It only took top Toledo Democrats about an hour to unanimously decide on their next council presidential pick. But the road to this decision had some bumps, with the threat of sanctions along the way.
Former council president Joe McNamara and his colleague Mike Craig, didn't stand behind the committee's first endorsement, Shaun Enright.
"The time of fighting, sanctions and throwing people off the committee is over and that's not what happened here," says McNamara. "We just realized we're stronger when work together."
Now that Paula Hicks-Hudson has full support, they say they can move forward on the same page.
"They both agreed to the resolutions that we had and it was voted on and passed unanimously," says Lucas Co. Democratic Party Chairman, Ron Rothenbuhler.
"When you have eight Democrats on a legislative body, the leader of that body should be a Democrat," says McNamara. "It will be Paula."
Hudson says she's humbled to get the nod from her party.
"This doesn't need to drag out," Hicks-Hudson tells 13abc. "We need to come together, there's a lot of work we need to do to really help the citizens of the city."
The next big contest will be the mayoral bid, but the executive committee can't officially endorse a candidate until after the primary. Despite the bumps, McNamara believes he'll have his party's support.
"So far I'm the only Democrat running so I would say yes, as of right now. But we'll have to see who else jumps in the race."
The full city council is expected to vote on the presidential pick at a special meeting next Tuesday.
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