Cleveland
The Mayoral and all 17 City Council seats are up for re-election this November. Tuesday’s Primary Election saw every incumbent move on to the General Election.
Mayor Frank Jackson, running for an unprecedented fourth term, won the Primary Election with 38.7% of the vote in a field of eight candidates. Ward 2 Councilman Zack Reed came in second with 21.9% of the vote and the two will face off in the General Election. Ward 10 Councilman Jeffrey Johnson was third with 15.4% of the votes. It should be noted that voter turnout was very low for the Primary - only 13% of eligible voters actually voted, and turnout was generally lower in the Council Wards that did not have a Primary. The General Election is November 7 and Early Voting starts October 11.
The City Council General Election contests are now set as follows:
Ward 1: Councilman Terrell Pruitt faces Former Councilman Joe Jones[*]
Ward 2: Kevin Bishop* faces Geoff Fitch [to replace Zack Reed]
Ward 3: Councilman Kerry McCormack faces Logan Fahey
Ward 4: Councilman Ken Johnson* faces Gail Sparks
Ward 5: Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland* faces Richard Starr
Ward 6: Councilman Blaine Griffin* [appointed earlier this year] faces Joshua Perkins McHamm
Ward 7: Councilman TJ Dow* faces Basheer Jones
Ward 8: Councilman Michael Polensek faces Donald Boyd
Ward 9: Councilman Kevin Conwell* faces Anthony Body
Ward 10: Cuyahoga County Councilman Anthony Hairston* faces former Councilman Eugene Miller [to replace Jeff Johnson]
Ward 11: Councilwoman Dona Brady faces Gilder Malone
Ward 12: Councilman Anthony Brancatelli faces Shalira Taylor
Ward 13: Council President Kevin Kelley* faces Michele Burk
Ward 14: Councilman Brian Cummins faces Jasmin Santana*
Ward 15: Councilman Matt Zone faces Alex Karrfalt
Ward 16: Councilman Brian Kazy faces Ellen Cleary
Ward 17: Councilman Martin Keane faces John F. Kelly
Toledo
The Mayoral Primary Election narrowed the field of four candidates to two. Incumbent Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, won the Primary with nearly 39% of the vote. County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz came in second with nearly 34% of the vote. Both candidates are Democrats.
There are six At-Large Council seats on the ballot this November. Yesterday’s Primary Election narrowed the field from 13 to 12. Thomas Names was knocked out of contention and the remaining 12 will vie for the six seats on November 7. The candidates are: Councilman Sandy Spang; Councilman Rob Ludeman; Councilman Larry Sykes; Councilwoman Cecelia Adams; Councilman Kurt Young and challengers Harvey Savage, Jr.; Gary Johnson; Nick Komives; Patricia Robinson; Alfonso Narvaez; Clyde Phillips, Jr.; and Sam Melden.
Turnout was also low in Toledo - just over 13% of registered voters turned out to vote in Tuesday’s Primary Election.
Roetzel’s Public Law team has broad experience where the public and private sectors intersect. Our extensive understanding of the political system allows us to provide clients with effective and realistic strategies to reach identified outcomes. Roetzel will continue to provide updates as the election season gears up, but do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
[*] won the September 12 Primary Election