Congressional Candidate Shontel Brown opens Shaker Square campaign headquarters in Cleveland with County Executive Armond Budish, other supporters by her side....Brown is Black and is also chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party....By editor Kathy Wray Coleman of Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black and alternative digital news leaders
Cuyahoga County Councilwoman and 11th congressional district candidate Shontel Brown speaks to supporters at the grand opening of her campaign headquarters on Sat, May 1 at Shaker Square in Cleveland Ohio's largely Black 11th congressional district includes most of Cleveland, mainly its largely Black east side, a largely Black pocket of Akron, and select suburbs of Cuyahoga County and neighboring Summit County.
A native of Northeast Ohio and a resident of Warrensville Heights, a largely Black middle class Cleveland suburb, Brown is the chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party and has been a member of the Cuyahoga County Council since 2015.
She is the first Black and first woman to lead the county Democratic party.
In a statement, Brown told Clevelandurbannews.com and-Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com that if elected to Congress, she will "work with President Biden and Vice President Harris on issues across the board, including for comprehensive health and economic recovery from the pandemic"
There were several elected officials in attendance to speak to the crowd and support Brown at the opening of her campaign headquarters in Shaker Square on Saturday, including Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell, who is the first Black female mayor in the city, Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers, who is also Black, Bedford court executive Tom Day, Akron Councilwoman Ginger Baylor, South Euclid Councilwoman Chanell Elston, and state Rep. Kent Smith (D-8).
“Shontel has been on the ground and has been doing the work here in Cuyahoga County,” said Budish, a Brown ally and the county's most powerful Democrat, aside from U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat who is of no relation to Shontel Brown and who has not made an endorsement to date in the competitive congressional race.
Budish said that he believes that Brown is the best candidate to lead Ohio's 11th congressional district in Washington.
"A member of Cuyahoga County Council, she has been a real leader on things like equity, job creation, job training, and things like healthcare," Budish said. "She has been one of the key's to why Cuyahoga County is doing better and better. We need someone that can work with others and get things done for Cuyahoga County and the 11th district.”
Budish' endorsement puts him up against outgoing Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, who has endorsed former state senator Nina Turner of Cleveland, the other front-runner in the seven-way race in the Democratic primary of the special election to replace former congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, who is now secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the cabinet of President Joe Biden.
Rep. Kent Smith said that the 11th congressional district is a unique political position in Northeast Ohio that requires unique leadership during good times and bad times.
“When moments of crisis emerge, this position often acts as the voice of leadership for this region, and in that role, we need a level-headed advocate who has relationships all across this region who seeks solutions rather than someone who is dropping bombs and chasing headlines," Smith said. "I believe Shontel Brown can be that kind of leader for us because she has been that kind of leader for us.”
Several clergy members were in attendance at the event as they cheered and prayed for Shontel.
The second largest of Ohio's 88 counties, Cuyahoga County includes Cleveland and is roughly 29 percent Black, and is a Democratic stronghold.
The special primary election for Fudge's congressional seat is Aug. 3 with the general election set for Nov. 2.
Until then, the congressional seat that Fudge vacated on March 10 to lead HUD after confirmation by the U.S. Senate will remain vacant.
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