The following editorial appeared in the April 2003 issue of Toledo Business Journal. Permission to reproduce this editorial can be obtained by contacting the Editorial Department of Toledo Business Journal at (419) 865-0972.

 

 

 

Leadership damaged: Part I

Allegations of “schemes” and “dirty tricks” for recent Port board appointment

 

At the beginning of the year, the Lucas County Commissioners were engaged in filling an open position on the board of directors of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. This board position had been held by community activist George Ballas.

It was this period in time that also represented the start of a new phase in the Toledo Blade’s and its publisher and editor-in-chief John Robinson Block’s personal vendetta against the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and members of its leadership. There has been a significant amount of effort expended by Block, with the cooperation of Port Authority board member Jerry Chabler, as part of this personal vendetta. Block has put key efforts into influencing appointments by the City of Toledo and Lucas County to positions on the Port Authority board.

Allegations have now surfaced that “schemes” and “dirty tricks” were used by Chabler involving the appointment of former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner to the Port Authority board. Finkbeiner submitted his nomination to the Lucas County Commissioners for the Port board position formerly held by George Ballas. We have learned that Chabler spoke to key community leaders concerning Finkbeiner’s appointment. Allegations have been made that Chabler threatened a number of these individuals with attacks by the Toledo Blade if they did not cooperate in support of Finkbeiner. These allegations further state that Chabler claimed he was speaking for Toledo Blade publisher and editor-in-chief John Robinson Block.

Chabler’s efforts were aimed at discouraging one of the most qualified candidates for this Port board position from seeking appointment, it is alleged. Further, he attempted to use threats of attacks by the Toledo Blade, according to these allegations, to pressure key community leaders. These efforts were designed, it is alleged, to influence the decision of the Lucas County Commissioners concerning the pending Port Authority board appointment. The community leaders to whom we spoke asked us not to include their names in this editorial.

We contacted Jerry Chabler and asked him about these allegations. In an interview, Chabler advised that he had contacted all three of the Lucas County Commissioners concerning the open board position. He repeatedly denied that he had contacted anyone else concerning this appointment. He strongly denied making threats to anyone concerning attacks by the Toledo Blade. “How in the world could Jerry Chabler threaten anybody with reprisals from the Toledo Blade? I don’t work for the Toledo Blade. I’m not employed by the Toledo Blade,” stated Chabler.

Block’s and the Toledo Blade’s personal vendetta has caused significant damage to the community. Scarce economic development resources have been wasted. Key job creating activities have been delayed. And leaders at critical agencies in the region have spent significant amounts of time dealing with the impact of Block and Chabler’s efforts, often at the expense of their organizations’ key missions.

While leaders in other communities in Ohio and around the country were focused on developing and implementing technology-led economic development, leaders in Toledo spent over two years working on levy campaigns. They continue to regularly spend time attempting to counter articles in the daily newspaper. And area leaders spend significant time and energies dealing with “schemes” and “dirty tricks” that are the subject of articles appearing in the Toledo Blade.

The most significant impact from Block’s and the Toledo Blade’s personal vendetta has been the damage to leadership in the area. We have talked to CEOs, community leaders, government officials, and others in an examination of the issue of leadership in the region. In order to discuss this issue of leadership and the impact of Block’s actions, it is first necessary to examine the personal vendetta that has been undertaken by the Toledo Blade and its publisher and editor-in-chief. Part I of our series, “Leadership damaged,” will examine key elements of the personal vendetta campaign launched by John Robinson Block. It will also examine the support being provided by Jerry Chabler.

Our editorial series titled "Personal Vendetta Exposed” began in September 2000. The series has been an effort to document the activities undertaken by Block, Chabler, and others. This past editorial series can be read on our website, www.toledobiz.com. The actions exposed in these editorials all involve revenge, power, and deception.

The September 2000 Toledo Business Journal editorial began by summarizing the background behind Block’s personal vendetta campaign. Block was a member of the Port Authority board of directors. He placed a motion before the board concerning Grand Aire, a specialty air cargo company based, at the time, in Michigan. Block attempted to stop this company - with over 100 jobs - from relocating to Toledo Express Airport. A portion of Grand Aire’s business competed with another company at the airport with which Block had an association.

The Port Authority board of directors unanimously rejected Block’s motion. Following the board’s rejection, eyewitness accounts indicate Block issued a personal threat to those board members present and then left the meeting. Block’s term on the board ended soon after this meeting and he refused reappointment.

The past editorials on our website at www.toledobiz.com document a series of actions undertaken by Block, with the assistance of others, as part of a personal vendetta campaign. The campaign has been aimed directly at the Port Authority and members of its board of directors.

It has now been over four years since Block issued his personal threat to members of the Port Authority board. During this time, Block has repeatedly used the Toledo Blade to conduct personal attacks on members of the Port Authority’s board of directors, its leadership, and the agency itself.

During this period of time, according to leaders in the community, Block has put significant effort into implementing a set of actions designed to accomplish his campaign. One critical element of Block’s actions has been aimed at getting government leaders in the City of Toledo and Lucas County to appoint specific individuals to the Port Authority board. A key to Block’s campaign has been the appointment of Jerry Chabler to the Port Authority board. Blade reporters have been “encouraged” to use Chabler to provide quotes and information concerning the Port Authority and other community issues. The Toledo Blade has attempted to portray Chabler as a concerned individual motivated by his desire to selflessly serve the citizens.

Community leaders and others to whom we spoke disclose a far different picture of Jerry Chabler. They advise that Chabler, who is not employed, uses his free time to develop and implement “schemes” and “dirty tricks” designed to disrupt the Port Authority board of directors. Chabler’s actions are regularly used by the Toledo Blade in negative articles attempting to discredit either the board of directors of the Port Authority or the agency itself as part of the newspaper’s personal vendetta campaign.

In a past Toledo Business Journal editorial, we provided a detailed account of one such action by Jerry Chabler. The editorial was titled, “Wrongdoings allegedly committed by Chabler.”

The editorial stated: “Following a heated and emotional Port Authority board meeting on September 15th, Jerry Chabler conducted a press interview with Joe Mahr of the Toledo Blade. Chabler claimed in his report given to the Blade that James Hartung, president of the Port Authority, pressured developer Frank Kass to hire the architectural firm SSOE, Inc. to work on the proposed Marina District project. Chabler further charged that Hartung pressured Frank Kass to use SSOE because he claimed that SSOE has ties to the Lathrop Company which employs Ray Medlin, chairman of the board of the Port Authority. The Blade article containing this interview with Jerry Chabler then stated, ‘Mr. Chabler described Mr. Hartung's action as a “very serious appearance of impropriety”’. The Blade article was published on September 16th.”

Chabler’s “scheme” or “dirty tricks” were disclosed in this same Toledo Business Journal editorial. The editorial revealed: “After repeatedly pressing Chabler during the interview to explain these charges, he revealed that no one had given him this information but he stated: ‘A reasonable mind would conclude, uh, assume that that certainly was the case.’”

The editorial continued: “Then, Chabler admitted that his basis for the serious charges he had raised against James Hartung are his own personal ‘assumptions’ of what he believes Hartung might have said to Frank Kass.”

The Toledo Business Journal advised: “In Ohio, it is a criminal offense for anyone to ‘knowingly make a false statement’ to a newspaper ‘with purpose to incriminate another’ or ‘with purpose to mislead a public official in performing the public official’s official function.’”

The editorial also stated: “If there is no truth to the charges raised by Jerry Chabler and if he gave this report to the Blade with such knowledge and during a moment of great anger following the heated and emotional board meeting, would this Port board member be in criminal violation of the law in Ohio?”

Following this editorial, Chabler contacted the Toledo Business Journal through his attorney. He advised he was considering a libel law suit and requested a retraction. To date, no retraction has been issued by the Toledo Business Journal. And, at this point, there has been no libel law suit filed.

John Block’s efforts to accomplish his personal vendetta have been supported with Chabler’s assistance as a member of the Port Authority board of directors. Chabler’s “schemes”, “dirty tricks” and his “grandstanding” with Toledo Blade reporters have been responsible for wasting significant amounts of time of other members of this board. A great deal of wasted time of the agency’s staff has also occurred. Block’s personal vendetta has included numerous negative articles in the Toledo Blade attacking members of the Port Authority board of directors and the agency’s management.

In interviews with past Port Authority board members and other community leaders, a number of issues surfaced. One major impact of these activities is that talented leaders in the community have left this board. Another significant result has been the refusal by many key community leaders to accept appointment to the Port Authority board.

We talked to area CEO’s, community leaders, government officials, and others concerning the Toledo Blade’s personal vendetta against the Port Authority and its impact on leadership in the area. We received bitter and emotional responses concerning Block and Chabler’s actions. A number of CEOs of major corporations in the region shared their insights concerning the impact on leadership in our area. Part II of this series will examine this issue in greater depth. It will explore the damage being done to the community and to economic development in the region. It will also explain the legacy that will be left by the Block family to the community if these actions continue.

(For permission to reprint this editorial in other newspapers, newsletters, or direct mailings, or to use in radio and TV broadcasts, please contact the Toledo Business Journal at (419) 865-0972.)