Twine's terrific tenure comes to a close

SANDUSKY — Her peers affectionally call her "the voice of reason." Why's that? As other officeholders would constantly bicker with one another, and even as constituents hurled insults toward her, she instead would never reciprocate in the childish behavior. In fact, she stayed quiet, intently listened and keenly observed. Once their antics ended, it's then when Naomi Twine's best characteristic traits went on full display. Each time the two-term Sandusky city commissioner addressed community members, she offered her acute articulation, calming composure and sensible rationale without ever degrading anyone or disparaging anything. Not only did Twine's dialogues reel people back into reality and off their emotional tirades but rarely would another elected official speak after her. Here's why. Time after time, Twine perfectly summed up the commission's collective voice while always taking into consideration how a voted-upon initiative would benefit her hometown and its greater good. Twine did this when, among many other actions, ushering in beneficial reform for Sandusky's police department, endorsing Jackson Street Pier's widely renowned makeover, supporting numerous projects revitalizing downtown into a desirable destination, enhancing neighborhoods, repairing roads along with much more. "That is just my personality," Twine said on Tuesday from her Hayes Avenue (Ohio 4) home. The 1981 Sandusky High School graduate explained what she meant. "I've never wanted to veer too far left or too far right. I've always wanted to be in the middle, be the one to understand what the problem is on both sides and then figure it out in a manner where I am not criticizing one side or another. I've always believed we need to come together and figure things out as a community. There is always common ground to be found and reached." Pursuing other opportunities This past summer, Twine announced she would not seek re-election for another four-year stint in office. Her term officially ends on Friday. She became a commissioner in 2014, coming in with fellow incumbents Dick Brady and Dennis Murray Jr. All three initially ran a campaign in 2013 and secured two terms thereafter. Brady and Murray, meanwhile, did seek re-election this past fall, each winning another four-year term, starting in January. Twine, a longtime executive for the Ohio Veterans Home, now serving as its chief operating officer, wants to pursue other opportunities in life. She'll retire soon from her career, opting to focus on matters in her personal life. Chief among those priorities: care for her mother, Roxye. "I don't know if I'll ever run again, but never say never. I never thought I would run for Sandusky city commission," said Twine, who's already been approached about a possible run on Erie County's commission. "I'm just a little burnt out from politics right now. In Sandusky, it's time for someone else to get involved." Steve Poggiali — who actually topped all other candidates, even Brady and Murray, in November's seven-person city commission race — assumes Twine's seat on the board. But leaving politics doesn't mean altogether forgoing public service. She'll continue her role advocating on the local Walk to End Alzheimer's committee. Twine would also like to serve on various local boards. She pointed to Sandusky's finance committee, which oversees how public tax dollars get spent. She's also applied for membership on the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio board. The nonprofit supplies food to many pantries, such as OHgo, which distributes these resources to lesser-fortunate community members. "I've always wanted to give back to the community," Twine said. "When my daughter Jasmine graduated from Sandusky High School in 2007, I wanted to do more." In a behind-the-scenes role, she'll encourage other minorities, namely Blacks and women, to get involved in local government positions and upper-management roles in the private sector. "That's very important to me," said Twine, who's Black. "The door needs to be open for them, and I can serve as a role model for them. But I don't want anybody to be me. I want to encourage them to be themselves." Developing a better police force Twine started her tenure with Sandusky's government in 2010, reviewing its charter, or bylaws, commissioners abide by. Shortly thereafter, she took a seat on Sandusky's human relations commission. It's now called the community relations commission. In short, this commission handles disputes brought up by community members with a majority revolving around police misconduct. "Accusations of racist behavior by some Sandusky police officers was another inflection point early in my term, and taking steps to eliminate such accusations has been strategic and purposeful," Twine said. She implemented many wide-sweeping changes in the department where, as of today, misconduct rarely occurs, and citizen-driven complaints mirror those minuscule numbers. "Working as the liaison to the police department with then-police Chief John Orzech has been a labor of love," Twine said. "His willingness and desire to improve the pool of diverse candidates for vacancies in the department through civil service changes, actively increasing diversity training for all police personnel, his willingness to refine and increase community policing in Sandusky and personally reaching out to minority faith leaders and minority community leaders have been the strategic and purposeful work needed for the minority community to have confidence in the Sandusky Police Department." Reform across the police department tops her list of greatest accomplishments in office. "I am proud to have been a guiding force for these changes," Twine said. Creating a better Sandusky for all Twine also supported many pieces of legislation that established much positive change in the city. Many resolutions centered on downtown's renaissance, which, Twine believed, acted as a critical component to jump-start the city's revival taking place in recent times. "I was born with downtown being vibrant. My mother used to work at Gail's (department store) as a seamstress. I remember the street fairs there," Twine said. "But over the years — when the auto industry went down, and the mall opened in Perkins Township — Sandusky just died." She, along with Brady and Murray, prioritized downtown development during their first eight years in office. Dating back to 2016, their efforts have led to about $100 million in private investments across Sandusky's core business district and, sprouting from this, $300 million overall in various ventures citywide. "When Dennis, Dick and I ran, we knew downtown was key to building the community back up, and we did this by partnering with small businesses, unique businesses, boutiques, restaurants, bars, a college and more here," Twine said. "The foundation of Sandusky is downtown, which has created an environment for growth that has spread out to the rest of the community. Without those new businesses, we don't have new tax revenues to maintain our roads and infrastructure." Looking ahead, she hopes the new commission can fulfill lofty ambitions laid out in a $100 million agreement with Cedar Fair. The unparalleled deal announced earlier this year calls for game-changing projects and aims to strengthen partnerships between all who live, work and play in the city. "That is huge for our community," Twine said. "Those investments will spread throughout the greater community and improve Sandusky as a whole." When reflecting on her political career, Twine said the city "is lightyears ahead of where we were before." And it's that way because voters twice trusted her to run and lead the city government, which she's eternally grateful for. "Thank you to everyone for your support," Twine said. "I have been incredibly blessed by all the support — young, old, middle-aged, white, Black and everything in between— that I have received. All I have ever wanted to do was the right thing, and I think people saw that, and believed, in me." Speaking up Several of Twine's colleagues spoke fondly about her. • Sandusky ex officio mayor Dick Brady: I don't think that even you are aware of how important your voice was on so many critical issues where we needed your perspective. When we needed leadership, you provided it. You never saw the battles that we often faced as "us against them." You simply voted with your conscience. My hope is that others will follow your lead and provide public service to our city with the dedication that you have shown. • Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser: Thank you to commissioner Twine for your leadership on the Sandusky city commission. I have such admiration for your leadership. You have been a steady, strong voice on this commission in times when it wasn't easy to do so. I value your voice, and the community has greatly benefited from that leadership. I really look forward to seeing what's next for you as a public leader in this community. Thank you for taking a chance on me, and thank you for everything that you have done in your two terms for the city of Sandusky. • Sandusky city commissioner Dave Waddington: You always came game-ready for all the meetings, and I always appreciated that. (When others didn't), that always drove me nuts. You have always been passionate and consistent, and, as far as I'm concerned, you will be missed. • Sandusky city commissioner Mike Meinzer: You are one of the reasons I ran, and it was great to work with you. • Sandusky city commissioner Dennis Murray Jr.: You have been such a great resource, and you have been a great adviser to me. You don't say a lot. You don't say too much. But when you have something to say, I knew it was important to listen … and it was very insightful. I will miss that insight. There will be times I will still call you for advice because, sometimes, I will need it. We will deeply miss you personally and professionally. • Sandusky city commissioner Blake Harris: I want to say thank you. Oftentimes you have brought a sense of calmness to this commission and have been a voice of reason and been so much more. You say very few words, but I must say that you certainly make them count, and it's just been amazing. I appreciate you being a great role model and an inspiration for me. I wish you nothing but the best.