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The Sojourner’s Truth (September 2025)

Harold Harris Holds a Community Forum to Discuss Voting

By Emily R Evans, The Truth Reporter

Harold Harris, a write in candidate for mayor, held a community chat on Thursday, August 21. His topic was getting out the vote.

Harris, a United States Air Force veteran, has served his country and community for years and expressed his desire to help solve many of the issues in the community. His number one concern, during this election cycle, is gun violence . Harris believes there are too many senseless murders happening in the community and that it is an issue that needs to be seriously addressed.

He recalled the Fourth of July weekend shootings in Toledo and all the fatalities and injuries. Harris said we need to reach the youth and give them different options so we will not continue a cycle of violence in the community. He plans to target the number of guns available to teenagers on the street or the black market to reduce the shootings so they will no longer have the access they do now.

Early voting starts in October and Harris noted that the last day to register to vote is October 6 and voting starts October 7. Harris informed his audience that youngsters are eligible to register to vote at 17 years old and he needs everyone to vote so we can change the community together.

There are many ways to register to vote including at the DMV as well as the libraries or you can go online at the Lucas County Board of Elections. Harris is running for mayor and he feels he is the man to help the community in that position.

Being registered is not enough, he added. You need to make sure you pay attention to voting dates to make a change. Your vote counts. Harris said he would love the community to stand with him and participate in this election .

The Sojourner’s Truth

Make History, Toledo: Why Writing in HAROLD HARRIS Could Be a Game-Changer

By Asia Nail -The Truth Reporter

This November, voters have a rare chance to write a new chapter—literally.
What if I told you that one pen—yours—could change the future of an entire city?

This November, Toledo voters have a unique opportunity. You won’t see his name printed on the ballot. But if you’re paying attention around town, you’ve definitely seen the signs:  “Write In HAROLD HARRIS for Mayor.”

HAROLD HARRIS isn’t your typical candidate. He’s not part of the political machine. He’s a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, a lifelong Toledoan, and a man who says this race isn’t about power—it’s about people.

And if you think a write-in candidate can’t win? Think again.
Yes, Write-In Candidates Have Won Before

Across the country, underdog write-ins have pulled off stunning victories:
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) made U.S. history in 2010 when she won re-election to the U.S. Senate as a write-in—one of the only people in American history to do it statewide.
In Pocomoke City, Maryland, Chuck Moore forgot to file his paperwork—but the people loved him so much, they wrote in his name and made him mayor anyway.
In 2021, a man named Calvin Brown won a seat on the city council in Arkansas as a write-in after voters said, “We trust him. Period.”

Each of those races had one thing in common: The people didn’t wait for permission. They showed up, wrote the name in, and changed the game.

Now it’s Toledo’s turn. And the name to write? HAROLD HARRIS. One Name to Remember

Write-in campaigns aren’t just rare—they’re hard. But Harold Harris is ready for the challenge.

“I know I’ll have to work twice as hard just to get the word out,” he said. “But that’s okay. I’m not afraid of hard work. And if enough people believe in this vision, we can do something historic together.”

He knows many people have never written in a name on a ballot before, and he wants to make it as simple as possible. “When you get to the section for mayor, just take your time, and write in: HAROLD HARRIS. First name, last name. That’s it. That’s how we make this real.”

A Veteran for the People

When I asked HAROLD HARRIS what made him decide to run, he didn’t talk about power or politics. He talked about everyday people.

“I didn’t plan on this,” he said. “I am retired. But folks kept coming up to me—neighbors, community members—and saying, ‘Harold, you should run. We need someone we trust in office.’”

Harold Harris served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam, peacetime and Gulf War eras. After that, he worked a variety of jobs, then retired fully. But when he looked around our city, the one he was born in and has lived in for over 60 years, he said he couldn’t stay quiet any longer.

“I’ve seen parts of Toledo that have been left behind,” he said. “I’ve seen people asking for help and not getting answers. I knew I had to do something.”

Not Just a Mayor—The People’s Mayor

Harold Harris calls himself “The People’s Mayor,” and he means it.

“If you write in my name, you’re hiring me to do a job,” he said. “And my job is to work for you.”

He wants to bring leadership that’s about listening, not lecturing. Service, not status.

“Too many politicians forget who they work for,” he said. “If the people put me in, I’m showing up for them—every day.”

Real Plans, Real Leadership

What will he focus on first?

• Gun violence and community safety. “Many neighborhoods sound like war zones. That’s not normal,” he said. “We need officers who build relationships, not just respond to crime.”
• Better roads, not just in wealthy neighborhoods. “Everyone deserves safe, drivable streets.”
• Transparency in spending. “The people deserve to know where every dollar goes.”

And above all, a mayor who sees and serves everyone.

A Campaign for All

Harold Harris wants voters to know—this isn’t just about one part of town. It’s not about one race, one income level, or one group of people.

“Whether you live in Old Orchard or the East Side, whether you’re Black, White, Latino, Asian—this city belongs to all of us,” he said. “I don’t look at skin color. I look at people. And I believe we can do better—for everybody.”

Why It Matters Right Now

Let’s be honest: people are tired. Tired of broken promises. Tired of feeling like nothing ever changes. But HAROLD HARRIS believes this election is different.

“This is your moment,” he said. “This is how we take the city back. One vote at a time. One name at a time.”

All it takes is writing in HAROLD HARRIS.

That’s it. No special form. No complicated process.

Just these simple words on your ballot:
HAROLD HARRIS.
Be Part of the Movement

You can do more than vote. You can tell a friend. Call your auntie. Text your cousins. Post it online. Put it in the group chat. Remind people:

“Hey, don’t forget—you have to physically write in HAROLD HARRIS for Mayor.”

Because this election isn’t just about politics—it’s about power.
Your power.
Our power.

And if enough of us rise up and write his name in, we won’t just be casting votes—we’ll be making history.

Learn more about the campaign and how to write in HAROLD HARRIS at haroldharrisfortoledo.com.

Community Focus with Jaden Jefferson

WAKT : Interview with Craig Thompson

WSPD : Harold Harris is a candidate for Mayor of the city of Toledo

WTOL 11: Community activist launches bid for Toledo mayor

TOLEDO BLADE : Harold Harris advocates for ‘Real Police Reform’ on the streets of Toledo

https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2021/07/12/harold-harris-advocates-for-real-police-reform-on-the-streets-of-toledo/stories/20210709050

TOLEDO FREE PRESS

Primary Election: Meet the 3 Toledo mayoral candidates

https://toledofreepress.com/for-mayor-toledo-primary-election/

Harold Harris holds a sign for his candidacy at the corner of N. Erie and Monroe streets in downtown Toledo on March 28. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Harris, 69, announced his candidacy as an Independent, non-committed candidate. He explained the non-committed title he gave himself like this: “I’m not committed to the Republican Party. I’m not committed to the Democratic Party. I’m committed to the people.”

Goals:

• Reduce Toledo crime, specifically shootings and homicides
• Prevent incumbent Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz from getting a third term as the mayor of Toledo
• Provide basic services to Toledoans in the form of road maintenance, tree removal, etc.
• Create an attentive city government that hears the people’s needs

Proposed Changes:

“The most important one [issue] is gun violence, homicides, shootings,” Harris said, and blamed Kapszukiewicz for a rise in crime.

“30 years ago, you never heard of drive-by shootings, never heard of murders and homicides [in Toledo]. We’re gonna bring those numbers down,” he said, referring to the crime involving deaths in Toledo.

How Harris said he would change Toledo for the better revolved mainly around his own ability and competency.

When asked how Harris would bring down crime in Toledo, he responded, “I think it’s pretty simple. I’m [going to] meet with the police chief, okay? I’m gonna give him my direction. He works directly for me, okay? And we’re gonna take care of it.”

Face-to-face command ability, authenticity and military experience provided the bulk of Harris’ explanation on how he would run the city, reduce crime and fix up Toledo’s neighborhoods.

“I’m an action person. I’m not going to burn time talking about an issue,” he said, and clarified that he didn’t have much on his mind concerning legislation or policy. “My thing is, let’s keep it simple.”

Harris said he was interested in giving power back to the people, and felt Kapszukiewicz was purposefully ignoring the needs of everyday Toledoans.

“The guy on the 22nd floor has brought me out of retirement,” Harris said. “But that’s okay, because I’m fighting for the people; it’s all about the people, and, hopefully, I will do a good job for them.”

Because of his stated frustration with Kapszukiewicz, Harris refused to say Kapszukiewicz’s name during the interview. Instead, Harris alluded to Toledo’s current mayor as “the guy at 1 Government Center” or “the guy on the 22nd floor of 1 Government Center.”

Being among the people and listening to their needs was an utmost priority to Harris, and he sought to reconnect people with their government through the reinstatement of the Block Watch program.

“They’re [the Toledo city government is] not hearing these people cry out,” Harris said.

Experience:

Harris achieved the E-6 rank of Technical Sergeant in the United States Air Force.

He served in the Air Force for 20 years from the Vietnam War into the Gulf War era.

He is a disabled veteran, a combat veteran and Harris believes his grass roots organizing over the past six years is good preparation for Mayor.

“I’ve pushed everything from issue nine to issue 21 to voter registration, to voting, to police reform, you name it,” he said.