Cuyahoga Politics Today

It was a consequential first week of the year on the political scene, a precursor for what is all but certain to be a most consequential political year nationally. Here’s a quick rundown, in case your new year’s resolution included self-sequestration, you were quarantined for COVID, or — enviably — you were traveling someplace warm and sunny.

Statewide, former Cincinnati mayor John Cranley and former Dayton mayor Nan Whaley announced their running mates in their contest for the Democratic nomination for governor. Cranley picked State Senator Teresa Fodor of Toledo, while Whaley chose Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Cheryl Stephens as her Lieutenant Governor choice. Should the Whaley-Stephens ticket win the primary, Stephens could wind up as the only person of color running statewide this year, although we note that Chelsea Clark is running an outsider’s campaign to win the Democratic party nod for Secretary of State.

On the Republican side of the ledger, State Senator Matt Dolan of Chagrin Falls distanced himself completely from his extremist opponents in the race for the GOP nomination to succeed retiring US Senator Rob Portman, who is calling it quits after two terms. Without naming any of his rivals, Dolan nonetheless denounced them on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection for continuing to say they would not have voted to certify the 2020 presidential election results. His mere implication that they have shown “blatant disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law and truth inside our Republic” amounts to GOP heresy these days.

Locally, the race for County Executive had two new entrants this week, along and one departure. Maple Heights mayor Annette Blackwell announced on Monday that she was “suspending” her campaign. On Wednesday, her suburban neighbor, Warrensville Heights mayor Brad Sellers, held a press conference to confirm what was already clear, that he had entered the race against Chris Ronayne for the Democratic nomination.

While Blackwell’s statement – delivered via email from her spokesman – was as low key as she could make it, she has let it be known that she is not a happy camper. She believes that several party insiders who encouraged her with promises of financial and logistical support to get in the race, subsequently transferred that support to Sellers.

By week’s end, former state senator Shirley Smith had pulled petitions to enter the race. Smith sought the nomination in 2014 but was unable to raise sufficient resources to mount a viable campaign , as Armond Budish handily defeated her and former county sheriff Bob Reid for the Democratic nomination. Budish went on to victory that November against county councilman Jack Schron.

Smith also ran in last year’s open primary for the open 11^th Congressional district seat vacated by Marcia Fudge when she became US HUD Secretary. She won less than 1% of the vote in that race, won by Shontel Brown.

In Cleveland, Justin Bibb took his oath of office as the city’s new mayor in an intimate Sunday midnight ceremony and has hit the ground running, signally that his administration will be an active one. Meanwhile, incoming Council President Blaine Griffin has revised council’s committee structure and named new chairpersons. The Finance Committee, which Griffin will chair, has been renamed the Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Griffin told this reporter that the move is in keeping with Council’s declaration last year racism is a public health crisis; any legislation requiring an investment of city funds will need to be accompanied by a community benefits agreement, Griffin said.

“The citizens of Cleveland, what’s best for them, will be at the center of everything we do,” he said.

New committee chairs are Michael D. Polensek, Public Safety; Kevin Conwell, Health, Human Services and the Arts; Anthony Hairston, Development, Planning and Sustainability; Kerry McCormack, Transportation and Mobility; Kerry McCormack, Operations; Kevin Bishop, Municipal Services and Properties; Jasmin Santana, Workforce, Education, Training, and Youth Development; and Brian Kazy, Utilities.

Nuggets:

President Joe Biden this week officially sent four nominations to the Senate for federal judgeships in Ohio this past week: Bridget Meehan Brennan, Charles Esque Fleming,, and David Augustin Ruiz, to be federal District Judges for the Northern District of Ohio,

Gov. Mike DeWine reappointed Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas to the State Cosmetology and Barber Board for a term ending October 31, 2026. He also appointed David J. Wondoloski of Broadview Heights to the Public Utilities Commission Nominating Council for a term beginning January 1, 2022 and continuing at the Pleasure of the Governor.

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Updated January 10, 2022 to provide a more accurate description of the 2014 Shirley Smith campaign.