Two stooges at the port

Published: Monday, 5/2/2016

Toledo Blade FEATURED EDITORIAL

Back in the day, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board was the most prestigious and powerful board in northwest Ohio. Corporate titans and well respected citizens served on it.

It was an honor to serve on the port board.

It should still be an honor.

But two port board members, in demeaning themselves, have diminished the board.

Last week, they acted like two of the Three Stooges. Or a couple of ham actors on World Wide Wrestling.

Bernard “Pete” Culp’s threat to “kick your ass” — leveled at board Chairman James Tuschman as Mr. Culp stood at the meeting and approached the chairman in a threatening way — was outrageous and unacceptable. And that should not have to be said.

Adults don’t do such things. Professionals don’t act that way. It’s not allowed.

Especially when you have been given a position of public responsibility and honor.

And Mr. Tuschman’s behavior — telling fellow board member Andrea Price “to sit down and shut up” — was equally loutish and out of line, though he hasn’t a history of temper tantrums, dropping f-bombs, and accusations of racism at board meetings like Mr. Culp.

Are these grown men or middle school punks?

One is tempted to say both men should go and go now: Both should do the honorable thing and resign.

But that is probably not going to happen, at least not yet.

There is a move afoot to have Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson remove Mr. Culp from the port board for this incident and his history of disrupting meetings.

That’s probably not going to happen either.

But what could, and should, happen is this: The mayor should call the two stooges on the carpet. Get these two alleged adults in a room and find out if they are able to shake hands and agree to work together for the good of Toledo.

If they refuse — and they might, Mr. Tuschman has shown minimal remorse and Mr. Culp none — then the public should pressure the mayor to clean house and remove both men.

Both of these men are able, have deep experience in public service, and have done good work on the board. Mr. Culp, said a board colleague, is able to get things done for the African-American and the larger citizenry when he works at it. But Mr. Culp’s tirades and his tendency to use the word “racist” as cudgel have often destabilized a board vital to the future of this community. It’s an old and tired routine, one unworthy of Mr. Culp, his position, and this community. Being “passionate,” as Mr. Culp describes himself, does not excuse being boorish.

The mayor needs to tell Mr. Culp: Enough, Pete. Enough.

Greater Toledo has too many serious problems to face. We cannot allow this pie-throwing contest to continue.