Cleveland Voting Locations To Be Monitored By The U.S. Department Of Justice
By Kathy Wray Coleman
Posted September 6, 2009
(National and Cleveland, Ohio Area News)
The Feds will monitor voting locations in Cleveland for the second time since 2006. A hub for political candidates, Cleveland's Sept. 8 primary has some colorful candidates, including six seeking to oust Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and an array of incumbents and political wannabes hoping to nab or hold onto one of 19 Cleveland City Council seats up for grabs.
The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly not said why it is targeting Cleveland, though speculation is that it wants to keep a watch on the controversial Cleveland City Council race for Ward 14, a West Side venue that has majority Hispanic voters, a prior councilman in the race, and two sitting councilmen fighting for the seat because of a recent city redistricting plan adopted by voters that reduced council from 21 to 19 seats.
"The Feds are in here because it is common knowledge that Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are politically corrupt entities," said John Boyd, a candidate for the Cleveland Ward 6 council race. "I think it is a wonderful thing that the authorities from the U.S. Department of Justice care and are interested enough to protect the democratic process and I hope they pay particular atttention to Ward 6
In addition to Boyd, others seeking the Ward 6 council seat include incumbent councilwoman Mamie Mitchell, Darnell Brewer, Marc Minor and A.J. Thompson.
Cleveland is roughly 57 percent Black and before redistricting that reduced council from 21 to 19 seats Blacks, all Democrats, held nine of those seats. In addition to targeting the Hispanic community for a reduction in council seats without much outcry, Cleveland's predominantly Black Wards 2 and 3 were the subject of the reduction. Those wards were combined into one under the Ward 2 name. But that fight was made easier after former Ward 2 Councilman Robert White resigned amid criminal proceedings and his council appointed successor, Nate Wilkes, agreed not to run during the post redistricting election set for Tuesday.
Ward 3 councilman Zack Reed lost most of his Cleveland Mt. Pleasant neighborhood to Ward 2 because of redistricting, and he is now seeking the Ward 2 council seat.
Others on the ballot for the Ward 2 city council seat include Gerri Griffin, Betina Gulley, Annaliesa Henley, Eric King, Charlene Laster, and Stan Owens. The top two vote getters in Tuesday's primary election for mayor and in each city council race will square off in the Nov. 3 general election.
Posted September 6, 2009
(National and Cleveland, Ohio Area News)
The Feds will monitor voting locations in Cleveland for the second time since 2006. A hub for political candidates, Cleveland's Sept. 8 primary has some colorful candidates, including six seeking to oust Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and an array of incumbents and political wannabes hoping to nab or hold onto one of 19 Cleveland City Council seats up for grabs.
The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly not said why it is targeting Cleveland, though speculation is that it wants to keep a watch on the controversial Cleveland City Council race for Ward 14, a West Side venue that has majority Hispanic voters, a prior councilman in the race, and two sitting councilmen fighting for the seat because of a recent city redistricting plan adopted by voters that reduced council from 21 to 19 seats.
"The Feds are in here because it is common knowledge that Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are politically corrupt entities," said John Boyd, a candidate for the Cleveland Ward 6 council race. "I think it is a wonderful thing that the authorities from the U.S. Department of Justice care and are interested enough to protect the democratic process and I hope they pay particular atttention to Ward 6
In addition to Boyd, others seeking the Ward 6 council seat include incumbent councilwoman Mamie Mitchell, Darnell Brewer, Marc Minor and A.J. Thompson.
Cleveland is roughly 57 percent Black and before redistricting that reduced council from 21 to 19 seats Blacks, all Democrats, held nine of those seats. In addition to targeting the Hispanic community for a reduction in council seats without much outcry, Cleveland's predominantly Black Wards 2 and 3 were the subject of the reduction. Those wards were combined into one under the Ward 2 name. But that fight was made easier after former Ward 2 Councilman Robert White resigned amid criminal proceedings and his council appointed successor, Nate Wilkes, agreed not to run during the post redistricting election set for Tuesday.
Ward 3 councilman Zack Reed lost most of his Cleveland Mt. Pleasant neighborhood to Ward 2 because of redistricting, and he is now seeking the Ward 2 council seat.
Others on the ballot for the Ward 2 city council seat include Gerri Griffin, Betina Gulley, Annaliesa Henley, Eric King, Charlene Laster, and Stan Owens. The top two vote getters in Tuesday's primary election for mayor and in each city council race will square off in the Nov. 3 general election.
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