Holmes made his comments Monday in a 25-minute luncheon speech before the Dayton Rotary Club.
Holmes endorsed City Commissioner Tony Capizzi for mayor and, talking to reporters after the speech, also endorsed Democrats Mary Wiseman and Lloyd E. Lewis Jr. for the two commission seats in the upcoming Nov. 4 election. He criticized incumbent Mayor Mike Turner, saying he has seen no substantial accomplishments in the last four years.
Turner said he respects Holmes and his company's commitment to Dayton, but is not surprised Holmes would endorse Capizzi. Holmes wanted the city to spend $14 million to buy the historic downtown Arcade in 1994 - a move he opposed, Turner said. Holmes also supports the city spending millions on a minor league baseball stadium, Turner said.
At the Rotary, about 200 people attended the luncheon and greeted the speech with a standing ovation.
Holmes said Dayton and Montgomery County officials must start working together if the region is to prosper.
"To turn around our city will take decades. That's the honest truth. But if we don't start now, it'll never happen. We can start now, by expecting and demanding more from our city leadership. And by each of us committing our personal leadership," Holmes said. "We need people with fire in their belly to make things happen. More people who are willing to act on a new public agenda. If we don't do this, I'm afraid of what's to come."
Holmes, who started with Reynolds and Reynolds in 1984 and has been active in downtown development efforts, outlined a number of sobering issues facing Dayton: an increasing poverty rate, poor proficiency test scores among Dayton public school students, a need for businesses to commit to locating in downtown Dayton and inefficient health and human service providers.
"The number one thing that can positively impact our city in all the areas I just discussed is leadership," said Holmes, whose company spent $5 million renovating two historic buildings downtown about 18 months ago. He criticized the Dayton City Commission as a fragmented body focused on political minutia rather than substantive issues.
Commissioner Abner Orick, who is seeking re-election, disagreed. "I think he is totally off base on it," Orick said.
Orick praised Holmes as a business leader committed to improving Dayton, but added: "You never criticize somebody until you walk in their shoes. He's what you call a Monday morning quarterback."
Holmes said he is optimistic about Capizzi's chances of beating Turner for mayor. He said Capizzi is someone who can bring the community together rather than divide it.
Capizzi said he is pleased that Holmes - a man with substantial character and a grasp of the issues - supports his candidacy.
Reynolds & Reynolds, headquartered in Dayton, is an information management and business forms company that employs 8,300 workers, including 1,800 locally. Last year, company revenues totaled $1.1 billion.
* CONTACT Laura Bischoff at 225-2446 or e-mail her at laura_bischoff@coxohio.com
PHOTO CREDIT: File