59°Fuqua to resign from city commission; Cole to replace him
Aug 02
2010
SANDUSKY
Another high-profile city official will soon step down.
City commissioner Brett Fuqua, who has spent nearly seven years at the commission table, will resign from his position in the near future, according to an e-mail he sent to fellow city officials.
Fuqua began a new job last week as an auditor for Impact Community Action, a community action agency in Columbus.
The new job will prevent him from fulfilling his duties as a Sandusky commissioner, he said.
Interim city manager Don Icsman said Fuqua will likely resign at Monday's commission meeting.
"This e-mail is bitter-sweet," Fuqua wrote in the Aug. 2 e-mail to city officials. "I have no other choice because my position ... requires me to work 4 days a week, 10 hours a day, which means I am unavailable for the Monday night meetings and any additional meetings/functions/boards that I am required to attend.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have had on the commission and will certainly miss it and all of you," he wrote.
Diedre Cole, who finished fourth in November's commission race, will replace Fuqua as commissioner, as the city's charter requires.
Cole received more votes than any other candidate who didn't get elected.
"I'm so excited, so thrilled and so honored to serve," Cole said Monday.
She'll be the first black female to serve on the commission.
Cole said she will focus her efforts on, among things, quelling the shootings and violence that have plagued the city this summer. She lives on Hancock Street, where several of the incidents have occurred.
"That tells me we need to focus on our kids and our neighborhoods," Cole said of the violence. "We're not ready to attract outside businesses. First, we have to take care of our own people."
Ex officio mayor Dan Kaman wished Fuqua and his family "the best of luck" and said he was looking forward to working with Cole.
"I think she'll bring a new perspective to the Sandusky City Commission -- one that we need," Kaman said. "She'll be a voice for a large part of our population that currently has no voice."
Fuqua is the latest high-profile official to exit from Sandusky City Hall.
Last November, the public voted ex officio mayor Craig Stahl and fellow commissioner Bob Warner out of office. The city commission then fired city manager Matt Kline and economic development specialist Scott Schell later that month.
In December, John Hancock also resigned from his position as head of engineering, planning and development in Sandusky.
Michele Hall, the city's recreation supervisor, resigned earlier this year.
And more changes could be coming soon.
The judge in city commissioner Kim Nuesse's civil service appeal could make his decision this month on whether or not to uphold Nuesse's reinstatement as the city's police chief.
If that occurs, and if Nuesse accepts the job, the commission would have another vacancy.
In that scenario, the commission would accept resumes from interested candidates and then vote on Nuesse's replacement. The same would happen if any other vacancy occurs.
The commission went through a similar process when it selected Pervis Brown Jr. to replace Dennis Murray Jr. in December 2008.
Sandusky will also fill its city manager's position in the coming months, a job Icsman, the acting city manager, and Ruth Haag, a local scientist and business woman, have both said they want.
In Monday's e-mail, Fuqua offered his support for Icsman.
"Please give Don serious consideration," Fuqua said. "He has done everything asked of him and deserves the utmost consideration for the position."
Fuqua's resignation may also shift the balance of power on the commission, as he'd been part of a four-person bloc that often voted together. The other three commissioners who mirrored his votes include John Hamilton, Julie Farrar and Pervis Brown.
Incoming commissioner Cole, meanwhile, has expressed political opinions more closely aligned to Kim Nuesse, Dan Kaman and Dave Waddington.
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12:56 AM
iamrevolutionary says
I believe that Clinton and his welfare reform, made it so that a family could only receive wellfare$$ and Medicaid for 4-5 years over a LIFETIME!!! Food stamps as long as needed... 20 YEARS?!?! NEVER!!! Thaat is what S S is for.........Something is NOT right here! ESPECIALLY if she owns a business!!!!
FRAUD anyone?!
09:16 PM
SarahTonin says
SamAdams, I don't think red light cameras are a good idea. I follow the law but my spouse uses my car on occasion and he has a lead foot! Can you tell me if the cameras picture can tell who's driving, like a policeman can? I haven't seen any statistics regarding their making any intersection where they are used any safer. It sounds reasonable but many things sound reasonable, like snake oil!
If I am going to get some sort of ticket to pay, I want to be sure that I did something wrong. I am against those cameras also and I voted for Diedra.
08:03 PM
SamAdams says
Woody, there are two things that politicians are supposed to do: Represent their constituents, and uphold the Constitution, NOT in that order. It should be further noted that the Founding Fathers crafted the Bill of Rights largely to preclude what they called the "tyranny of the majority." In other words, just because the majority wants something doesn't mean it can have whatever it is if it tramples on the unalienable rights of others. I don't know all of Ms. Cole's reasons for opposing red light cameras, but whether her constituents are adequately brainwashed to want them or not, she's right.
06:52 PM
SarahTonin says
Congratulations Ms. Cole. The voters of Sandusky have spoken and I wish you well!
05:10 PM
huronguy says
Wow I have noticed that as well.. Great questions everyone. Quite Odd that comments were removed for Miss Cole. We all Know if That was an article on Kevin Baxter we could've said anything about him or his Momma and nothing would have been removed. But let it be Miss Cole and all the comments get removed. I remember when I commented about a Militia member being charged with showing pornography to minors it was removed ASAP but then the next day That information was in a SR article. Are they getting angry because we know facts before they do. Are the Register and Norwalk Reflector owned by the same company? I was under the impression they were but I'm not sure so please inform me but of course the Reflector removes comments occasionally but not like the Register. Go look for yourself and see some of the comments they get away with. I'm gonna throw in the comment I made from the other Miss Cole article and hope some others get to view it before it's taken down. In Erie County TRUTH hurts....
Miss Cole Has been on Metro Housing for approx 18 years. How old is this grandchild of hers? I doubt that old, so this free housing has obviously been going on for a long period of time when her children lived with her she was on it then and will do what she can to remain on Metro. It's crazy that people in the hood and the trailer park are able to obtain free housing for such a long time Alot of times they have boyfriends and relatives live with them but it's not reported and I have heard before that they rent a room or charge someone to live there while they collect money so there basically becoming landlords living in taxpayer housing. Citizens should be provided with a list of all Metro Housing leaches and people that collect food stamps. If you have someone staying with you under 18 yrs of age and not approved to live there you should lose it and if you can't provide receipts for the food you purchased from our tax dollars you must work it off. Wash my car, mow my lawn I don't care just work for it! I also mentioned something about Miss Cole's "Business" Where is her business located? I hope she's not operating a business out of Government Housing. Don't metro have rules against that??? Maybe I should start a daycare facility out of my metro house and not report my actual income!!! I should quit my job get a girl pregnant have her say the baby daddy is not in the picture she gets foodstamps, housing paid for, utility incentives ect ect and Then I can move in her Metro housing sell me some dope and live happily ever after on Taxpayer expense.. And every year get a nice income tax return... Hell here's a better Idea why don't I get 4-5 women pregnant and do this? Even more money! and I have more houses to sell my dope out of. I was reading a article about a man Rick Scott running for Governor in Florida he has some great ideas. I'll mention 2 of them and you can Google him and find out more. He wants to pass a bill that if you are a welfare recipient you must have mandatory drug tests and he wants to pass an immigration bill as well. If these 2 things really do go through I'll be living in the Sunshine state Ocean front property is fairly cheap there right now.
11:27 AM
Woody Hayes says
Ms. Cole says she is aginst safety cameras and will vote aginst it. Wheather cameras are good or bad is not in question but is this what Ms. Cole's consituants want or just what she wants. Is she going to serve the people in her district or be a chest pounding bag of hot air. Time will tell.08:21 AM
Duhast says
Is it really possible to stay on Welfare, in Ohio, for 20 years without some sort of major medical diagnosis?07:25 AM
00SEVEN says
If in fact she has been on govt. aid for 20 plus years there is a serious problem here. Remember: WELFARE WAS DESIGNED AS A SAFETY NET NOT A HAMMOCK TO LAY IN FOREVER!!!08:57 PM
Sam says
Quiz, what is the best reason to move to Perkins Township? Answer- The present City of Sandusky Commission.
07:04 PM
Chung Lee says
Chung Lee would make good reporter and would probably be more professional than the current crew at the Register. Chung Lee would also be good reporter for the Asian community in Sandusky. Maybe some day they will talk to Chung Lee about job.
04:02 PM
Driving in Circles says
12:36 PM
Julie R. says
Isn't there a saying from the Bible or something about a house that stands divided shall soon fall? The city of Sandusky is the house and it's been falling for quite some time now. In fact, I would have to say the process started many years ago.
11:57 AM
Bess says
“Your trouble now is your too unfriendly...broaden out that narrow mind a little...reduce some of that bigotry...and your pomposity won’t show through“ Og to Senator Rawkins, Finian’s Rainbow You have to be open to learn. You have to look to see.11:07 AM
crazymom says
In the article, Ms. Cole states we can't worry about new business until we take care of our own people. What does she mean? The fact she doesn't get the idea taking care of our own does in fact entail bringing businesses to our city so the citizens can make a living is disturbing. In my opinion, giving the citizens of Sandusky the opportunity to make a living, contribute to the local economy, and buy homes they can be proud of, should be a priority for the commission, not a "back burner" issue.10:34 AM
SamAdams says
Bess, that's pretty much just as I thought. You got nothin'. Thanks for clarifying. Meanwhile, the questions I asked of you are valid whether addressed to you or to anybody else as concerns somebody who's supposed to step up and help make decisions on behalf of the City. In the case of most other political positions, no answer usually means one of two things: There IS no answer, or we wouldn't like the answer we got.
09:10 AM
Bess says
SamAdams
I never wrote (or said) “things I can’t possibly understand if I’ve never been a welfare recipient”. What I wrote was: “What you don’t know here, because you never tried to learn, is just another example of your “quantum leap” conclusions.” Earlier I defined “quantum leap” as “You see what you want to see, look no further and declare it to be so.”
“ Your trouble now is your too unfriendly...broaden out that narrow mind a little...reduce some of that bigotry...and your pomposity won’t show through“
Og to Senator Rawkins, Finian’s Rainbow
You have to be open to learn. You have to look to see. It is not up to anyone but you to answer the questions you asked me.
08:57 AM
Duhast says
I in no way wish to be libelous or trash talk Diedra, but I went to college with her. I remember her. She is an “Interesting” person to say the least. So if you don’t think she’s qualified, at least think of those of us who don’t live in the city and are looking forward to her antics simply for entertainment value. It’s the next best thing to Sarah Palin running for president. The jokes alone will keep us bloggers going for the next year. Have heart and give Diedra a chance to entertain us all.07:56 AM
dorothy gale says
Someone posted her police record in this comment section last year before the election and it wasn't removed. Wonder why it was okay then and not okay now.
02:41 AM
Nam Vet says
All I can say after reading all of this is 'Are you kidding me".11:12 PM
SamAdams says
Oh, and one point I've woefully neglected despite it being at the very crux of the things I've been saying:
In the article, Cole is quoted as saying, "We're not ready to attract outside businesses. First, we have to take care of our own people."
Who, pray tell, are "our own people?" And yet more to the point, how can we "take care of" ANY people if there aren't jobs to be had, something that attracting businesses will do? And how will the City help with any of that in its turn when there are fewer and fewer businesses, and ever shrinking numbers of employees, to pay the taxes on which government relies?
Seems Ms. Cole is a lot like too many other people out there these days who think government has both the money and the infrastructure to take care of just about everything. But those who want gain at government expense forget that the government itself gains only at EVERYbody's expense.
11:03 PM
SamAdams says
Okay, Bess, put up or shut up: You say there are things of which I'm unaware, things that I can't possibly understand if I've never been a welfare recipient (which, by the way, is actually a GOOD thing, so I'm nowhere near as insulted as you appear to have intended by your comments). So help me understand. Why does Ms. Cole receive aid? And what could possibly justify the long term receipt of aid by ANY able-bodied adult? I'm all ears. I'm betting as far as any valid reason goes, though, YOU'RE all hot air...
PLEASE NOTE: I'm not asking about anybody else. I'm specifically wondering about Ms. Cole and whatever circumstances you believe entitle her to government hand-outs no matter HOW many hours she volunteers for whatever organization.
EXTRA CREDIT: Additional points will be given if you can explain how somebody who doesn't hold a job could, regardless of intent and goodwill, be effective at helping to CREATE jobs.
I'll wait.
10:59 PM
thinktwice says
Thinks Cole could have a positive impact on her street and seems full of enthusiastic fuel. (And this comes from a white guy). I'm not prejudice. I wish her luck.10:14 PM
CheObama says
Chung Lee would you e-mail the info please?
09:44 PM
hancrack me up says
If it's okay to post the criminal record of a Hancrack St. thug shooter, why is it not okay to post the criminal record of a Hancrack St. City Commissioner?
09:27 PM
katelih says
Outsider, please make room for me, in the back ,of the SPARC bus !
09:24 PM
Chung Lee says
Personal attack? If it is a public record it is in the public domain!
08:55 PM
MINE says
Some comments are just so........................................................................... LAUGHABLE :O04:47 PM
Bess says
Your analysis has not improved. When you say “freeloaders (off the system) are lazy...Cole’s own use...” you are saying by default “Ms Cole was lazy” and she is not.
Let me guess, you are employed or you retired from employment. I suppose that’s good for you. Maybe you would be better off though if you spent some time with the unemployed - now millions - and learned of their circumstances. What you don’t know here, because you never tried to learn, is just another example of your “quantum leap” conclusions.
02:48 PM
Sam says
Julie R, Sussssan ,why avoid the question?
02:15 PM
SamAdams says
I didn't say Ms. Cole was lazy. I said the freeloaders (off the system) are lazy, and I'm afraid Cole's own use of the same system will skew her vote that direction. If the shoe fits...
Meanwhile, perhaps the shoe DOESN'T fit. Bess says Cole works "tirelessly" for the City. Really? That's awesome, and good for her! But why doesn't she work elsewhere for, like, an actual paycheck? If she's disabled, let's hear it. If she's not, then I'd like to know why she gets to run around doing volunteer work while the REST of us can't support the things WE'D like to because a) we're overtaxed, and b) we're busy working at our real jobs.
01:05 PM
Julie R. says
.........and God knows the city of Sandusky needs all the assets they can get!
01:01 PM
Julie R. says
I sincerely believe that Diedre Cole will be an asset to the city of Sandusky.
12:21 PM
Bess says
Mine you write redundantly "we can't afford to lose many more decent residents". This is a definitional statement and I am certain we disagree on what consitutes a "decent resident". I believe a decent resident is more than just someone who "loves this city and always has". What about this city do you love?
By my definition a city is a community of people in a geographic location. To love it, I believe, requires loving the community of people in occupancy as well as the location. You clearly have no respect, thus love, for many in this community. Thus I question your love of the city.
Good ole Bess
12:07 PM
Sam says
Julie R, time to see your "resume" with all the PROOF of corruption that you rant on about. Like the old hamburg ad, "wheres the beef", or "put up or shut up" I am sure the Registerag would be happy to print it if you had it...Your sources can not be the multiple voices you hear in your head..
11:51 AM
Julie R. says
Chung Lee says that Ms. Cole sure does have quite the "resume" with the court system..........
All I can say for that is----if the courts didn't have the clout to cover up the "resumes" of attorneys, judges and prosecutors their "resumes" would probably stretch from here all the way to Cuyahoga County and beyond!
11:40 AM
Mr. Info says
Ha! You are spot on, Columbus Avenue! Brett never came to any community functions or met with the public or did anything (except getting fired from Habitat for Humanity for excessive swearing at football games and coduct unbecoming a Habitat official). He just showed up once every two weeks on Monday, tried to put on a good show for the cameras, collected his paycheck and left. Most weeks, he didn't even read the agenda packet until he arrived at the commission meeting. We certainly can't do any worse!
11:39 AM
MINE says
Good 'ol Bess.....Just what I was waiting for...a reply such as yours....didn't take too long...come up with something better...we can't afford to lose many more decent residents...this town is going downhill faaaaaaaaast....you mean to tell me that you can't see that? If you can't...maybe you are related to the shooters or something.....dunno. ;)11:33 AM
Bess says
Mine, don't let the door..... You won't be missed.
SamAdams - Ms Cole is not lazy. Your position that everyone who is eligible for assistance is lazy is totally unfounded, what an analyst will always criticize as a "quantum leap". You see what you want to see, look no further and declare it to be so. You poor twit.
11:01 AM
Chung Lee says
Moderators have removed this comment because it contained personal attacks. Discussion Guidelines09:43 AM
columbus avenue says
Wonderful choice. Sorry to see Mr. Fuqua go, and congratulations on your new position. He has done so much for Sandusky.
Below is a list we have assembled of his accomplishments since becoming a Sandusky City Commissioner:
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16...........
Let's Hope Ms. Cole can match or even surpass this record!
09:39 AM
MINE says
VERY nice comment "PRAGMATIC" . We can only hope we can get an !ANSWER!.....lol09:35 AM
babydaddy says
Well, sounds like she'll just be serving the rest of Mr. Fuqua's term for starters. Let's see how she actually does before we render any opinions. Maybe she'll do a good job.
09:35 AM
MINE says
I never thought I would say this because I love this city and always have....but I sure wish I could put my house up for sale and move the he!! out of here! Problem is...it would never sell in this dump city. It just keeps getting worse. It's sad. I truly hate to see the way this city is headed. All the decent people have left everywhere...from city managers on down to residents.09:20 AM
Pragmatic says
My point is not to make offensive comments about people I don’t know. I am simply sharing my perspective about a few comments I read in this article: First Comment: “Cole said she will focus her efforts on, among things, quelling the shootings and violence that have plagued the city this summer. She lives on Hancock Street, where several of the incidents have occurred.” Why does it take a title of City Commissioner to begin focusing efforts on this type of activity? A title truly doesn’t mean much to people. I would rather see people “of action” than people with a title who think they are now important because of that title. How can someone, just because they are a city commissioner, magically quell the shootings or any other violence for that matter? There is a root cause to these violent episodes which have taken place. Is Ms. Cole going to try and find the root cause? Emotions aren’t going to change because she now has a title. If she could have made a change with the shootings and violence…why couldn’t she have done it without being a commissioner? The title doesn’t mean as much to others as it must mean to her. We need more doers – and less people who think it takes a title to take action. There are more of us (citizens) than commissioners. Next Comment: Ex officio mayor Dan Kaman wished Fuqua and his family "the best of luck" and said he was looking forward to working with Cole. "I think she'll bring a new perspective to the Sandusky City Commission -- one that we need," Kaman said. "She'll be a voice for a large part of our population that currently has no voice." I am concerned that Mr. Kaman actually thinks there are people in our population who currently don’t have a voice. What does this mean? Everyone…no matter if you live on Hancock Street or in a million dollar home…you have a voice. It comes down to whether or not people choose to use their voice…and how they choose to conduct themselves when using their voice. Mr. Kaman…we are Americans…Ms. Cole will not be the catalyst for anyone. That simply doesn’t work in our America today. If people cannot use their own voice…then, they don’t care to be heard. I felt that comment was quite degrading to “whatever” population Mr. Kaman was referring to. Is there an implication that those who live on Hancock Street have no voice? I wonder what other geographical areas in Sandusky ‘have no voice’.09:14 AM
SamAdams says
Oh, just freakin' wonderful. I don't dispute Ms. Cole's interest in the City. What I DO argue is that her many years on assistance will skew her vote on pretty much everything toward the side where taxpayers pay more and the lazy continue to get a free ride.
Has she really been getting assistance for 20 years? Why? Can't the woman get a job? Why not?
Sometimes, no matter how hard you work or how responsibly you behave, bad things happen and you need a little help whether it's from friends, charities, or the government. But YEARS??? That says something to me, and what it says is that Ms. Cole and her obvious entitlement mentality will NOT be good for a City that already spends too much on things it shouldn't have its nose in at all.
How many times does it have to be said? Government ISN'T THE ANSWER. Lots of times, MONEY isn't the answer. What is? It's called "personal responsibility." And that means WORK (which is probably why it's become so unpopular in some circles). As a resident of Sandusky, I hope to heck I'm wrong. But what little money I have left says I'm not...
08:41 AM
Bess says
We are lucky to have Ms. Cole on the commission. She is intelligent, experienced and has worked tirelessly on City issues. She cares about the City and the residents. You go girl!
08:39 AM
MINE says
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!08:00 AM
Cityslicker says
Hate to see Mr. Fuqua go. He always spoke his mind, even in the face of adversity. He is a longtime Sandusky resident that kept his fellow citizens first and foremost. He is doing the honorable thing by stepping down. He knows he cannot fufill the job he was elected to do, because he cannot be at the meetings. There is another commissioner that should follow his suit.
07:58 AM
outsider says
Metro housing for everyone! Food stamps for everyone! Everyone has the "right" to public assistance! SPARC bussing is free! Sandusky will be the model for the country as the smaller welfare city!
This ought to be fun.......
07:44 AM
tk says
What's your problem MontegoBay1? First you complain that Ms. Cole hasn't been working, then you complain that she will be working. Give the lady a chance. Someone who has faced the challanges she has can bring a new prospective to problems. A person who has never faced adversity sometimes just don't get it as far as understanding the problems of those less fortunate.