Dec. 5--A Sylvania Township businessman who formerly served on the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board took to the airwaves yesterday to announce an ambitious effort to recall Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner that, if successful, would remove him from office with about three months left in his four-year term.

Tom Schlachter, a co-founder of the Moses-Schlachter Group Inc., speaking on WSPD 1370-AM radio yesterday, said a group of business leaders had formed the "Take Back Toledo" initiative, for which the "most shocking" goal would be the recall of Mayor Finkbeiner.

"It's not a vendetta at all," he said. "No one can doubt the mayor's love of the city. ... Loving it is not enough. You have to act appropriately."

Mr. Schlachter said the group would raise money for its own candidate for mayor.

He said Mr. Finkbeiner has been fiscally irrespon-sible, created an unfriendly business environment, and made a series of bad decisions during his time in office -- including spending money on the Erie Street Market while cutting funding for new police officers and firefighters in the proposed 2009 budget.

He also blasted the mayor for spending millions on a road in the Marina District in East Toledo when there are no dedicated private investments.

Mayor Finkbeiner released a written statement regarding the recall effort.

"These individuals, almost all of whom live in the suburbs of Toledo, and in recent years haven't lifted a finger to better Toledo, should be ashamed of themselves," the mayor said. "In a time of national and local severe recession, instead of pursuing their selfish personal and political agendas, they should help us raise money for the United Way and Salvation Army, and fight for auto jobs just as hard as I did to keep Jeep a few years back. They should also support us in working to bring alternative energy jobs and companies to Toledo."

Mr. Finkbeiner said he fought to keep COSI Toledo open while none of those involved in the recall helped.

"I just traveled to Washington to fight for Jeep, GM, and Ford jobs. I'm working with the governor and lieutenant governor to expand Ohio's economy," he said. "I'm working weekly with Larry Dillin to build a Marina District and rebuild Southwyck, and I am working to maintain city services while balancing a very strained city budget."

The group would need to collect 19,753 valid signatures of registered Toledo voters within a 90-day window to get the recall issue on the city's September primary ballot.

A majority vote at the election would remove Mr. Finkbeiner from his $136,000 post with about three months to go in his third term as mayor.