Michael Bell (mayor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael P. Bell
61st Mayor of Toledo, Ohio
In office January 4, 2010 – January 4, 2014
Preceded by	Carleton "Carty" S. Finkbeiner
Succeeded by	D. Michael Collins
Personal details
Born	1955 (age 69–70)
Political party	Independent
Residence	Toledo, Ohio
Alma mater	University of Toledo

Michael P. Bell, born in 1955, is a public servant who held important roles in Toledo, Ohio. He was the Mayor of Toledo from January 4, 2010, to January 4, 2014. Before becoming mayor, he was the Fire Chief for Toledo and also served as the State Fire Marshal.

Michael Bell's Early Career

His journey in public service began in 1980. He joined the Toledo Department of Fire and Rescue as a firefighter. Later, he became a certified paramedic and EMT.

Leading the Toledo Fire Department

In 1990, Michael Bell was chosen to be the Chief of the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department. He was the first African American to lead the department. He was also the youngest person ever to hold this important position. He stayed in this role for more than 16 years.

Under his leadership, the Toledo Fire Department achieved a special honor. It received Accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation. This certification is given only to the best fire departments. Michael Bell is also a member of the International Fire Chief's Association. He received the President's Award for his work to make the department more diverse.

Serving as State Fire Marshal

In 2007, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland appointed Michael Bell as the State Fire Marshal. In this role, he started a program called "Everyone Goes Home." This program focused on keeping firefighters safe while they worked. The "Everyone Goes Home" program earned the Seal of Excellence Award. This award came from the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program.

Michael Bell's Time as Mayor of Toledo

Michael Bell dining with President Barack Obama at Rudy's Hot Dog in 2011.

In 2009, Michael Bell decided to run for Mayor of Toledo. He ran as an independent candidate, meaning he was not part of a major political party. His opponent was Keith Wilkowski, who was a Democrat.

Winning the Mayoral Election

On November 3, 2009, Michael Bell won the election. He defeated Wilkowski by a small difference of only 2% of the votes. He was sworn into office on January 4, 2010. He became the second African-American mayor in Toledo's history.

Running for Re-election

In 2013, Michael Bell ran for mayor again. However, his opponent, Councilman D. Michael Collins, won the election. Collins received 56.5% of the votes, while Bell received 43.5%.

The final vote count showed 28,002 votes for Mr. Collins. Mr. Bell received 21,535 votes. About 25.4% of registered voters in the city participated in this election. Michael Bell's term as Mayor of Toledo officially ended on January 4, 2014.