Cuyahoga County Democrats have endorsed Austin Davis in Ward 7 not once, but twice.
Davis won the endorsement in July. But the party had to schedule a do-over because one of the candidates, Mike Rogalski, hadn’t received the correct time for the meeting.
Democratic executive committee members met again. The result was the same. Davis won 15 out of 17 committee members in attendance with two abstentions.
Ward 7 is an open seat. Incumbents Kerry McCormack and Jenny Spencer decided not to run for reelection, and the new ward incorporates territory from their districts. The boundaries reach from Detroit-Shoreway to Ohio City and Tremont. The downtown lakefront is also included.
Through the Ohio Democratic Party’s mail program, endorsed candidates can save money on postage. Their names typically appear on the party’s sample ballot. And they get to describe themselves with two useful words in deep-blue Cuyahoga County: “Endorsed Democrat.”
Campaign odds and ends
Stonewall Dem endorsements: The Cleveland Stonewall Democrats have made their picks in this year’s City Council races. Founded in 2000, the organization describes itself as “the voice of LGBTQIA+ and allied Democrats in Cleveland.” See their endorsements here.
Co-op candidate forum: A slew of City Council candidates fielded questions at a forum hosted by Cleveland Owns and Co-op Circle. The theme: How Cleveland City Hall can influence the economic well-being of residents, for instance by the “moral priorities our city chooses to reflect in its budget,” the event description read. Watch it here. It opened with a singalong.
Voting season begins: Early voting in the primary election begins Aug. 12. Today, Aug. 11, is the deadline to register to vote or to update your registration. Take note that the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has a new headquarters. You can vote early in person at the new address, 1803 Superior Ave. in Cleveland.
Signal Cleveland’s Frank W. Lewis has the nuts and bolts here on the September primaries and how to check your voter registration.
