Shontel Brown and John Barnes Jr. speak on wanting to replace Marcia Fudge in Congress as Brown garners support from Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers and Barnes Jr. says he intends to win the seat.... Congresswoman Fudge has been nominated by President-elect Joe Biden for HUD secretary.... Fudge currently leads Ohio's largely Black 11th congressional district, which includes Cleveland....By Clevelandurbannews.com field reporter Rhonda Crowder....Edited by Kathy Wray Coleman.... Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper in Ohio and in the Midwest
By Rhonda Crowder, field reporter for Clevelandurbannews.com. Edited by Kathy Wray Coleman
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper in Ohio and in the Midwest, and the most read independent digital news in Ohio. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.
CLEVELAND, Ohio-With U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-11) being nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to serve as U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development, at least four relatively prominent Democrats have publicly announced that they are running for her 11th congressional district House seat.
This is, of course, in the event the congresswoman, one of two Blacks in Congress from Ohio, is confirmed by the U.S. Senate next year for the secretary post and resigns from Congress to take the new job.
Others are also weighing in on a possible run for the seat.
Ohio's 11th congressional district is 54 percent Black and makes up the the east side of Cleveland primarily, and its eastern suburbs of Cuyahoga County, and a few parts of neighboring Summit County and a Black pocket of Akron, the hometown of NBA superstar LeBron James, who now plays with the Los Angeles Lakers.
A Warrensville Hts. Democrat and former Congressional Black Congress chairwoman, Fudge, 68, has been in Congress since 2008 when she replaced her friend the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who suddenly died of an aneurism.
She was once Tubbs Jones' chief of staff.
The seasoned federal lawmaker who wants to be the secretary of HUD and would report directly to the president if she is confirmed was just reelected to another two-year congressional term in November.
If Rep. Fudge is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, then resigns from her House seat, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is required by state law to hold a special election to fill out the remainder of her seventh full term.
Since Cuyahoga County is Democratic stronghold the Democratic winner of the primary election is likely the next congressperson to replace Fudge, a loyal Democrat.
Former state senator Nina Turner of Cleveland, also a co-chair of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders failed bid for the Democratic nomination for president this year, former state representative John Barnes Jr, former Cleveland City Councilman Jeff Johnson, and Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Shontel Brown have publicly announced that they will run for the 11th congressional district House seat.
Brown is also chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.
While Clevelandurbannews.com had the opportunity to speak with Brown and Barnes as to their ambition to win a seat on Congress, Turner did not return phone calls seeking comment and Johnson failed to follow through after promising to respond by email on a request for a comment.
We also were able to speak with Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers, a Fudge ally who replaced her as mayor after she became a congresswoman.
Sellers said rumors that he is seeking the congressional post that Fudge will vacate if she is approved by the Senate as HUD's secretary are just that, rumors, and false rumors in fact, he added.
Sellers told Clevelandurbannews.com that if Brown's name is on the ballot for Congress he will be supporting her unequivocally.
"She is the most qualified to do what we need done in the [11th congressional] district," said Sellers of Brown.
Sellers contends that in order to be successful on "The Hill," one needs time and the ability to move up.
"She [Brown] has youth and energy, she's a go-getter, she's connected to the government, and she understands that connectivity," Sellers said. "You have to be able to work well with others and she's eager and has a willingness to learn."
Brown told Clevelandurbannews.com in a one-on-one interview that she's up for the challenge.
"People always said, 'you're going to be the next Congresswoman" said Brown, 46, when asked why she decided to run.
Brown participated in the CBC Bootcamp in 2017 and said Fudge, an ally, tapped her to run for chair of the county's Democratic Party.
She is the first woman and first Black elected to chair the CDP, a position she has held since 2017 and one she says she intends to hold on to even if she is elected to Congress.
An elected official for nine years, Brown started out as councilperson of Warrensville Heights before being elected to Cuyahoga County Council to represent county council District 9.
Brown said she is not the least bit intimidated by a potential full slate of candidates.
"I have run in crowded races before and I'm undefeated," Brown said. "I don't run against people. I run for seats. "I'm a public servant and I am here to serve."
When asked what are some key issues she would address if elected, Brown said that economic development, education and Covid-19 would be at the forefront of her agenda.
"Access to WIFI and the digital divide, and the pandemic have amplified the little access we have to technology," she said. " If elected to Congress I will continue to find ways to address these issues, among others."
Former Ohio rep. Barnes Jr., 61, most recently served in the Ohio Senate from 2011-2018, and previously served from 1999-2002.
Both times he represented state Ohio House District 12, which is 70 percent Black and is now led by state Rep Juanita Brent, a Cleveland Democrat. It includes the Cuyahoga County communities of Bedford, Bedford Heights, Highland Hills, Maple Heights, Mayfield Heights, North Randall, Orange, Pepper Pike, Warrensville Heights, and parts of Cleveland.
Barnes told Clevelandurbannews.com that he plans to beat Brown and any other Democratic candidate participating in the primary election.
"Yes. I am running if the seat becomes available," said Barnes, who could not run for reelection as state representative in 2018 due to term limits "My supporters are preparing to roll out in a massive way."
A product of the Union-Miles Neighborhood and Cleveland's public schools he held a cabinet-level directorship in the administration of former Cleveland mayor Jane L. Campbell.
Additionally, he holds an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University.
He is the older of two sons of former Ward 1 councilman John E. Barnes Sr. and his longtime wife.
He said he looks forward to a vibrant debate among the candidates and that he brings "a level of experience and accomplishments that demonstrate his ability to produce and to help our community to grow."
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