By and large, Cleveland City Council members held their own against challengers in Tuesday night’s low-turnout primary election. And in Ward 5, incumbent Richard Starr turned in a strong performance against council colleague Rebecca Maurer.
The results set the stage for the general election matchups in the City Council races on Cleveland’s redrawn ward map. Council is shrinking from 17 wards to 15, setting up contests between current council members and tussles over new political territory.
Just about 8,600 people cast ballots in the primary, or 7.1% of registered voters in the wards with elections Tuesday.
The top two finishers in each race on the ballot Tuesday will face off again in the November general election. See the results below.
Ward 1: Joe Jones, Juanita Brent
Council Member Joe Jones will face a censure vote from his colleagues next week following complaints about his treatment of staff. But voters in Ward 1, on the far Southeast Side of the city, gave him a strong sign of approval.
Jones won 60% of the vote, maintaining a wide lead over Ohio Rep. Juanita Brent, who won about 30%. The two Democratic officeholders will move on to the general election.
Ward 3: Deborah Gray, Erich Stubbs
Council Member Deborah Gray notched a sizable win in the new Ward 3, which runs from Shaker Square to Slavic Village. She won 73% of the vote, while Erich Stubbs won 14% and Sharon Spruill won almost 13%.
Ward 5: Richard Starr, Rebecca Maurer
Tuesday’s results show that Starr has a strong edge against fellow council member Maurer in Ward 5, which covers the Central and Kinsman neighborhoods and parts of Slavic Village and downtown.
Starr won 69% of the vote to Maurer’s 25%. Both of them will compete again in the general election. Beverly Owens-Jackson will not advance to November.
Ward 7: Mohammad Faraj, Austin Davis
The new Ward 7 will be up for grabs between attorneys Mohammad Faraj and Austin Davis. Davis won almost 56% of the vote in the Near West Side ward. About one third of voters picked Faraj. Mike Rogalski won’t move on to the general election.
There is no incumbent in the race, with council members Kerry McCormack and Jenny Spencer not seeking reelection.
Ward 8: Stephanie Howse-Jones, Charlotte Perkins
Council Member Stephanie Howse-Jones held a wide lead against opponents in Ward 8, which covers the Hough neighborhood and surrounding areas. She won more than 62% of the vote, and runner-up Charlotte Perkins won 19%.
Ward 9: Kevin Conwell, Alana Belle
Kevin Conwell, a longtime City Council incumbent, continued his streak of commanding election performances with 77% support in Glenville’s Ward 9. Alana Belle won 18% and will face Conwell again in November.
Ward 12: Danny Kelly, Tanmay Shah
Council Member Danny Kelly outran his two opponents but fell just shy of 50% of the vote, according to Tuesday night’s unofficial results. Tanmay Shah won 31% and Andrew DeFratis won almost 20%.
At his election night party at Judd’s bar in the Cudell neighborhood, Shah said he had focused so far on a positive message about his vision for the city. But come the general election, Shah said he would “sharpen the differences” between himself and Kelly.
Voters will decide City Council winners on Nov. 4.