1987 Toledo, Ohio mayoral election

1987 Toledo mayoral election

← 1985 November 3, 1987 1989  →

Candidate Donna Owens Carty Finkbeiner Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 46,516 42,863 Percentage 51.99% 47.91%

Mayor before election Donna Owens Nonpartisan Elected mayor Donna Owens Nonpartisan

The 1987 Toledo mayoral election took place on November 3, 1987. Incumbent Mayor Donna Owens ran for re-election to a second term, and was challenged by City Councilman Carty Finkbeiner. In the primary election, owing to an aggressive get-out-the-vote campaign, Finkbeiner placed first by a wide margin, winning 63 percent of the vote to Owens's 37 percent. ^[1] The general election was significantly closer, however, and Owens ended up narrowly winning re-election, 52–48 percent. ^[2]

Primary election

Candidates

• Carty Finkbeiner, City Councilman (Democratic) ^[3]
• Donna Owens, incumbent Mayor (Republican) ^[4]
• Doug Thomson, retired chemical worker (write-in) ^[5]
• John Radon, owner of adult entertainment establishment (write-in) ^[5]

Declined

• Peter Ujvagi, City Councilman ^[6]

Results

Primary election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Carty Finkbeiner	20,423	62.76%
	Nonpartisan	Donna Owens (inc.)	12,004	36.89%
	Write-in		116	0.36%
Total votes			32,543	100.00%

General election

Results

1987 Toledo mayoral election results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Donna Owens (inc.)	46,516	51.99%
	Nonpartisan	Carty Finkbeiner	42,863	47.91%
	Write-in		94	0.11%
Total votes			89,473	100.00%

References

1. Clements, Chase (September 16, 1987). "Primary Turnout Slim; Finkbeiner Posts Wide Margin Over Owens". The Blade . Toledo, Ohio. p. 1. Retrieved August 1, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Bitterness lingers past Toledo hopeful's loss". The Plain Dealer . Cleveland, Ohio. November 5, 1987. p. 16-B. Retrieved August 1, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. Clements, Chase (May 7, 1987). "Finkbeiner Opens 'Neighborhoods' Mayor Campaign". The Blade . Toledo, Ohio. p. 3. Retrieved August 1, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. Clements, Chase (May 20, 1987). "Mayor Owens Launches Campaign, Saying City On Verge Of Prosperity". The Blade . Toledo, Ohio. p. 3. Retrieved August 1, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. Clements, Chase (September 13, 1987). "Who's Who On Primary Ballot?". The Blade . Toledo, Ohio. p. B8. Retrieved August 1, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Ujvagi Decides Not To Run For Mayor in 1987". The Blade . Toledo, Ohio. January 29, 1987. p. 3. Retrieved August 1, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. "NOVEMBER 3, 1987 - GENERAL ELECTION". Lucas County Board of Elections. March 6, 1995. Retrieved July 26, 2025.