Former mayoral candidate dies of cancer
WILLIAM M. TODD /
William M. Todd, who ran for Colulmbus mayor in 2007, died Sunday in Tennessee, where he was seeking treatment for pancreatic cancer. He had battled the disease since his diagnosis over a year ago. He was 64.
Todd ran on the Republican ticket for mayor against the Democratic incumbent Michael B. Coleman, losing by 40 percentage points in a campaign in which he called for a mayoral takeover of Columbus City Schools and criticized Coleman’s jobcreation and crime-fighting efforts. Todd had been the Ohio Chapter president of the National Republican Lawyers Association since 2005. Recently, Todd led the Law Offices of William M. Todd in Columbus.
Though he lost the mayor’s race, Todd took on city issues and sometimes gained traction. In 2007, after Todd pointed out that the Columbus City Council was meeting in secret to appoint new members, the process was changed. During the campaign, speaking of the nearly empty City Center mall, Todd called on Coleman to “tear down this mall.” City Center has since been redeveloped into the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons.
Doug Preisse, chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party Executive Committee, said he admired Todd’s devotion and willingness to roll up his sleeves in the 15 years they worked together. “We worked on many projects and initiatives together on the same side,” Preisse said.
Todd challenged Preisse for the chairman position, but Priesse said that ended up being a good thing. “His challenge made me a better chairman and a better person,” Preisse said. “These are the kind of people that make our democracy work.”
In 2012, Todd supported the Ohio Freedom to Marry movement. Ian James, a Democrat and executive director of that campaign, said they became friends even though “his views occasionally clashed with my liberal perspective.”
“Bill was always very smart, thoughtful, kind and jovial,” James said. “I always thought that to be the real exemplifying measure of the man.”
Todd’s sons, Bill and Eric, said he approached everything he did with a great deal of responsibility. “He’s almost a man out of place and time,” Bill said. He said his father had a tough exterior and kept his life and family private.
Todd treated everyone with respect, Bill said. “I have no memory of him talking down to anyone, ever,” Eric said.
Todd lived in Bexley with his wife, Kathryn. In addition to his sons, he is survived by a step-son, William Moses.
Visitation will be Sunday from 2-6 p.m. at the Schoedinger Midtown Chapel, 229 E. State St. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Joseph’s Cathedral.