Reelect Frank Whitfield as Elyria mayor

The Elyria mayoral race is all about vision. While four candidates are running, two stand out as the frontrunners: Mayor Frank Whitfield, an independent, and former Safety-Service Director Kevin Brubaker, a Democrat. It's a shame that the two are no longer working together because they complemented each other in terms of their skill sets. Brubaker, 56, is more of a tactician, who made certain that city services operated smoothly. Whitfield, 36, is more of a strategist who sets the overall vision for the city. It is that vision that leads us to endorse Whitfield for a second term. This isn't to say that Brubaker lacks vision, but much of what he has suggested during his campaign is similar to what Whitfield has already done or is trying to do. That shouldn't come as a surprise. Brubaker and Whitfield worked closely together for two years before Brubaker left the administration to lead Avon Lake's Public Works Department last year. Not long after he left, he announced he would challenge his old boss. Brubaker said he wanted to focus economic development efforts on reviving downtown. Although that hasn't been Whitfield's only focus, he has encouraged development in the area, including an e-sports facility, which, if successful, could serve as a catalyst for further development. Whitfield also has supported development efforts at Midway Mall and Chestnut Commons, albeit more successfully at the latter. Brubaker also said he wanted someone devoted full-time to economic development. Although she has other duties in the Whitfield administration, that responsibility has been the bailiwick of Assistant Safety-Service Director Dawn Calvert, whose work has been highly praised. Whitfield's economic development and other policy goals had to be put on hold during the pandemic as he ably pivoted to supporting the community and keeping government functions operating. Brubaker also was involved in those efforts. Even without the pandemic, it would have been hard for any legacy industrial city to land a near-perfect replacement for the loss of a company like Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, which relocated to Avon. (That decision was made before Whitfield took office.) There have, however, been smaller economic development wins that have brought jobs to the city. Those haven't fully replaced Bendix, but they have helped offset some of the loss in city income tax revenue, as have federal pandemic relief funds, some of which the city has used to plug budget holes and make necessary purchases. Whitfield has made public safety a priority, including offering retention bonuses to try to keep police officers from departing for other communities. The city also finally purchased long-overdue body cameras for the Police Department. Whitfield also partnered with the city of Lorain and the Lorain County Urban League, where he was once president and CEO, to secure a grant to to help prevent violence in the county's two biggest cities. There are times, however, when Whitfield's insistence on pursuing his vision can get in his way, leading to clashes with City Council over where the city should devote money. The tensions between Whitfield and Council proved a distraction time and again. Last year, for example, Whitfield said during a Council meeting that he would work to elect new members. We have not yet seen him issue any endorsements this election. As we've noted before, both Council and Whitfield share the blame for their strained relationship. Moreover, mayors and Councils aren't always going to see eye-to-eye on everything. Some of the complaints directed at Whitfield from Council, such as a lack of transparency, also were aimed at previous mayors, including former Mayor Holly Brinda, a Democrat whom Whitfield defeated in 2019. We also suspect the tension had a lot to do with this being Whitfield's first time holding public office. If Whitfield and the majority of Council members win reelection, they must put their squabbling aside for the good of the city. Brubaker, who served one term on Council more than a decade ago, told us said he would have a less contentious relationship with Council, where Democrats hold the majority. (In addition to years working in various city departments he served one term on the Elyria school board.) He also argued that he would be a better leader than Whitfield because he would surround himself with smart people who would tell him no behind closed doors. He contended that was lacking under Whitfield, a charge the mayor disputed. The other two candidates in the race are Republican Alice Gobeille, 61, and former Mayor Bill Grace, 59, a former Democrat now running as an independent. Grace lost his reelection bid to Brinda in 2011 and has been trying to return to his old job ever since. He ran as an independent four years ago, finishing a distant third. The trouble with Grace is that he seems to believe that he alone can arrest what he described as the decline of Elyria. He blames that in part on what he believes is out-of-control spending on the Fire Department, which he wants to trim. Grace has grandiose dreams for the city, but we fear they would be a huge gamble that would come at the expense of routine city services and maintenance. Although Gobeille has extensive private sector management experience, she has never held or run for political office before and, if elected, would face a steep learning curve at a crucial time. Additionally, her decision to participate in the Jan. 6, 2021, rally in support of former President Donald Trump's false claims that he was cheated of victory in the 2020 presidential election raises serious questions about her judgment. (She told us she didn't enter the Capitol that day.) Brubaker would likely make a good mayor, but we believe Elyria already has one. Voters should give Whitfield another four years.