Friday, December 02, 2011

Fudge to declare on Monday; others weigh challenges; Ruth D. Clement passes


Congresswoman Marcia Fudge will formally announce this Monday her intent to run for re-election as representative of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District of Ohio. Fudge originally won election to the seat in a special election in 2008 following the sudden death of Stephanie Tubbs Jones. She won election to a full term that November and was re-elected two years later.

The current filing deadline for Congress in Ohio is next Wednesday, December 7. Six people have taken out petitions to run in the Democratic primary that is now set for June. Others besides Fudge who pulled petitions but have yet to file: Angela Davis, Gerald Carver Henley Sr., Anthony Perry, and Isaac Powell.

State Senator Nina Turner of Cleveland, expected to be Fudge’s toughest opponent, filed to run on Monday. Some expected the new district, which extends south to include much of Akron's black community, to attract state representative Vernon Sykes, but that appears to have been a non-starter.

Fudge’s news conference is scheduled for Monday at 10 am at Phil the Fire Restaurant, 3750 Orange Place, Beachwood.


State and County Offices

Wednesday is also the filing deadline for all state and county races, including the state representative, judge, county council [Districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10], and county prosecutor, where five candidates have pulled petitions to succeed incumbent Bill Mason, who chose not to seek reelection.

Congressional remapping

Primary election day for all state and county races is March 7, 2011. If the Ohio General Assembly can agree on a redistricting plan in time — the Dayton Daily News reported yesterday that House Democratic leader Armond Budish of Beachwood claims a deal while the Republicans say no deal has been struck — then the June federal primary may yet be moved to March 7.


SAD NOTE

Ruth D. Clement died yesterday. She was widow of Dr. Kenneth W. Clement, a key adviser to former Cleveland mayor Carl B. Stokes.

We did not see her often but she was unfailingly one of the most gracious ladies we have ever known. 

Survivors include her three children, Michael, Lia, and Leslie.

Funeral will be Saturday, December 3 at 11AM at First Baptist Church, 3630 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights.  The family will receive friends this evening from 6-8 PM at E.F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home, 2165 East 89 St, following a Delta service.



4 comments:

John Ettorre said...

When will your hat enter the ring?

Richard said...

I am sure you know better.

dickpeery said...

When people run against an incumbent member of Congress, it is important to ask why. What in the officials' record do the opponents disagree with? What policies would they shape differently?
In her four years in Congress, Marcia Fudge has consistently supported the positions of progressive advocacy groups. She is the only member from Ohio to receive a 100% rating from the NAACP. Her voting record earned similar approval from the AFL-CIO and other forward thinking organizations. She has been an undeviating supporter of legislation to improve education, health care, housing and employment as well as other measures to support families and the most needy citizens. She has emerged as Congress' national leader in the fight against the outbreak of voter suppression laws across the country.
Candidates who want to replace her should be asked where they differ on these issues. This is especially important in view of Fudge's four years in Congress, where the power to serve effectively increases with seniority. Former Congressman Louis Stokes was able to potently champion social services and community development only because of the strength that he acquired through long service in Congress. If we are urged to return the district to the bottom of the seniority ladder, we should be given clear explanations why it is necessary.

John Ettorre said...

All great points, Mr. Peery. I'd have to agree with all of that.