CAPIZZI UNFAZED BY FOES

DEM CONFIDENT HE'LL WIN RACE FOR MAYOR

`I believe I'm going to win as mayor. I'm not going to be second or third. I'll win if there are two or 10 people running,' said Capizzi, 42, who has served 11 years on the commission.

Three years ago, Capizzi saved the local Democratic Party a bitter fight when he backed off from challenging then-incumbent mayor Richard Clay Dixon, also a Democrat.

Capizzi now seems to be the party's heir apparent to take on incumbent Republican Mayor Mike Turner, but there are anti-Capizzi rumblings within Democratic circles.

Fellow City Commissioner Dean Lovelace, an independent-minded Democrat, is considering running and some Democrats have lobbied state Sen. Rhine McLin, D-Dayton, to run. In August, it even looked like former city commissioner Mark Henry was eyeing the job.

Henry has since moved to Centerville and McLin, who was being recruited by county Treasurer Hugh Quill, said she is not interested. Lovelace said he'll decide by month's end whether to run.

`It could be a tough battle in our party,' observed Democrat A.J. Wagner, the county auditor. `There's a lot of pro-Tony sentiment out there and a lot of anti-Tony sentiment, too.'

Capizzi said he isn't nervous about competition and doesn't believe there is an anti-Capizzi movement. `I don't think there is a strong undercurrent to that effect,' he said.

Various political observers, mostly among the Democratic Party, say Capizzi's strengths include his high name recognition and his ability to garner some support from the business community, something a more left-of-center politician such as Lovelace may lack. Capizzi also gets credit for party loyalty and he has a $25,000 war chest.

On the other hand, some Democrats said, Capizzi hasn't worked to shore up support in the Democratic base of West Dayton. They contend, for instance, he never explained his vote for the Southwest Dayton landfill, and he could wind up with no base of support if a black candidate were to run.

Party polls also show Capizzi has some high negative ratings, and he can come across as simply ambitious, they said.

Capizzi disagrees with his critics.

He said polls do not show him with high negatives. `Clearly, anyone who has been involved in their job will have people who agree or disagree with what they have done,' he said.

He believes he has shown leadership in West Dayton, citing, for example, his support of the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood renewal project. He said he voted for the landfill based on the information he had at the time, some of which later proved to be inaccurate, and he explained his vote the day he made it.

Capizzi also said he is not simply an ambitious politician.

After 11 years in the same position, it's natural to want to make a change, he said. As mayor, he would continue to work on economic and neighborhood development, housing, crime and safety issues.

`I have no nervousness or concern about debating the issue of qualification. I don't want people to think I'm getting the position just because of my years on the commission,' Capizzi said. `Debate now is very positive for me.'

Capizzi said he believes that as mayor he could build consensus among commissioners and bring back respect to the commission.

The mayor of Dayton is one of the most visible public officials in the region.

Dennis Lieberman, Montgomery County Democratic Party chairman, said Capizzi is the front-runner for the party's endorsement, but he also said the process to select a candidate remains wide open.

Lieberman and other party leaders have been holding biweekly meetings to develop strategy and determine which candidates would be strongest for mayor and the two City Commission seats that will be open next year.

`We as a party are open to anyone who might want to run,' Lieberman said, but hastened to add, `Tony has the most experience.'

Lieberman also blamed Turner for some of the anti-Capizzi sentiment.

`I think that is mostly a byproduct of the Republican mayor who has created turmoil and a bad image for the city and that has stuck on some of the commissioners,' Lieberman said.

The city races are officially nonpartisan, but both Republicans and Democrats make endorsements.

If more than two candidates run for mayor or more than four for City Commission, there will be a primary election May 6, with the top two votegetters facing off for mayor in November, and the top four running for commission.

The Democratic Party will screen candidates in early January and likely make an endorsement by the end of the month.

Lieberman said the early endorsement is imperative because, in the event of infighting over the endorsement, party leaders don't want a beaten-up candidate facing voters in the primary.

Petitions to get on the primary ballot are due March 7.

The mayor's job pays $38,700 per year.

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