CLEVELAND VOTER: “GIMEE A MILLION BUCKS & I’LL VOTE FOR U”

 

 

In case you missed it, 2021 is election season in Cleveland, Ohio!

 

Current Mayor, Frank G. Jackson – a very popular (?) mayor – who was elected four times in succession in the past 16-years -- finally called it quits -- don't know why -- but you guessed it – his honor finally wants to spend quality time with his family.

 

So does every Clevelander want his job?

 

Not quite – but at least the following seven courageous Clevelanders do!

 

The following candidates (in alphabetical order) are running in the primary for the position of Mayor of Cleveland:

 

Justin Bibb (former Keybank Executive),

Ross DiBello (Attorney from West Park),

Basheer Jones (Ward 7 City Councilman),

Kevin Kelley (City Council President),

Dennis Kucinich (former Mayor & Congressman),

Zach Reed (former Ward 2 City Councilman), and

Sandra Williams (State Senator & only woman in the race).

 

The attached photograph shows the seven candidates (in a random order) at a discussion forum held in Jefferson Park on July 8, 2021.

 

The primary is on September 14th with early voting starting on August 17th. The top two performers will then compete in the general election scheduled for November 2nd with early voting starting on October 5th. The winner will be sworn in as the 58th Mayor of Cleveland on January 3rd, 2022.

 

The candidates are making all kinds of promises to the voters – reduce crime, reduce poverty, reduce east side-west side divide, provide better paying jobs, bring back recycling, fill up potholes, reduce utility rates, improve city services, and others.

 

One would think – the list of promises was enough to get your vote.

 

Not for a West Park resident – a prospective voter.

 

I was walking by his house on a pleasant 70 deg. F late July evening during the course of my campaigning for one of the seven candidates. I have been a community activist for nearly a decade and have campaigned for and against a number of issues. This year I am supporting one of the candidates for mayor. However, I will keep my preference out of the discussion – as it is not relevant and this site is not for promoting any one candidate.

I was carrying a campaign sign in support of my candidate.

 

The resident saw me. I saw that there was a campaign sign for another candidate in his front lawn.

 

Without my saying a word – the resident remarked: You know, I don’t plan to vote for anyone.

 

Now that was not a surprise.

 

In the 2017 mayoral primary – only 13% -- nearly 1 in 8 registered voters voted.

 

And in the general election – only 24% -- nearly 2 in 8 registered voters voted.

 

I love talking to our enlightened voters!

 

I find our voters have a lot to say – and are definitely more interesting than the candidates.

 

So I asked why not?

 

He replied – oh, they are not going to do anything for me – so why bother!

 

Not a surprising explanation from the nearly 7 in 8 registered voters who did not vote in the 2017 mayoral primary or 6 in 8 who did not vote in the general election that year.

 

But then he was very quick to add – and this did come as a surprise:

 

Oh! I will definitely vote if one of them (meaning the candidates) gave him a million bucks!

 

I said – have a nice day – and moved on with my business.

 

Candidates: Are you listening?

 

In the 2017 general election – nearly 60,000 Clevelanders voted. To win – assuming the same number vote this time -- one would need 30,001 votes and $30,001,000,000 (30 billion and one million dollars) to buy the votes and win the mayoral election.

 

An expensive deal – but sure would give our city with a nearly 31% poverty rate (highest among large U.S. cities) – a good number of millionaires and a winning candidate who would definitely file for bankruptcy on inauguration day,

 

Enjoy the election season!