Local Democratic insiders on Cleveland’s Southeast Side are sticking with Joe Jones, the Ward 1 Cleveland City Council incumbent who has weathered investigations recently.
Jones won the party’s endorsement last week on a vote of 14 to 3 among executive committee members in Ward 1. The runner-up was State Rep. Juanita Brent, a vice president of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.
One of the probes, conducted by a law firm hired by City Council, examined complaints that Jones mistreated staff and made unwelcome remarks to an artist about her physical appearance at a meeting. Jones has apologized, saying that his actions were “unintended.”
Then the Ohio Auditor of State examined whether Jones mixed politics with city business when his staff — rather than a nonprofit partner — handed out grocery store gift cards to residents, Cleveland.com reported. According to the news outlet, state auditors found no rule breaking in the activity, then said they were conducting “further review.”
(Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration requested the audit, according to Cleveland.com. Meanwhile Council President Blaine Griffin defended council’s food card spending in a lively Facebook post.)
Asked if he had to explain those investigations to voters, Jones pointed to the election-year timing of the news. In campaign season, people try “to throw as much mud” as they can, he said.
“My people, they are a gracious people,” he told Weekly Chatter. “They understand that this is a political season, and when you’re in a political season, people come after you.”
As for his reelection message, Jones said that home prices are up and City Hall is investing in the Southeast Side. The city has set money aside for road repairs and is redeveloping the old John F. Kennedy High School, he said.
“All you have to do is look around,” Jones said. “You can see the changes happening in the neighborhood. You can see a better environment.”
Brent said that she expected the executive committee to back Jones. He’s the ward leader, meaning he has a strong hand in the appointment of committee members. She’s heard a different perspective while knocking on doors in the ward, she said.
“This one particular endorsement does not reflect what I’m hearing on the doors or what I’m hearing from people when I’m seeing them out and about,” she said.
Brent says she’s running on making Ward 1 a “clean, safe and connected” community, dealing with such issues as illegal dumping.
Besides Jones and Brent, the other candidates for the Ward 1 seat are Aylwin Bridges, Marc Crosby and Lesa Jones Dollar. Voters will winnow the list down to two finalists in the Sept. 9 primary.
