CLEVELAND, Ohio – A member of Cleveland City Council for nearly four decades already faces seven potential challengers for re-election with more than four months to go until the filing deadline.
Cleveland Councilman Ken JohnsonCity of Cleveland
Cleveland’s Ward 4 Councilman Kenneth Johnson, who took office in 1980, has taken out nominating petitions to get on the ballot for re-election.
And a rule of thumb for local elections is that incumbent officeholders often don’t face many challengers for re-election.
But that’s not the case for Johnson. Among the challengers who have taken out nominating petitions are community and labor activists and some real estate professionals.
All 17 seats on Cleveland City Council are up for election this year. Candidates have until June 29 to file nominating petitions with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections if they want to appear on the Sept. 12 municipal primary.
The top two vote-getters for each race advance from the primary move to the Nov. 8 general election. If there are only two in a given race, then they go straight to the November ballot, bypassing the primary.
Here’s a look at potential candidates who have pulled petitions, along with some biographical information on candidates for whom it was available.
Cleveland.com will update this list periodically as the filing deadline nears. Incumbents are noted with an asterisk.
Ward 1
- Terrell H. Pruitt*: Member of council since 2008. Major in the Ohio Army National Guard, served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
- Kimberly F. Brown: Former social worker and radio personality who ran for mayor in 2009. Runs an advocacy and marketing group called Doveside Promotions LLC.
- Keith Smith
Ward 2
- Carol Ford: Nursing home worker. Member of the Raise Up Cleveland petition committee that sought to raise the minimum wage in the city.
- Robert Owens: Has pulled nominating petitions for the Ward 2 seat on City Council. He also has pulled candidate petitions for the mayoral race.
Ward 3
- Kerry McCormack*: Appointed to City Council in April to replace resigning Councilman Joe Cimperman. Previously was director of community affairs for Ohio City Inc.
Ward 4
- Kenneth L. Johnson Sr*: Member of City Council for nearly four decades. Chairs the Municipal Services and Properties Committee and is a member of the Transportation Committee.
- Monroe Bynum Jr: CEO of his own company, the IYI Network.
- LaShorn K. Caldwell: Housing manager for the Union Miles Development Corp.
- Julie Donaldson: Real estate agent.
- Cecil Ekechukwu
- Michael McDaniel Sr: Advocate with the American Postal Workers Union.
- Rowland Mitchell
- Gail Sparks: Director and founder of GOA Realty in Cleveland.
Ward 5
- Phyllis Cleveland*: Member of City Council since 2006, majority leader.
Ward 6
- Mamie J. Mitchell*: Member of City Council since 2008. Vice chair of the Health and Human Services Committee.
- Lavitta Murray: Self employed, Murray is studying at Cleveland State’s Marshal College of Law.
- David B. Roney: Physical director for the city’s pools. Develops and coordinates aquatic programs.
- Dylan L. Sellers: Management professional who has worked with nonprofit organizations.
Ward 7
- TJ Dow*: A lawyer. Member of City Council since 2008.
- Robert L. Heflin III
- Basheer Jones: Community activist
- Demar L. Sheffey: Public defender
Ward 8
- Michael D. Polensek*: Longest serving member of City Council in Cleveland history. Took office in 1978.
- Donald Boyd
- Brian A. Friedman: Executive director of Northeast Shores Development Corp.
Ward 9
- Kevin Conwell*: Member of City Council sine 2001. Vice chair of council’s Safety Committee.
- Guy Coleman Jr.
Ward 10
- Annamaria Cora: Retired from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department.
- Rico Dancy
- Ed Hudson-Bey
Ward 11
- Dona Brady*: Member of City Council since 1999. Vice chair of the Utilities Committee.
- Gilder E. Malone
Ward 12
- Anthony Brancatelli*: Member of City Council since 2005. Chairs the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.
Ward 13
- Kevin Kelley*: Member of City Council since 2006. He became president of council in 2014.
Ward 14
- Brian Cummins*: Member of City Council since 2010. Chairs council’s Health and Human Services Committee.
- Omar Medina: Pastor
Ward 15
- Matt Zone*: Member of City Council since 2002. Chairs council’s Safety Committee.
Ward 16
- Brian Kazy*: Member of City Council since 2015. Former Cuyahoga County probation officer.
Ward 17
- Martin J. Keane*: Member of City Council since 2008. Chairs council’s Transportation Committee.
- Clinton E. Preslan: Lawyer
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