Political Notes on the Weekend before Election Day 2015, Part I

There are local and state matters on this year's ballot, but since all politics is local, let’s start closest to home:

CLEVELAND

In a move that smacks of desperation as well as contempt for the intelligence of black voters, the campaign of a sitting judge is distributing fliers that wrongfully imply an endorsement he does not have.

James Hewitt III was appointed to the Cleveland Municipal Court by Gov. Kasich early this year. To retain the seat he must win next week’s election.

Judge James H. Hewitt III

Hewitt is a Republican, which doesn’t bother us but apparently bothers him because he obviously thinks Cleveland’s overwhelmingly Democratic electorate will disdain him in favor of one of his three opponents.

In a pretty blatant effort to deceive voters, his campaign is distributing handbills that show Hewitt standing alongside popular Democratic Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. Problem is she has endorsed Suzan Marie Sweeney, one of his three opponents and the one rated most highly by the highly regarded www.judge4yourself.com, which provides composite ratings from four area bar associations.

The flier also shows Hewitt with Cleveland's Democratic mayor, Frank Jackson, who has not endorsed anyone in the race but typically supports the party's endorsed candidate, which happens to be Sweeney. A close political ally of the mayor's told us the mayor is too busy to be concerned with this kind of politics, but that "somebody ought to look into the ethics and the law" of appropriating another's image without permission.

Flier produced and distributed by the Hewitt campaign showing top local Democrats pictured
with Judge Hewitt. The picture at right was taken at this year's 11th District Labor Day Parade.

Hewitt’s campaign manager told us “we’re just running a race” and declined further comment.

While some may see Hewitt’s campaign tactic as a small matter, or chalk it up to “politics”, a judge is expected to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

MAPLE HEIGHTS

Check out the November issue of The Real Deal Press here to see why we think voters should choose Annette Blackwell to lead the city’s efforts to pull out of its decades-long tailspin.

[While there, take a look at our discussion on endorsements in general, particularly our observation on what can happen when a narrow closed process leads a once-respected organization like the Black Women’s Political Action Committee to unprincipled choices. We'll have more to say about this in Part II.]

Blackwell, Brownlee to face off Nov. 3 for Maple Heights mayor

It's official: 

Brownlee holds off Mitchell, claims second place in Sept. primary

The County Board of Elections confirmed today that District 5 Councilman Bill Brownlee held off former councilwoman Neomia Mitchell by two votes to win a place on the ballot in the November 3 election opposite Annette Blackwell.

Bill Brownlee

Annette Blackwell

The September 8 mayoral primary results between the 2^nd and 3^rd place finishers triggered an automatic recount, which was completed today by the elections board.  The recount confirmed that Brownlee defeated Mitchell 380-378. All 16 precincts in Maple Heights were rescanned, and 2 precincts were hand counted as part of the automatic recount process. 

“The recount results confirmed our post-election certification with 100% accuracy,” said chief elections official Pat McDonald in a statement released today.

BREAKING NEWS: Recount set to determine 2d place finisher in Maple Hts. Mayoral primary

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections announced an automatic recount to determine who will appear on the November ballot opposite Annette Blackwell to determine who will be the next mayor of Maple Heeights.
District 5 councilman Bill Brownlee held a five vote lead over former District 7 councilwoman Neomia Mitchell in the unofficial count following the September 8 primary. After resolution of issues involving absentee, provisional and contested ballots, Brownlee's margin over Mitchell shrank to two votes, 380 to 378.
The recount, required by law, will take place September 30 at county expense.
Blackwell's official total in the five-way primary now stands at 532.  Fourth place finisher Donald M Grossmyer had 361 votes.  Frank Rives came in fifth with 156 votes.
The elections board announcement was made at its 2pm meeting today.
Early voting for the November 4 general election will begin October 6.

Maple Heights Mayor Jeff Lansky not running for re-election

The mercurial mayor of Maple Heights, Jeff Lansky, did not file for re-election by yesterday’s deadline, meaning his administration will come to an end when his term expires at the end of the year.

Five mayoral candidates did meet yesterday’s deadline: commercial property tax analyst Annette M. Blackwell, Ward 5 Councilman Bill Brownlee, Maple Hts. Police Sgt. Donald M. Grossmyer, former city councilwoman Neomia Mitchell and retired military serviceman Frank Rives.

Voters will decide at a September 8 primary election which two of the five will advance to the general election on November 3.

The city has seen a great deal of stress in recent years. The mortgage meltdown of 2008, which took few prisoners, struck many Maple residents with special vehemence, resulting in a glut of vacant and abandoned homes, and a severe drop-off in property tax revenues. The city’s business climate has likewise not been robust.

In public statements, Lansky has blamed GOP-inspired cuts by state government to the Local Government Fund that supports many municipalities for the city’s being placed in fiscal emergency earlier this year by declaration of State Auditor David Yost. The city’s finances are now under state watch and supervision and Lansky’s administration has shown little energy for developing a financial recovery plan for the city as required by state law.