For the first time in almost 42 years, there will be no incumbent in the race for Cleveland’s Ward 4 city council seat. Voters in the Shaker Square and Buckeye neighborhoods made it clear that it was time for a change when former and now-incarcerated Councilman Kenneth Johnson received only 190 votes in the September primary. The two top voter getters, Erick Walker and Deborah A. Gray, will vie for the seat in the November 2 general election.
In the primary election I endorsed Walker. I repeat that endorsement today. As a 45-year resident of the ward, I believe that Walker, a lifelong resident of the ward, has the skills, educational background and knowledge to be an effective councilperson.
Walker, who lives in the house where he grew up in the East 140th and Kinsman area of the ward, attended Cleveland Public Schools and graduated from Lutheran East High School. He attended the University of Akron where he earned a degree in library science. For the last 26 years he has been employed by the Cleveland Public Library. To help finance his education, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 11 years.
In his work as a librarian and archivist for the Cleveland Public Library, he has worked in several parts of the city, exposing him to our city’s diversity and neighborhoods. His experience with records and information technology will serve him well on city council.
He has been actively involved in his neighborhood and Ward 4 since the early 2000s when he saw a problem on his block and sought to correct it. He is an active member of Reclaiming Ward 4, attended the Cleveland Neighborhood Leadership Institute, and is also on the Executive Committee of the SEIU labor union.
He has been endorsed by SEIU, The North Shore Federation of Labor — AFL-CIO and the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus. Walker has a catchy slogan on his webpage: We don’t need a talker – We need Walker.
Ward 4 has some unique problems. One major challenge will be plans for renovations of Shaker Square. There are also big problems with the Ward’s aging housing stock, foreclosures and the need to renovate existing housing. The ward will also need a great deal of restructuring of its ward politics after decades of the former councilperson.
Walker will bring a breath of fresh air, with plans to make better use of the city recreation center located on Woodland, improvement of police response time, and an open and collaborative network of precinct committee people, street clubs and neighborhood groups to keep voters informed and hear their complaints. Though his military experience he has demonstrated the ability to work with others, which will be vital in working with his fellow members of city council.
Deborah A. Gray is the other candidate in this race. She looks to join her sister, Councilwoman Delores L. Gray, who was appointed to Cleveland City Council in May to represent Ward 5, upon the resignation of Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland. While Gray has the skills to adequately serve Ward 4, I believe that Walker’s training and experiences make him the better candidate.
Be sure and vote on November 2. And if you live in Ward 4, cast your vote for Erick Walker.
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.