Democratic primary fight with Berry Taylor of Grafton.
Amherst Councilman at-large Phil Van Treuren is also running as a Republican.
“I’m more and more discouraged over the past decade over how things are going. Obviously we’re in a downward spiral,” Calhoun said.
“Things could be much better in the county and in the Lorain-Elyria area then they are right now.”
Jobs also weigh heavily on his mind–especially those endangered by a possible Food and Drug Administration-ordered shutdown at the Invacare Corporation in Elyria.
Federal investigators threatened a regulatory suspension of operations there earlier this month after finding alleged violations.
Invacare is the county’s largest employer.
Calhoun works as a general manager of Dynamic North America, a subsidiary of Invacare that builds electronic control systems for medical equipment.
He said his job has given him experience working with million-dollar budgets–experience that he believes would be valuable in the face of the county’s budget crisis.
Calhoun wouldn’t say what budget line items he would consider cutting to help balance the county’s books, but said “wish list” expenses need to go.
There are several Amherstonians seeking high-profile public jobs this spring:
Democrats Ron Nabakowski (county clerk) and Ken Carney (county engineer) are unopposed in the primary, but Nabakowski will face Republican Jason Schmidt in the fall.
Sheriff Phil Stammitti (D) is seeking re-election and will face Republican challenger Audali (AJ) Torres of Lorain in the fall.
Amherst Republican Richard Ramsey has also filed to run for domestic relations court judge. He’s unopposed in the primary, but there are several vying for the Democratic slot–including Amherst city councilman Frank Janik.