Political Trail: Barbara Boyd, Eugene Miller

Rep. Boyd to address area Democratic Clubs on Nov. 14

Cuyahoga County’s General Assembly delegation works in relative anonymity, even when they are securing passage of significant legislation, such as last year’s Senate Bill 337, sponsored by Sen. Shirley Smith, D-24 that extensively reformed the collateral sanctions that hindered the efforts of hundreds of thousands of Ohioans seeking to successfully reenter society and their communities after misdemeanor and felony convictions.

The relative obscurity in which most state legislators toil is not only because they work primarily downstate in Columbus. It also results from their relative lack of weight most of them have as a marginalized minority. Ten of the county’s 15 senators and representatives are Democrats, which means they have little heft in either chamber, where the GOP holds overwhelming majorities.

State Rep. Barbara Boyd
of Cleveland Heights

So when State Rep. Barbara Boyd did not attend a single session in a whole legislative year — from May 2012 through June 2013 — it escaped mainstream media notice for that entire period. Of course, when her prolonged absence, due to back surgery after a severe fall — did gain the Plain Dealer’s attention, they made it front page news and then followed up their report the following week with an editorial call for her resignation.

We are pleased to be perhaps the first to report that Boyd has returned to Columbus this fall and attended every full session, though we were dismayed to learn there have been only three to date [Oct. 2, Oct. 16, and Oct. 30].

Rep. Boyd will make her first area public appearance this year when she speaks to her hometown Cleveland Heights Democrats Club on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 7:00 p.m. The meeting, co-hosted by the Shaker Heights and University Heights Democratic clubs, will be held at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, 1 Monticello Boulevard.

Boyd is expected to discuss the state of politics in Ohio and her priorities for the current legislative session, which will be the final one of her long public career.  Time will be provided for questions and light refreshments will be served following the program. The public is invited.

Polensek sounds off on council colleague Miller

Don’t ask Cleveland city councilman Mike Polensek what he thinks unless you really want to know.

When asked for his reaction to reports that his council colleague Eugene Miller had accused him of illegally using taxpayer funds to endorse Miller’s opponent in next week’s council race, the combative colleague told a Plain

Dealer reporter, “This is all typical Eugene. It’s no wonder he’s in the jackpot

City Councilman Eugene
Miller at an August 2013
 Board of Elections meeting

that he is in, with another incumbent running against him. He doesn’t get along with anybody, he goes out of his way to antagonize people, and he’s a royal pain.” [Source]

We suspect that’s a sentiment shared by a majority of those who will be voting in next week’s election for city council in the new Ward 10. Miller made news not long ago when his intemperate rants to a 911 operator including disparaging remarks about his constituents.

Miller is known to be a tireless campaigner but veteran councilman Jeff Johnson is expected to defeat Miller in the race. The two incumbents were forced into the same race by a reduction in the size of council from 19 to 17 as a result of a City of Cleveland charter provision that ties the size of council to the city’s population.

In tomorrow’s Real Deal: select endorsements in area races