The election is only 94 days away, and there seems to be little if any attention being paid to the race. Is Jane Campbell just going to win re-election by default? Has anyone seen any polls?

I'm a big fan of Bob Triozzi (www.triozziformayor.com) and hope to get involved in his campaign once I'm back in Cleveland this August. But I'm worried that time is running out to get anyone besides Campbell enough name recognition to win.

As someone knew to the area, are there some general info websites about the candidates and their positions?  Are the Ohio Democratic Party and the Ohio Republican Party endorsing specific candidates?  Can you register to vote in this state when you get your driver's license, or do I have to go to a library?  Granted I don't have a television, but I haven't seen or heard anything with regards to the election that I haven't actively sought out.

new to the area.  not knew.  I'm a bit tired.

Lindsh, there most likely won't be any Republican candidates because quite frankly, it's extremely unlikely that a GOP candidate would win. Cleveland is probably the "bluest" city in a red state if that makes sense.

 

Personally I have yet to see any candidate offer anything that hasn't been repeated ad nauseum. Duh, the schools need fixed; duh, people need jobs, etc. I could run for mayor and say the same things - we don't need someone who has a gift for stating the obvious.

 

I have to say that recently, quite a few things have happened under Jane Campbell's leadership - the recent Moodys credit rating, the reinstatement of several dozen safety workers, her giving anti-blight ordinances some teeth, etc. I'm not pleased with her handling of the Steelyard Commons/Wal-Mart situation but that's not enough to convince me *not* to vote for her. Like I said, when one of the candidates is ballsy enough to suggest reducing the city council (which I favor), or something along those lines - then I might consider shifting my vote.

I agree with you MayDay.  I haven't heard anything approaching an actual concrete idea or initiative from any of the contenders.  There had been alot of bad buzz in the media about Jane Campbell, but I think that when they saw the competition they decided to let it go.

I think all of the new talk about different development plans is going to save her ass.

with the amount of development and initatives that have come out of city hall or that have been backed by city hall in the last few months, Jane probably has a much better shot of keeping her job - it doesn't make up for 3 years of nothing, but it is a good beginning to what could be a deeper renissance.  Seems to me that Chris Ronanyne is a much more efficient and capable chief of staff, he seems to be making things happen as of late.

Let's not forget that Jane pushed for a great deal of planning and visioning and behind the scenes clean up that is setting the stages for alot of the concrete developments that we are seeing now.

i'm running for mayor in about 10-12 years... don't forget the name: Mister Good Day!

X - good point, credit is due for the lakefront plan and other initiatives that were "in the works" throughout the past few years.

Honestly, she has done more than Mike White (who i loved) for housing, balancing the budget (in the worst time frame), and starting to initiate quality of life issues.

 

However, we're losing (or lost) ground as a big business center.  Something Mike White could do, sans BP.

 

She is a no name mayor - make Cleveland a "non existant" city.

so will campbell's opponent get more anti-campbell votes than actual votes?

How about Chris Ronayne for mayor...untill Good Day gets to town

I think the challangers have not raised a whole heck of a lot of money, so there will not be many comercials until closer to the race.  And you know, the more TV ad time you buy on local channels, the more puff pieces you get on the local news.

(cynical....)

^almost worked for capri cafaro, until the media and the public realized she's an idiot with mob ties

She should have run in Youngstown

 

;-)

It didn't hurt that she was kinda hot.  A little to "hoochie" for my tastes, however.

From the 7/18/05 PD:

 

 

Euclid ex-mayor joins Cleveland race

David Lynch says he can save city

Monday, July 18, 2005

Jesse Tinsley

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

In the stifling late-afternoon heat Sunday, attorney and former Euclid Mayor David Lynch stood before family, friends and neighbors to announce his candidacy to run for mayor of Cleveland.

 

About 75 people, most of them gathered on Lynch's Rosecliff Road lawn in the shade of a huge pine tree, applauded a man who believes he can save Cleveland....

 

http://www.cleveland.com/mayor/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1121679264300520.xml&coll=2

 

I'm not sure where Rosecliff Rd is...but what's the deal with the Cleveland mayor.  It seems that half of the candidates are not from Cleveland.  one guy was from shaker, this latest guy is the former mayor of Euclid.  This isn't New York is it?

There's a Rosecliff Road just west of East 185th which would be North Collinwood if I remember correctly.

 

"There is a dire need to improve Cleveland Public Schools, reduce the crime rate and revise tax structures to make it easier to do business in Cleveland."

 

Yet another candidate who brings nothing new to the table other than a talent for pointing out the obvious - good lord at this rate *I* should run because I believe:

 

1. We need to improve Cleveland Public Schools.

2. We need to reduce crime.

3. We should make our city business-friendly.

 

:roll:

 

The challengers have to step it up - the city's finances were recently given a clean 'bill of health', there are substantial development projects in the works, school test scores are slightly up, etc. so saying that the Campbell administration has done nothing is disingenuous to say the least.

 

 

You've got my vote.  I'll write in "MayDay" for mayor.  It'll be a nice double entendre, which is more valuable than an actual vote. 

 

Never mind, I don't live in Cleveland.

you know, its been 6 years, and i still keep my voting rights in michigan. Sad that i still care more about a state's politics than the one i've lived in for a while now

I am from Euclid.  David Lynch's political career took a nose dive after it was discovered that he was approved for a 0% loan from the city of Euclid (or the employee credit union) to buy his home.  There was an investigation, and he apologized, but no prosecution.  Before then, the local Republican party was looking at him to be a county commisioner

Funny they did not mention that in the article.

Local politics in Cleveland has become a joke. I mean, look who's leading this city and county: Campbell, Lawson Jones, Damora, Hagan, Tubbs Jones, and last but least Dennis. It's really quite embarrassing. What exactly has the Democratic Party done for Cleveland over the past 50 or so years? And then there's the whole school levy issue. Oh yea that's a great idea, raise taxes and just keep throwing more and more money at a failing school system. How about some new ideas instead of just raiseing taxes (although thats more of Columbus's responsibility, fixing the school funding system.) But nonetheless, the leaders in Cleveland need to learn how to spend their money. Jane says she wants more buisness and more ppl to live in Cleveland, and then she's trying to cut off their arms and legs with taxes. It's time for some new leadership and that's why Clevelanders should look toward people like James Draper and David Lynch.    Sorry, but I really needed to vent.

Local politics in Cleveland has become a joke. I mean, look who's leading this city and county: Campbell, Lawson Jones, Damora, Hagan, Tubbs Jones, and last but least Dennis. It's really quite embarrassing. What exactly has the Democratic Party done for Cleveland over the past 50 or so years? And then there's the whole school levy issue. Oh yea that's a great idea, raise taxes and just keep throwing more and more money at a failing school system. How about some new ideas instead of just raiseing taxes (although thats more of Columbus's responsibility, fixing the school funding system.) But nonetheless, the leaders in Cleveland need to learn how to spend their money. Jane says she wants more buisness and more ppl to live in Cleveland, and then she's trying to cut off their arms and legs with taxes. It's time for some new leadership and that's why Clevelanders should look toward people like James Draper and David Lynch.    Sorry, but I really needed to vent.

 

Welcome

 

Campbell had the hardest administration in decades, and I have to say she tackled some really difficult "internal" issues.  For what its worth, Jane had to clean up the mess of two prior adminstrations before she could begin planning.  The corruption in various city departments; the cooked books; improving city services; the financial health of the city itself, improving the quality of life for residents, etc.  She's even been active in making the city a place where people want to live.  Neighborhoods are coming back like in no time in the last 40 years.  More new homes have been built in her (one) administration then in all of Mike Whites.  People are taking notice, our market especially the the 50 block radius from downtown, which has been designated as “scorching” by real estate groups in DC, St. Louis, Detroit, Minneapolis and New York.

 

The schools are improving, they don't turn around overnight.  BTW, there is no “e” in the word raising.  Like you the school system is a work in progress and is improving.

 

I personally do not think she has spent unwisely, a feel she has been a little too cautious, but now with the state audit and credit stand reports released, its signals we are in good financial standing and have turned a corner.  She's hired directors in to head departments that needed strong, experienced, "best in class" leadership.

 

Now I think she can say to big businesses that the city of Cleveland has its act together......let talk, the city is open for business.

 

Lynch has not said ANYTHING new....so what are those new ideas you refer too???

"And then there's the whole school levy issue. Oh yea that's a great idea, raise taxes and just keep throwing more and more money at a failing school system."

 

Until school funding is made to be distributed fairly on a STATEWIDE level - Cleveland Public Schools (which apparently you haven't noticed have shown some improvement over the years) has NO choice but to seek a school levy. You ARE aware that the current method of school funding in the state of Ohio has been ruled unconstitutional FOUR times, aren't you? So what would you suggest, allow the schools to further decline and hope that the current students can hang on until the state gets their act together? Until the people in Columbus get it worked out - we, as the residents of the city of Cleveland owe our kids (and I'm not a parent) the best education they can get.

 

"Jane says she wants more buisness and more ppl to live in Cleveland, and then she's trying to cut off their arms and legs with taxes."

 

So you neglect to mention the current 15-year, 100% property tax abatement on all new construction in the city. You also neglect to mention the recently approved job creation tax measure which will reward companies (large AND small) for creating jobs within the city.

 

"It's time for some new leadership and that's why Clevelanders should look toward people like James Draper and David Lynch."

 

Again I ask, as a taxpaying resident of the city of Cleveland - what revolutionary ideas do Draper and Lynch have? What compelling reasons are there that I should give them my vote - OTHER than the fact that they aren't Jane Campbell?

 

 

^add to that, serioulsy what other mayor would wear a feather boa?

For those of you who are enamored with Mike White's performance, I strongly suggest you read this article: http://www.clevescene.com/Issues/current/news/kotz.html

 

Don't get me wrong, he accomplished a lot during his tenure - but I think it's a matter of time before everything catches up to him.  :|

Mayday,

 

Good comments.

 

Cleveland88,

 

Let's be realistic.  You want to starve the school district of funds and expect it to improve? 

 

Improving the viability of an economy is more more complicated than imposing a black and white, low taxes will cure all view on things. 

 

Not sure why you focus on democrats.  Cities are lead by great leaders, not by parties.  Do you trust people who shift the focus from quality leadership to party politics?  If so, I hope you aren't a voter in the city of Cleveland.

 

 

By the way, did anyone see how Dan Moore was called out for not living in Cleveland by Fullwood?  Fullwood claims that Moore soundn't have a say in Cleveland politics if he doesn't live there.  Fullwood failed to point out that he himself lives in Shaker.  That sure hasn't kept him from weighing in city issues.  I wish that Moore were running.  He seems to be an able mind with energetic ideas. 

Hey. This is my first post, although I've been reading this forum for the past couple months. Anyway, it is undeniable that the city of Cleveland has improved under the Campbell administration. We've seen more construction of new homes in the city than we have in decades. Neighborhoods are starting to come back like Ohio City, Tremont, etc. I do agree w/ cleveland88 somewhat about the levy issue. The state needs to find a new way to fund schools, but levy's aren't always the answer. Also ,all the new contruction and neighborhood redevelopment has been great, but you're not going to get people to move back into the city if they don't feel safe. And that's a big issue I have w/ Campbell, her lack of support for the Police. However, from the field of other candidates in the race, I would'nt mind seeing Campbell back in there. She's no Voinovich, but she is better than Kucinich and that crook Mike White .

Here is a blurb from the PD on Frank Jackson.  Outside of Campbell, he is the biggest name running for this office.  He isn't saying anything original.

 

Cleveland City Council President Frank Jackson, who is running for mayor, unveiled his platform today, stressing the need to lure residents and jobs into downtown, open small businesses in neighborhoods and clean up old industrial land.

 

Jackson also emphasized regionalism, saying he wanted to explore the creation of a regional development authority to better promote Greater Cleveland and help lure companies to the area.

 

Jackson said he was in favor of building a new convention center but that he wants the International Exposition Center to remain open.

 

Jackson unveiled his priorities, packaged into a report called "Expect Great Things," at a news conference this afternoon. He is one of several challengers hoping to replace Mayor Jane Campbell.

If you would of asked me 4 months ago if I would vote for Campbell I would have said hell no. But with the recent development news, improving (but still far from decent) schools, and a clean credit rating I would be very excited to see her in office for the next 4 years. She was put in a very difficult situation when she took office and she has made the best of her time. However, I would like to see her step-up support for the CPD, but I realize that they need more tax revenue to do so. Also, if she is in office for 4 more years Chris Ronayne should be ready to run in 2009, and by then he should be a house-hold name with Clevelander's.

If you would of asked me 4 months ago if I would vote for Campbell I would have said hell no. But with the recent development news, improving (but still far from decent) schools, and a clean credit rating I would be very excited to see her in office for the next 4 years. She was put in a very difficult situation when she took office and she has made the best of her time. However, I would like to see her step-up support for the CPD, but I realize that they need more tax revenue to do so. Also, if she is in office for 4 more years Chris Ronayne should be ready to run in 2009, and by then he should be a house-hold name with Clevelander's.

 

as a Cleveland voter and taxpayer.  I think she got more than she knew.  I wish her well but am interested in what Jackson has to say

Speaking of the story wimwar mentioned, here's the link for the long version in today's PD:

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1122543114121290.xml&coll=2

 

From the 7/30/05 PD:

 

 

Campbell spending spree pares financial lead in race for mayor

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Olivera Perkins and Mark Naymik

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

Mayor Jane Campbell, who started the year with a hefty financial lead in the mayor's race, has nearly eroded that monetary advantage.

 

Campbell's campaign account, which peaked around $782,000 this year, is down to about $222,000. She began the year with about $532,000 and added nearly $250,000 by the end of June, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/112271597260651.xml&coll=2

 

Did Lynch use a lemonade stand to fundraise?

How the hell do you raise $9.64, and what do you spend it on?

the odd thing is: i don't believe you have to report any contributions that small........

$100? $0? $9.64?  I've met homeless people who have had more fundraising success than these guys!  Qwios, I want to know more about the $9.64, too.  It's an oddly precise number.  Was that one contribution, or many?  Did someone write the $.64 into a check?  Is he keeping his campaign fund in a jar, or did he hire a treasurer?  The article implies that they only have to declare if they have a treasurer.  How is he paying him? 

 

Mr. Lynch, if you are out there, e-mail me your campaign headquarter's address, and I will gladly mail you a check for $.36 so that you have an even $10.

^for such an odd amount, i'd have to guess someone bought him lunch

He's the one who had his announcement with some American Idol reject crooning.  :roll:

Could that be the price of one bargain bin CD?

From the 8/7/05 PD:

 

 

Campbell gets heat after a tough week for the city schools

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Joseph L. Wagner

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Ribs, steaks, wings and Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell were on the grill Saturday at the 13th annual African-American Family Festival.

 

A smiling Campbell showed up in force, flanked by aides carrying Roman Army-style standards bearing her name. As hip-hop music blared, she danced with a city worker, one of dozens handing out yo-yos, stress balls and other novelties at city booths...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1123407035212320.xml&coll=2

 

Mayoral candidates sound off

 

Friday, August 12, 2005

 

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Several Cleveland mayoral candidates said at a forum Thursday night that they would support or consider supporting a repeal of the 23-year-old law that requires city employees to live in Cleveland.

 

David Lynch, former Euclid mayor, called the residency rule unconstitutional. Former Cleveland Safety Director James Draper and attorney Michael Nelson said they would be willing to consider a limit on the number of years city employees must live in Cleveland.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/

 

.....

 

A few comments...  several candidates have lost my vote already. If the city's good enough for your paycheck, it's good enough for your residence. Once again, no candidate has offered anything insightful or innovative to address education issues, and Lynch's suggestion of segregating students by sex is quite possibly one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. Draper's suggestions of community meetings? Greeeat, talk it to death, townhall it ad nauseum at taxpayers' expense and come up with the same results  :roll:

I think when many of these people got into the race, they could just rail against Cambell.  Because she has either shaped up, or the back burner plans she had put into motion are coming together, she is now doing a much better job.  So these people are now having to come up with a campaign to convice people of something other than they are not Jane.

 

Has anyone noticed how subtly Jane has been courting big business, including Forest City?  Putting Ratner on the search committee?  I bet you her warchest gets filled up again soon.

Jane will win by default because her opponents have brought no juice and she's got the bully pulpit.  I'm not thrilled, but resigned myself to 4 more years of her.  She's absolutely lacking in fostering creative business strategies and development.  The schools are a mess, and yet another levy was clobbered while  there was modest improvement -- if you want to look at graduation rates/test scores under Barbara Byrd-Bennett -- but now SHE's gone – run out of town, in part, by the hateful local media. 

 

Yes, it's true, some of Jane's long-term projects -- ie, the Lakefront, are seeing some daylight, but they are far from fruition.  And yes, her people (I forget her point-woman responsible for getting Wolstein's E. Bank green-lighted), but she does have a few good people; Chris Ronayne as Chief of Staff may shake some things up.

 

But she botched, badly, relations w/ Police and Fire -- I think the way the layoffs were handled were much too heavy handed; could have been dealt w/ more effectively...

 

And I think she's waved around/championed little piddling projects as big successes while not focusing on the big stuff -- a few that come to mind: the skate park @ the R&RH of F, sidewalk widening on the Vet Bridge, the Red light cameras; adopt a trashcan; changing Hopkins’ name (and while we’re at it, why isn’t she pushing for more serious upgrades at our totally lacking/small airport – the runway expansion/fight w/ Brook Part, now settled after we won-lost-settled, has taken way too long), etc -- it smacks of one who's in over their head.  Then there's backwards stuff she's lent a big, messy backing to, like Steelyards, which I really despise (where, again, lacking experience and finesse, she foolishly angered union people and neighborhood grocers).

 

And My2sense, let's not get carried away w/ her alleged housing success.  Housing initiatives in the neighborhoods were started w/ a trickle under Voinovich, and became a flood under White; I don't attribute much of this to her, even though there are a few (and I do mean, few) she's gotten behind.  But the aggressive nature of neighborhood building is largely the end result of a number of aggressive developers, Marous, Price-Corna, and others, who really came to power under White's admin, and neighborhoods that are really flourishing -- Ohio City (which is bleeding into Det-Shoreway), WHD, Gateway, Larchemere, really came into their own under White (although, Larchemere was coming on in the late stages of Voinovich's run)...

 

Yes, Mike handed Jane some really screwy books (hey, w/ Nate Gray about to sing the bag man/influence peddling blues on Mike, I guess we can, in part, see why), but this constant refrain that Jane's been cursed w/ the BIG BAD ECONOMY has never flown w/ me -- in part, if it's so bad, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT -- get off your, well, she's a lady, so I won't be crass, ... Yeah, we've taken some business hits, but it's not like all the other big metro areas are stagnant like us (look at Cincy and Columbus; their econs are churning; the dread isn't hanging over their heads)... And hey, Chicago, which just swiped our OfficeMax (after stealing away, in the 90s, our biggest priced possession, BP/Sohio), is a Rust Belt/cold whether city like us.  I don't buy that "Well, they're Chicago, and their different" crap, because THEY have pols out there working their arses off keep them on top.  ... and yet WE are the ones who need someone w/ experience out their swinging, and yet, we've got an inexperienced, and often, indifferent, rookie at the controls -- exactly what we DIDN'T NEED.  And, fair or unfair, I just have the sinking feeling that OfficeMax, if handled w/ a little foresight, at the time their were 1st taken over by the Boise, ID outfit, could still be here in Shaker (which, being in Shaker in itself, does take much of the blame off Jane, but still, as was seen by the last minute tax relieve deal she pitched w/ Judy Rawson of Shaker, Jane still holds the biggest financial stick to make things happen)…

 

 

Jane is a bright lady and has a really sharp, well-connected husband, in top-flight former City Planning Dir. Hunter Morrison... It is w/ these plusses going in, I really had high hopes for her administration and have, for the most part, been bitterly disappointed.

... but, I'm going to hold my nose and vote for her (unless one's a total stiff, I never believe in not voting) -- what's the alternative?  I'm not impressed w/ any of her opponents although, at 1st, Frank Jackson gave me hope; but he's either too broke or just another tired insider pol (and in Cleveland that's bad) w/ little, really, to offer.  The other guys?  While they say nice things, are simply too unknown/inexperienced to really take seriously imho.

 

So I'll cross my fingers that the training wheels that are still on Jane's administration will keep her upright and, maybe, come off and we can start going somewhere --

 

********

BTW, --- Cleveland88, welcome.  But right off the bat I, like wimwar, certainly don't buy your "throwing money" at the schools attack on Jane.  Starving them to seek success makes no sense to me... That, plus your let’s cut and cut and cut taxes to lure business argument, sounds like a bunch of sycophant, right-wing claptrap taken directly from the Republican talking points playbook, to me... But again, welcome; I'm sure we'll have some spirited political debates.

 

Just curious as the ex-Boy Mayor (aka Dennis the Menace)-turned-US-Presidential-candidate-turned-national-lefty-media-darling just tied the knot w/ a Brit lady half his age -- whether through the wisdom of age, he'd be a good mayor in light of the upcoming election where bungling Jane Campbell appears all but a lock to win reelection?    :drunk: 

 

Your thoughts?

Oops, this probably should be moved to the Ohio "politics" discussion.  My bad.

I'm for Triozzi, though I've become disappointed in his lack of drive. He was supposed to have a meetup a week or two ago at his campaign headquarters, and it got canceled -- I assume due to lack of interest. The man just hasn't gotten out enough. I do see a lot of Triozzi for Mayor signs on the Near West side, but beyond that I never hear anything about him.

When is Cimperman going to run?