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Cleveland: 2005 Mayoral Election

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Here are some recent articles for those not from the area or unfamiliar with who is running.  From the 8/26/05 PD:

 

 

7 challengers seek Campbell's job

Friday, August 26, 2005

Mark Naymik

Plain Dealer Politics Writer

 

Cleveland voters unhappy with Mayor Jane Campbell's performance will find plenty of alternatives on this year's primary ballot.

 

Seven people, ranging from a former City Hall auditor to the current City Council president, met the filing deadline Thursday that qualifies them for the Oct. 4 primary. Campbell also has filed to run in the primary.

 

The large field reflects the perception that Campbell is vulnerable...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1125048651292520.xml&coll=2

From the 8/28/05 PD:

 

 

Campbell among issues raised during debate

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Several Cleveland mayoral candidates took jabs at incumbent Jane Campbell on Saturday, as they sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the altar of a Euclid Avenue church.

 

The nine candidates were at the Church of the Covenant for the year's second mayoral debate, sponsored by the African American Women's Agenda...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1125221505299280.xml&coll=2

 

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"Jackson highlighted his deep Cleveland roots, saying he has lived in the same neighborhood his entire life and understands the problems his community deals with every day. He said he has family members who are in prison, addicted to drugs, unemployed and dealing with teen pregnancy."

 

I don't understand how his life experience translates into being an effective mayor. Don't get me wrong, it's admirable that he's done well for himself but this sounds more like "I have the history to understand the poverty of my ward" not "I have the experience to negotiate with corporate leaders and developers to generate investment in the city". What is he going to do beyond enforcing Fannie Lewis laws and steering preference to programs helping low-to-moderate income families? That may well be his history but it doesn't mean much to a lot of Cleveland residents - not EVERYONE is in poverty, after all.

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I don't think there's a city mayoral election in Ohio that doesn't have crime/safety as either the top or the second-place issue.  From the 9/1/05 PD:

 

 

Mayoral candidates debate safety

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Olivera Perkins

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

The mayoral candidates agreed Wednesday night that safety is a major campaign issue, but the hopefuls for Cleveland's highest office often disagreed about ways to make the city safer.

 

The forum, held by the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association and the Cleveland Firefighters union Local 93 at the police union hall on West 58th Street, touched on issues specific to each union, but also on themes of interest to many voters. Topics included increasing the number of police and firefighters, merging the EMS and Fire departments, safety force regionalism and whether Cleveland should continue its residency requirement for city workers...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1125567009107900.xml&coll=2

 

Mayday,  I agree with you 100%.  I have this fear that Jackson would look to put band aids over the wounds of the poor of this city and not try to create the growth and jobs that will help the entire city.

 

I wonder when Cimperman will run.  If Campbell loses, will Ronayne run next time around?

I think we need a powerful businessman or lawyer in office -- someone who isn't coming from within government. Civil servants are too accustomed to compromise and inertia. What Cleveland needs now is a true leader. (I know that sounds frighteningly Republican, but desperate times call for desparate measures!)

^The police were the only civil servants who did not sacrifice one thing in order to save jobs (free uniforms etc)

 

Anywho, I guess Tubbs just endorsed Frank Jackson.  Another reason to vote for Cambell.  What has Tubbs done for the city?  She has Kuchinichitis, she wants to be a player on the national stage, and could care less about what happens in Cleveland.  (where was she during the DFAS?)

I attended a mayoral candidate forum tonight that addressed the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered) community. My overall impression is that it will most likely be a race between Campbell and Jackson. As for the candidates, here's my rundown:

 

Mayor Jane Campbell: Well-composed and much less timid than I've seen her in previous appearances. She handled most of the questions with directness, although some were a little cool to the fact that the city does not offer domestic partner health benefits. She definitely got points for charisma and wit - and she knew her crowd. One of the first points she addressed was the fact that she was the first mayor to fly the rainbow flag at City Hall during the Gay Pride events. A largely symbolic gesture but what better way to affirm that the city is one of inclusion? She also took time after the forum to further explain to me about the domestic partner health benefits issue and why things are the way they are. She will get my vote.

 

Frank Jackson: Lacked charisma and failed to truly deliver a solid answer to many questions. One of his big points is that he's endorsed by a lot of the black pastors of the larger urban congregations. Unfortunately, those pastors usually point to people like me as the downfall of society. He's nice, he means well but he simply lacks the focus and presence that others had. He's also not the most well-spoken of the group - I was ready to nickname him "Mumbles" after the Dick Tracy character.

 

Robert Triozzi: Overall not bad - got bonus points as the only one to approach me and shake my hand prior to the forum. Didn't introduce any truly innovative ideas - just went with the "we need jobs, education, safety, etc." approach.

 

Bill Patmon: Carried himself extremely well - lots of poise and confidence but maintained an approachable demeanor. If he had more name recognition, he could give Jackson a run for his money. He also pointed specifics that he accomplished as a city council member that directly benefitted the GLBT community.

 

Michael Nelson: As a first-time runner for public office, he wasn't as polished as Patmon, Lynch or Campbell but his very down-to-earth response to questions were a breath of fresh air. A little too brusque though - he had a Daley-esque demeanor but he's not in office yet.

 

David Lynch: Former mayor of Euclid - well-composed, and reminded me of the good points of Howard Dean. The problem is that he referred to his accomplishments in Euclid. Sorry, Euclid has some nice areas but it's apples and oranges compared to Cleveland and he suggested that he had successfully run a "big" city. Euclid isn't big and for the most part it needs polishing. I do see him having a political future though - great charisma and he knew how to work the room.

 

James Draper: Didn't show. Buh-bye.

 

Anthony Brown: One of the questions presented was 'how did you vote on Issue 1?". While I'm glad he was upfront, it's probably not wise to tell a room of about a hundred or so gays and lesbians that you don't support their equal rights. If that wasn't bad enough, he said something to the effect of "I don't know a lot about homosexuality, but I know what happened to Sodom and Gommorah". He then proceeded to assure us that he supports diversity and would support our rights. I've never EVER seen a politician heckled and booed at such a forum - until tonight. In addition to being a bigot, he's obviously not the brightest blinker on the Buick. He said that when he audited the city, the budget was over $1 billion - apparently it's down to $477,000. Yes, that's what he said. He was seated next to Jane who held her head and cringed during most of his idiotic diatribes.

 

So that's where I stand - if I thought Patmon stood a better chance, I'd consider him but as that isn't the case, I'm voting for Mayor Jane Campbell.

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Mayday,

 

Thanks for the rundown and for your honest opinions.

Mayday.  thanks.  As a "same gender loving" afro-latino individual, this doesn't bode well. 

 

This shows how "out of touch" some of these candidates are with the gay/lesbian/tg community.

 

:-(  :-(

 

 

Campbell's "hits" and "misses", from the 9/11/05 PD:

 

 

Jane Campbell's four years at helm

Sunday, September 11, 2005

 

Since she was elected mayor in 2001, Jane Campbell has come under fire for a perceived lack of leadership.

 

Indeed, her record shows some glaring stumbles. Campbell, however, still has some accomplishments to tout as she seeks a second term. And the jury is still out on some of her goals - goals she won't be around to fulfill if she loses the upcoming election...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1126431160238772.xml&coll=2

 

From Sun Newspapers, 9/15/05:

 

 

Mayoral candidates give economic success plans

By TOM CORRIGAN

Staff Writer

Sept. 15, 2005

 

CLEVELAND —  Budget Director Robert Baker only this week said the city's budget is in decent shape, that some revenues —  including income tax collections —  have risen slightly.

 

Still, there is no news in stating Cleveland's economy could withstand some enhancement. Municipal employees in the hundreds remain on layoff lists. While an improvement over last year, Cleveland came in 12th on the U.S. Census Bureau's rating of the most impoverished big cities.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/112669049283820.xml&coll=2

 

From the 9/18/05 PD:

 

 

Cleveland mayor hopefuls vary on hot-button issues

Most give thumbs down to red-light cameras and want to use Burke airport for development

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Olivera Perkins and Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

Most of the candidates trying to unseat Mayor Jane Campbell aren't willing to give a green light to red-light cameras. They would permanently ground flights at Burke Lakefront Airport and use the valuable land for development. And they are split when it comes to raising taxes for a new convention center.

 

Those issues are among the ones Cleveland's mayoral hopefuls face as they scatter to candidate forums, speeches and grip-and-grin events.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1127044967117590.xml&coll=2

 

From the 9/22/05 PD:

 

 

Mayoral hopefuls seek backers

Support of powerful ministers, politicians seen as key in race

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Olivera Perkins

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Eleven ministers will host a lunch today to proselytize to 100 of their brethren in support of Cleveland mayoral candidate Frank Jackson. Strong ministerial support is crucial to winning the mayor's race, which is why candidates like Jackson and incumbent Jane Campbell so aggressively campaign for it. With it comes the power of ministers to influence their flocks as well as resources like church vans to get people to the polls, says David Elkins, a political science professor at Cleveland State University.

 

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4868

 

http://www.cleveland.com/mayor/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1127381476308750.xml&coll=2

 

No surprises here:

 

Campbell vs. Jackson race likely, polls show

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Mark Naymik

Plain Dealer Politics Writer

 

Cleveland's top two politicians - former allies Mayor Jane Campbell and City Council President Frank Jackson - are likely to emerge from a crowded mayoral field to fight each other in the November run-off, a new poll for The Plain Dealer shows. Though Campbell leads the eight candidates heading into the Oct. 4 primary election, Jackson tops Campbell in a head-to-head matchup, 43 percent to 38 percent, the poll shows.

 

[the article goes on for a couple more pages online at http://www.cleveland.com/mayor/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/ismay/112764572569740.xml&coll=2]

 

 

Although it would be a cold day in Hell before he get's my vote, but Mr. Brown is correct. I am a former City of Cleveland employee and in 2000 the budget was 1.3 billion dollars.

Also from the 9/25/05 PD:

 

 

Cleveland's next mayor will seek to create jobs

Mayoral hopefuls of a mind on economic development need

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Stick with manufacturing.

 

Build on the success of the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.

 

Attract alternative-energy, environmental and tech businesses.

 

These are the ways Cleveland can create jobs and boost economic development, candidates running for Cleveland mayor say.

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-5010

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1127640875199560.xml&coll=2

From the 9/28/05 PD:

 

 

Candidates for Cleveland mayor debate issue of jobs for residents

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Mayor Jane Campbell wants Clevelanders to look at her record and see progress.

 

City Council President Frank Jackson wants Clevelanders to look at him and see themselves.

 

Campbell and Jackson, the two front-runners for Cleveland mayor, delivered these messages as they faced off with six other candidates Tuesday in a City Club debate at the downtown Marriott.

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-5010

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1127899909163700.xml&coll=2

 

From the 9/30/05 PD:

 

 

Building alliances in race for mayor

Developers generous to front-runners

Friday, September 30, 2005

Mark Naymik and Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

Critics paint Cleveland City Council President Frank Jackson as anti-development, but that hasn't scared off developers and construction executives, who have given thousands of dollars to his mayoral campaign. Incumbent Jane Campbell, who claims credit for downtown's construction boom but has lost favor among some developers, also received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from building and real estate executives.

 

In a city that has seen little development in recent years, developers, architects and construction companies have made the biggest investments in the campaigns of people who hope to mold Cleveland's future.

 

 

To reach these Plain Dealer reporters:

[email protected], 216-999-4849

[email protected], 216-999-5010

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1128073194185000.xml&coll=2

 

From the 10/2/05 PD:

 

 

Cleveland's candidates hunt for votes

Mayoral hopefuls scour city as primary nears

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Mark Naymik, Olivera Perkins and Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

Energized by bright skies and pancakes, Cleveland's top candidates for mayor and their volunteers scrambled across the city Saturday, hopping onto front porches, grabbing hands in supermarket parking lots and back-slapping at neighborhood bars and festivals.

 

At a time when creating a high-tech economy and building suburban partnerships share the mayoral agenda with neighborhood issues, the entire region could be affected by Cleveland's next leader.

 

To reach these Plain Dealer reporters:

[email protected], 216-999-4849

[email protected], 216-999-4868

[email protected], 216-999-5010

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/112826724753380.xml&coll=2

 

"He best understands the city because he has family members in prison, who are homeless or have suffered from drug addiction."

 

Sooo, it's the city's responsibility to keep family members out of prison and off drugs? (The homeless issue - well, I would like to see more services available for them but who wouldn't want that?) Again - if there's one thing that Campbell has done - she's made City Hall approachable and functional again. Jackson just seems like a return to Mike White provincialism and that doesn't bode well.

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From another thread:

 

Quote #1: The Campbell administration has been much improved since Ronayne's promotion.  Enough in fact, for her to receive a second term...

 

Quote #2: I agree!  And I've heard the same expressed from a number of Cleveland voters in my little circle...  I think they will achieve LOTS in a second term (first full term) together.  Losing this tandem now would set us back a number of years... I fear that many projects and much progress in general would grind to a halt with a new administration that stands in stark contrast to the present one.

Sooo, it's the city's responsibility to keep family members out of prison and off drugs?

 

Yeah, I also resent the implication in that quote that the city is home only to people on drugs and in prison (or that even a majority are on drugs or in prison). That's simply not true.

Well, we may have to face the fact that our leader will be Jackson for the next four years.  Still, a lot can happen in the next month.  The PD's editorial on Campbell wasn't very flattering today.

 

So, my first impression is that Jackson would not be a very good candidate. From his rhetoric, it feels as if he would focus on his ward and forget downtown.  He boasts about understanding the drug dealers etc.  That may win him some votes, but I don't think that will turn him into a good city leader.  But, what do we need to focus on in order to make this a better city?  My instinct is to say that we need improve downtown. That is where 70% of our income comes from.  But, does the downtown go down if the poor areas of the city continue to decline?  My thoughts are not very well organized at the moment.  When Peter Lawson Jones threw his support behind Jackson, it made wonder if there is something to Jackson that I am not seeing.  Or, is it just a political payback oh which Campbell is the victim? 

I'm still figuring out how I feel about Jackson too. I'm certainly not impressed by his public speaking skills or his ideas. He also doesn't come across as the kind of creative and dynamic leader this city needs right now. However, would he be any worse than Campbell? I don't know. At this point I support Campbell mostly for the people she has working behind her -- particularly Ronayne. Unfortunately, he's not going to be mayor.

Here are the bios of Jackson and Campbell from end of Aug PD:

 

Age: 58

 

Family: Wife, Edwina; daughter, AGE, and a granddaughter, grandson, two great-grandsons and a niece who all live with him

 

Education: Max Hayes High School; bachelor's in urban studies and history, Cleveland State University; law degree, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

 

Residence: Central neighborhood, 45 years

 

Profession: Cleveland City Council president since 2001

 

Previous elected office: City councilman since 1989

 

Top advisers: Varies depending on the situation and expertise needed. Two mainstays include campaign manager Arnold Pinkney and Robert Smith, former chairman of the Council of Smaller Enterprises.

 

Three leaders you admire: Retired U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Mother Teresa

 

First thing I'd do as mayor: Set up an advisory committee, including community people and business leaders, to review agenda.

 

Biggest misconception about me: "That I don't understand corporations and business. The reality is that I do."

 

Critics say...: He appears anti-business. Also, has representing Ward 5, one of the city's poorest, for years prepared him for Cleveland's top job?

 

Response to critics: Much of his time on council has focused on citywide issues, not only as council president but as chair of the Community Development/Economic Development Committee and chairman of the powerful Finance Committee.

 

Potential advantage: He knows how City Hall works. "I know the city, city government and its operations."

 

The candidates on Crime and Safety

 

What would you do to reduce police shootings/use of deadly force by officers in the city?

 

- Provide better training.

- Establish a clearly defined mission for the police department

- a mission that is known and followed by every police officer. The mission would be clear on when use of deadly force is permitted.

- Have a strong safety director who will protect the police chief from the politics of City Hall and allow the chief to be the general of the police department.

 

How will you reduce street-level drug dealing in the city?

 

- Because street-level crime is directly related to quality-of-life issues, attack obvious signs of decline and neglect, including graffiti, loitering, abandoned homes, abandoned vehicles and broken street lights.

- Create or better use specialized units trained to target persistent problems such as drug houses

Age: 52

 

Family: Husband, Hunter Morrison; two daughters, 15 and 18

 

Education: Shaker Heights High School; bachelor's in history, University of Michigan; master's in urban studies, Cleveland State University

 

Residence: Shaker Square area, 31 years

 

Occupation: Mayor

 

Previous elected office: Cuyahoga County commissioner (1996-2001); state representative (1985-1996)

Top advisers: Her mother, the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell; the Rev. Otis Moss, Olivet Baptist Church; and Cathy Horton Panzica, co-founder of Panzica Investments.

 

Three leaders I most admire: Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Jesus Christ

 

First thing I'd do as mayor: Establish a Cabinet.

 

Biggest misconception about me: "That we haven't done anything" in four years in office. She says she has cleaned up the city's finances and spurred economic development.

 

Critcis say...: She is not a strong leader and often appears indecisive.

 

Response to critics: "I don't think the evidence bears that out at all. .¤.¤. Decisive is making a decision based on the information you have. It's not being immune to new facts."

 

Potential advantage in the race: As the incumbent, she's had the job for four years. She's also a very good campaigner, adept at working a crowd.

 

Website: www.campbellforcleveland.com

 

The candidates on Crime and Safety

 

Compiled by Plain Dealer reporters Olivera Perkins and Susan Vinella

 

What would you do to reduce police shootings/use of deadly force by officers in the city?

- City worked with the U.S. Justice Department to create a use of deadly force protocol, finishing it in March.

- Officers have been retrained on the new protocol.

- Stun guns are being introduced into the force as a weapons alternative.

 

How will you reduce street-level drug dealing in the city?

 

- The city has a combined narcotics and gang unit headed by a former district commander.

- Community policing units have been moved into the citys district stations to better address neighborhood crime such as drug sales.

- The city recently rehired 30 officers from the 250 laid off in 2003, assigning 24 to focus on quality-of-life issues in neighborhoods.

Damn Jackson is 58 and already a great grandfather? :wtf:

He's also had the clap.  That should get him elected to congress.

Jackson is terrible. 

 

Hello?  Cleveland is still a major city and should expect to attrack candidates that can and will move the city forward.  His comments about living in the city his whole life, having his whole family still live with him, having other family members on drugs, in jail, 'take your pick' law breakers...leaves a lot to be desired.  I know that Central is a model for all Cleveland neighborhoods...

 

I'm not a huge Jane fan, but at least she has surrounded herself with some people who seem capable of continuing the positive progress.  Can you see Jackson meeting with some trade commission to bring jobs from China or Europe?  To take the city to the next level?  No way.

I have to agree with urbanlife and mayday.

 

Frank is not looking at the  entire picture...just pieces.

 

if he's elected...it will stall ANY progress the city has made.

 

If Jackson is eleceted, (i fear) the media will say he'll appease the african american/latin community, yet it won't keep the majority happy very long.

 

In order to keep the city on the right road to recovery, we've got to reelect jane, but be vocal about what we want.

These stories are long since over, but I thought I'd make the links available anyway:

 

1) PD: Jackson's surprise (10/5/05)

A wrap-up of Tuesday's primary.

 

2) PD: New strategies needed in topsy-turvy mayoral race (10/6/05)

Discussion of Campbell, the incumbent, suddenly finding herself the underdog.  This article is an analysis of what each candidate must do to win.

 

3) PD: Without Browns, base hits or freebies, primary went bust (10/6/05)

Only 16 percent of registered voters bothered to show up.

 

Good point, MayDay.  I'm also anxiously awaiting Triozzi's opinions.  There's lots of speculation...strictly conversation in my circle...about Triozzi fitting well into Campbell's cabinet.  But why not Jackson's as well?  He may not want to pick sides for this very reason.

also, which labor unions are for which candidate?  I'm hearing a little bit of both...

All I know for sure is SEIU is for Jackson.

I saw Mayor Campbell at Slyman's yesterday.  She was eating lunch with her people.  She looked way to fabulous for the room.

I saw Mayor Campbell at Slyman's yesterday.  She was eating lunch with her people.  She looked way to fabulous for the room.

 

Maybe she got "queer-eyed" for the cornbeef guy.

In this story from the 10/12/05 edition of City News Ohio, the writer argues for staying the course and keeping Campbell:

 

 

Cleveland poised to make greater strides by staying the course

by Kirby Freeman

City News Ohio

Originally posted 10/12/2005

 

Cleveland is making steady progress in its economic development efforts, as the number of projects increases, and now is not the time to derail that momentum, says Mayor Jane Campbell.

 

“It takes a long time to change the perception, and a long time to change the reality,” Campbell asserts, in response to criticism that City Hall has not worked hard enough to encourage economic development under her watch. She says that recently announced projects, as well as those that started over the last several months, took time to work through the pipeline.

 

 

http://www.citynewsohio.com/News/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=62469&sID=4

 

From the 10/13/05 PD:

 

 

Mayoral debate

Thursday, October 13, 2005

 

Mayor Jane Campbell and her opponent, City Council President Frank Jackson, will face off in three televised debates before the Nov. 8 election.

 

Gerald Austin, Campbell's campaign strategist, said the mayor would like to participate in a fourth on Nov. 6, but Jackson spokeswoman Mary Anne Sharkey said that's too close to Election Day and would cut into her candidate's campaigning.

 

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-5010

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1129368653179170.xml&coll=2

 

It said in the paper today that Triozzi endorsed Jackson, and that the Firemens' union went with Campbell.  Although the head of the union did not sound all that enthusiastic, stating that most of the firemen probably made their minds up on Campbell one way or another some time ago.

From the 10/23/05 PD:

 

 

Jackson's lifelong code drives run for City Hall

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Olivera Perkins and Mark Naymik

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

Frank Jackson remains an enigma for Cleveland despite 15 years in public life.

 

That sets him apart from the woman he aims to unseat in the Cleveland mayor's race Nov. 8. Everyone knows Jane Campbell. She seems to have been everywhere these last four years.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1130060351313170.xml&coll=2

 

Campbell has the endorsement of Crain's Cleveland Business, for what that's worth...

 

From today's online edition, the closing statement wraps it up pretty well:

 

"We believe Mr. Jackson, like Mayor Campbell, is an earnest public servant who wants what’s best for the people of the city of Cleveland. However, we don’t find in Mr. Jackson’s economic development platform much that is substantially different or better than programs and initiatives that already are in place or in progress under the current administration.

 

Rather than switch captains of the ship simply for the sake of change, we would prefer to stay with a pilot who can build upon four years of experience at the helm. It is why we endorse Jane Campbell for mayor."

 

If you haven't already, everyone should try to get in on the Wednesday debate at CSU.  From what i understand, it is the only one of the three debates that will be free.  Still, RSVPs are required, as space will be limited!  Call (216)781-8375 or email [email protected] to do so.

From that article I gather that:

 

1. Jackson is prone to a knee-jerk reaction when it comes to ANY development which might not directly employ a sizable amount of poor residents. And yet he says that he ISN'T anti-business? If residents don't have the appropriate skills for the jobs, maybe the onus is on THEM to attain those skills?

 

2. He's prone to holding grudges and holds people in contempt because of perceived wrongs. Mike White, anyone?

 

3. "“There is one thing I learned from street life... there was a code. It is the code I live by now. Today it’s how I deal with the mayor and council.” How lovely - should we have a weekly rumble in the City Hall rotunda instead of voting? Maybe we can get the council members to wear their respective 'colors' at meetings? Hi Frank - once again, not every resident of Cleveland is poor or on the streets. 

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Yeah, I was hoping this article would be make me feel better about him, but it didn't. At some point, this city is going to have to stop thinking of itself as simply a haven for the poor. It's noble to be that, but we need to be other things too.

Thank you! I'm not saying that we shouldn't devote our resources towards the less fortunate but sometimes the less fortunate need to have some motivation of their own. I grew up in borderline poverty in Appalachia - all it took for me to be motivated was realizing that poverty sucks. Period.

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I agree with what you guys are saying, based on the article.  But here is a question: how much weight do we give an article in a paper that has already endorsed the opposing politician?  It strikes me as odd to do a profile of a politician at that point.  They've lost the appearance of objectivity.

^ Every newspaper's editorial page will wind up endorsing one candidate or another. 

From my experience, what the management of a newspaper feels about a particular candidate doesn't translate into what a reporter writes. I've yet to see this at Sun Newspapers. Besides, all reporters have their own biases, who they like or don't like, and not because of what management says, but because of their own backgrounds. It is up to the reporter to put those biases in his/her back pocket and leave it out of their questions and writing. Some can do it, some can't. Those who can't don't last long in the news biz.

 

For me, I find so many things fascinating and I enjoy learning, it helps me override my biases and treat people equally. Even politicians -- I equally hate them all!  :-D

 

KJP

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

One good thing about having so many vacant houses and land is that we have space to be a truly diverse city economically. We aren't going to be pushing anyone out by courting higher-income people, because there is a surplus of low-cost housing in the city -- and will be for the foreseeable future.

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