Tuesday’s election was the last hurrah for two veteran Cleveland politicians. It was also the launching pad for two more. Cleveland voters said adios to former mayor and congressman, Dennis Kucinich, and former Ward 4 Councilman Kenneth L. Johnson. They also created a pathway for either Justin Bibb or Kevin Kelley to be Cleveland’s next mayor. Shamefully, only 38, 360 of the 247,742 eligible voters went to the polls.
Of the votes cast, Kucinich was only able to garner 6481 votes or 16.5%, coming in a rather distant third in a field of seven. Kucinich apparently thought that his name recognition and aging constituency could carry him. He attempted to add to that by wooing black voters with vintage photos of himself and the late Mayor Carl B. Stokes and a 43-year-old picture of himself at a Martin Luther King observance. Sadly, the now 74-year-old Dennis looked like he was dressed for his first communion in both cases and the strategy went over like a lead balloon.
The Plain Dealer editorial board’s comment of “vote for anyone but Dennis” and the string of attack ads published by the Beachwood based Citizens for Change Political Action Committee also put nails in Kucinich’s political coffin.
The other Cleveland politician who made his last hurrah on Tuesday was former Cleveland Councilman Kenneth L. Johnson. First elected in 1979, Johnson has served Cleveland’s Ward 4 since that time. But as previously stated in this column, Johnson’s record of corruption and nepotism has plagued him for the last decade.
Tuesday, Ward 4 voters gave him his final walking papers. For all the lawn-cutting and gift card-giving he has done over the years, he was only able to garner 190 votes — just less than 8% of the vote. He came in 5th in a field of 11 candidates. His defeat saved the board of elections from having to figure out whether a convicted felon could stay on the ballot.
Back in January, Johnson was indicted on a 15-count federal indictment on various charges of fraud and tax evasion. But he soldiered on, circulating petitions and getting his name on the ballot for Tuesday’s primary. By mid-summer he was removed from office by an order of the Ohio Supreme Court, although he continues to receive his $87,000 a year salary. City Council voted to remove his name from the Woodland Avenue recreation center that bore his name. But his death knell came on July 30, when he was convicted on all 15 counts of a federal indictment.
Johnson’s final public appearance will be in an Akron federal courthouse on October 8 when he is sentenced. Looking at a maximum sentence that could send the 75-year-old Johnson to a federal penitentiary for up to 10 years, the only thing that is likely to beat him to jail is the headlights on the bus that takes him there. Hopefully, the City of Cleveland will then finally remove him from the city payroll since he will be a convicted felon and disqualified from serving and receiving a salary.
Both Kucinich and Johnson failed to realize that political careers have a shelf life. Your political base does not live on in perpetuity. People die, move or change political alliances.
As Cleveland closes a chapter on two stalwarts, the election elevated two new faces, one of whom will replace retiring Mayor Frank G. Jackson. Voters will have to chose between the up-and-comer Justin Bibb, who has never served in an elected office, or the long-time councilman and council president Kevin Kelley.
Bibb got just under 11,000 votes or 27% of the vote. Will black voters who supported other black candidates like Zack Reed, Basheer Jones and Sandra Williams shift their support to Bibb? Will they follow the endorsement of former mayor Mike White to elect him in November?
Kelley, who received just over 7500 votes or 19% of the vote, has already received the endorsement of several black councilmen like Kevin Conwell and Blaine Griffin, and outgoing Mayor Frank Jackson. He could also pick up Kucinich voters. But the question is, will that be enough to convince black voters to support for a white mayor?
The elections clearly reflects the changing demographics of the city. The influx of mostly white downtown and near westside voters who are strong Bibb supporters can be seen in the election results. If you add that to the decline in population in some of the east side wards along with voter apathy in the black community, electing a black mayor for Cleveland is no longer a sure thing.
Voters will decide in six weeks. During that period, I’m sure a lot of mud will be thrown on both sides. It will be up to the voters to make an intelligent decision, especially the 296,000 voters that stayed home, to decide who moves into 601 Lakeside to guide Cleveland for the next four years. Will the new mayor be a newcomer who is running on a promise of change or a person whose strong suit is experience? It will be up to the voters.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she serves on the Board of the Ohio History Connection, is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission and president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
One Response to “ COMMENTARY: Last Hurrah for Kucinich and Johnson by C. Ellen Connally”
Cathy D Rice
For 16 years we have had the same Mayor. Kevin Kelley does have strong ties to City Hall and as Council President is very informed how things work and move, but if Justin Bibb surrounds himself with strong political people, along with his hunger for change in Cleveland, he will be successful. Young brilliant minds are emerging all around us, Justin will not go in City Hall blind to how things operate he wil be advised by some of the best in politics. Hope the best for whoever has the opportunity to lead our city in the best direction for the people of Cleveland!!