Fulton County Ohio Media

There have been a lot of postings on social media recently regarding the possibility and even feasibility of having a debate between Swanton’s incumbent mayor Neil Toeppe and his opponent, Deacon Dzierzawski.  The postings and opinions lean heavily on the “It’s a good idea” side of the ledger.  I have always believed voters can greatly benefit from a debate or a town hall meeting where they hear what the candidates have to say on the issues most affecting and important to the citizenry and also see how they conduct themselves under pressure. 

That being said, it is now the eleventh hour in this election, with “Election Day” less than a week away.  It would need to be organized with a suitable venue being selected including a date and time, a format agreed upon, a list of topics and questions for the candidates to consider, and, maybe most importantly, a way to disseminate the information and details that come out of it to the community.  Is there any individual or group that will step up at this late date and make it happen?  If it can actually be pulled off, will there be enough time for the voting public to absorb and fully consider what they learned of each candidate?  Either way, it is not the job of the Swanton Village Council or the Village Administration.  There are times when voters need to be more involved and more engaged beyond the ballot box if they are serious about seeking change.

What this recent flurry of debate postings has shown me is that there has been a great opportunity missed.  Both Mayor Toeppe and Mr. Dzierzawski filed their petitions to run for office before the August 9, 2023, 4:00 PM deadline.  That is almost three months from the November 7, 2023 election day.  There was plenty of time to organize and schedule a debate or a town hall.  And plenty of time for voters to dissect each candidate’s position, research their history and be ready to make an informed and educated decision in the voting booth

That chance is essentially gone and, in many cases, is now a moot point.  Early voting began on October 11^th and will continue until Election Day.  How many of those early voters would have checked a different box had there been a debate between Dziertzawski and Toeppe?  We will never know. 

But before I get off my soap box, let me bring up a related issue.  The mayor’s race is the only contested race in Swanton.  Both the Village Council and the Swanton Board of Education have two open seats with only two candidates “running”.  That leaves the Swanton voter with no real choice at all as to who will be their voice at those two tables.  It is another important point to consider going forward.

There will be other elections and other opportunities to do more to make a difference.  At this point, the most important thing to do is vote.