POLITICS • Walters elected new chair of Ohio Democratic Party

2022 elections for state executive offices will provide daunting early test for party's first woman chair

By Tyler Buchanan

Elizabeth Walters, president of the Summit County Council, was elected the new chair of the Ohio Democratic Party yesterday.

Liz Walters

Walters becomes the first woman to lead the state party. She replaces David Pepper, who stepped down after six years as chairman at the end of 2020.

Andre Washington

Andre Washington, a field representative of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees [OAPSE] and president of the Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute, a black trade union group, was elected vice chair. 

Speaking via Zoom conference, Walters and party leaders spoke of the need for the Ohio Democratic Party to move forward in a different direction. Walters inherits a party seeking a change of fortune at the ballot box following back-to-back 8-point victories in Ohio by President Trump. Republicans also hold all six statewide executive offices, supermajorities in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly and a narrow majority on the Ohio Supreme Court.

“We’re going to be in an exciting time to evolve this party to something new, something that is responsive to the needs of our activists and our voters and our candidates,” Walters said shortly before being elected, “and make it sustainable for the long run so we can elect Democrats statewide from precinct committees all the way up to the federal level.”

A handful of interested candidates to become chair had whittled to two: Walters and Antoinette Wilson, a campaign manager and former assistant secretary of state. On Thursday, Wilson backed out of the race to consolidate support behind Walters.

“Nothing is more important than the strength and unity of this party,” Wilson said.

A number of Democratic leaders spoke optimistically about the party’s fresh start, including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty.

State Rep. Thomas West, D-Canton, incoming president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, said the organization was “really ready to move forward with the party to bring a new direction for the Ohio Democratic Party.”

The first big test for Walters will be the 2022 midterm elections. The party will look to field candidates for the six executive offices (governor/lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor and attorney general) along with a challenger for the U.S. Senate. 

Democrats are also trying to reverse the tide in the Ohio Statehouse. The Republican Party strengthened its supermajorities in both the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate last November. 

Wilson said the party has a goal of “making our red counties a little more pink, our pink counties a little more purple, with the hope of blue on the horizon.”

“In 2022 we have a huge race,” Beatty said, “and this is our time to win.”

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This story is provided by Ohio Capital Journal, a part of States Newsroom, a national 501 (c)(3) nonprofit. Additional editing by R. T. Andrews. See the original story here.

POLITICS • Ohio Dems to pick new leader tonight

Regardless of outcome, state’s elected black officials need to find ways  to increase influence

By R.T. Andrews

The Ohio Democratic Party’s executive committee will meet virtually tonight to select a successor to outgoing chairman David Pepper, who is stepping down after five years on the job. 

Liz Walters

The new chair is expected to be Liz Walters, the party’s former executive director, a Summit County Council member who was recently elected as council president. Walters has the endorsement of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and will also receive support from the major labor unions that contribute heavily to the party’s treasury. 

Antoinette Wilson

Walter’s main challenger is Antoinette Wilson, a Franklin County-based political consultant. Her firm, Triumph Communications, touts  a sterling record of victories in many high profile races, including four successful election campaigns for Columbus mayor Michael Coleman, along with recent wins for Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, who outpaced President-elect Joe Biden on the state ballot.

Despite this record of achievement, Wilson is clearly not a favorite of the party’s bigwigs, although she is endorsed by Janet Carson, who leads the party’s county chair association.  Wilson was a candidate for the post in December 2014 but lost out to Pepper, who was labor’s choice. 

Whatever chance Pepper had for a successful tenure may have been lost when his  sidekick, former state senator Nina Turner, left his leadership team after a few months to join U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’s campaign to win the 2016 Democratic nomination for president. Pepper and Sanders had promised to institute "a culture of high ethics, accountability, transparency, trust and fairness" and to promote diversity and inclusion in their administration.

The measurables for those lofty goals were not high on Pepper’s watch, and the party’s lackluster performance in those areas was not counterbalanced by success at the ballot box, where Republicans continue to batter Democrats statewide, outside of the state supreme court, where Democrats in the last few years have gone from being shut out 7-0 to winning three seats.

And on that score, had Pepper taken seriously the pleas of black elected officials not to clear a path yet again for John O’Donnell — he of Brelo case fame — to make his third run at a Supreme Court seat, the Democrats today might be enjoying majority status on that bench.

Which brings us back to tonight’s choice. At a Facebook forum earlier this week both Walters and Wilson made pledges to consult frequently with black elected officials in state party affairs, swore to promote diversity and inclusion, and in fact to help underwrite the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. They also promised to be respectful of the importance of the black vote.

I don’t know either Walters or Wilson, although I have spoken with the latter about her candidacy. I suspect that whoever wins is likely to be more solicitous of black input than has traditionally been the case at party headquarters. It won’t take much for that to be the case.

But even as most black legislators and the Ohio Young Black Dems fall in line behind Walters, the same problems persist. Black elected officials who want to be respected and consulted must do the work of turning out their districts in elections. They need to spend less time supplicating party officials and more time studying what Pepper’s law school classmate, Stacey Abrams, did in Georgia to get out the vote in Georgia, and figuring out how to adapt those methodologies to Ohio’s undervalued black electorate.

When the turnout in black precincts advances from subterranean to at least sea level, their representatives won’t have to mope around, hat in hand. In that regard, at least in Cuyahoga County, black state legislators may be indirect beneficiaries of the energy jolt that Nina Turner’s Congressional bid and Justin Bibb’s mayoral campaign promise to inject into the local black body politic.

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Cuyahoga County Democratic Party losing executive director

Cuyahoga County Democratic Party executive director Ryan Puente has stepped down after two and a half years on the job. 

Puente, who announced the move simultaneously via Twitter and Facebook, says that he is leaving "to pursue another opportunity".

With a number of high profile races on tap for 2021, including the Cleveland mayoral race and a likely Congressional race, the timing and vagueness of Puente's statement on social media is sure to fan speculation about his next move.

There have been rumblings Puente will soon sign on to run a campaign. More than one person has linked him to political newcomer Justin Bibb, who made a splash recently with the announcement his committee had banked to close $180,000 in less than three months for a likely run for Cleveland mayor. 

It is hard to imagine better preparation to run a mayoral campaign than Puente has acquired over the past few years as the go-to person for virtually every Party activity. He has worked closely with both party officials and rank and file, earning kudos from all corners for his dedication, knowledge, and professionalism. 

In a recent letter to Party members, Chairwoman Shontel Brown wrote, “Ryan has been outstanding in his role as Executive Director, I can’t begin to tell you how many positive comments I have received about Ryan and his commitment to the job. He is so very responsive to everyone, and he juggles so many things at once. He has credibility in the community which says a great deal about our organization.”

Cleveland city councilman Blaine Griffin, commenting on Puente's exit, described him as "one of the most talented people I've run across in the political arena."

Puente's exit comes at an especially critical time for the party. While he has been acclaimed as the high efficiency engine behind many of the organizing and campaign successes local Democrats have enjoyed recently, county and city Democrats have also been roundly criticized for low turnout, especially among Cleveland voters last month. Among those criticized for poor effort have been state party chair David Pepper, who has stepped down, Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson, and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, who was announced earlier this month as President-elect Joe Biden's choice to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Should Fudge be confirmed by the Senate, she would resign from Congress, leaving a vacancy to be filled in a special election around the same time as Cleveland's mayoral campaign will kick off.

Party chair Brown is among the announced candidates for Fudge's 11th District seat if and when it becomes open. Former state senator Nina Turner and former Cleveland councilman Jeff Johnson have also tossed their hats into the ring.

Given that the party's endorsement in the primary will be highly sought, questions of party leadership are sure to receive added scrutiny. Puente told The Real Deal Press that the short term plan will involve the Party's hiring a part time office manager until his replacement is found.

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NATHANIEL A. ANGEL, 67

October 8, 1952 — April 29, 2020

OBITUARY

 

Columbus native loved politics, community service

By R. T. Andrews

Columbus native Nathaniel Angel spent the final years of his life dedicated to uplifting and empowering the Black community. Modest but fierce, the lifelong communicator took seriously his role as his “brother’s keeper” and was always on the lookout for ways to educate his community by word and deed.

Widely appreciated and respected for his sharp wit, rich humor and unapologetic Blackness, Angel sometimes combined those traits in online posts on Facebook on various social media.

As his daughter Angela, put it, evoking the wry humor of her father in tribute to his self-descriptive signature moniker, “the last Rant of an Angry Black Man was written on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.”

Angel died April 29 after  being hospitalized following an automobile accident.

Angel was born October 8, 1952 in Columbus, Ohio to Rosetta K. Angel and William Clark, who both preceded him in death. A proud 1970 graduate of Columbus East HS, he won an academic scholarship to  the University of Notre Dame. Then he walked onto the school’s football team and played for two seasons under Coach Ara Parseghian, earning his varsity letter as a fullback before deciding to concentrate on his studies. [The team went on to win the national championship in 1973, Angel’s senior year.] The versatile Angel also gained a measure of campus fame for his WNDU radio show celebrating Black music.

Nathaniel married Vanessa Parker on May 18, 1974, the day after receiving his B.A. in government from Notre Dame.  They stayed in South Bend, IN, together raising their children, Nathaniel and Angela. His knack for numbers landed him in banking at 1st Source, where he stayed for eighteen years. Always active in the community, Angel led the financing team for the College Football Hall of Fame, helped provide financing for many minority businesses, and was involved with the Urban League, NAACP, and other civic organizations. He was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

“a wry smile that kind of crept up on you… ” 

"a knack for consistent and genuine relationship building.”

Nathaniel returned to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio to work in the 2004 Presidential election campaign. He loved politics and his skill as a political operative soon manifested. He climbed the ranks of the Ohio Democratic Party eventually becoming director of the African American Caucus.

Chris Redfern, who was state party chair at the time, remembers Angel fondly and saw him as a key advisor, especially helpful in voter outreach and turnout efforts.

“Nathaniel had a wry smile that kind of crept up on you,” Redfern recalls, “And he was really smart about politics. He was knowledgeable about issues, and he really knew and understood the black community. … He was good at bringing people in, listening to them, then reflecting and speaking, both thoughtfully and intuitively.”

Carri Twigg, who as political director for the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, supervised Angel, remembers him this way: “Nathaniel had a knack for consistent and genuine relationship building.”

As he had been in Indiana, Angel was heavily involved in the community once he returned home. He was active with the Columbus Civilian Community Board and the Ohio Black Expo, to name just two.

Angel maintained strong community ties in both Columbus and South Bend in his later years. He also lived part time in Prince George’s County Maryland, where he helped his daughter Angela run and win a seat in the state legislature.

Nathaniel is survived by his children, Nathaniel Allen Angel II (Lakeshia C. Hall), Angela Monique Angel, 13 grandchildren; his brother Carlton (Jenette), and a host of family and friends.

A private visitation and memorial service will be held in Columbus on Saturday, May 9 at 1PM at Marlan J. Gary Funeral Home, The Chapel of Peace North, 2500 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH 43211.

# # ## # #

*Updated May 8, 2020 @ 0854

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections issues statement re notices being sent by Ohio Democratic Party [ UPDATED]

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections issued the following statement this morning concerning postcards sent out by the Ohio Democratic Party:

VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT RETURN NOTICES SENT BY THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC MAY NOT BE ACCURATE

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections wants voters to be aware that large white postcards sent by the Ohio Democratic Party that claim the recipient has not returned their ballot, in many cases is false.  

The Board continues to get hundreds of phone calls from voters who are concerned that their ballot has not arrived at the Board.

Voters need to know that if they have received one of these postcards they can call the Board at 216-443-VOTE (8683) to confirm their ballot has arrived at the Board.  Voters may also visit the Board’s website www.443vote.com and use the ballot tracker tool to confirm their ballot has been received.

It would appear that the postcards may be going out before the records get updated. In any event, checking with the Board is the best way to make sure your ballot gets counted.

UPDATE:

A few hours after the above post, we received an email from Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Kirstin Alvanitakis that essentially confirmed our supposition that many absentee ballots were returned after the Party mailed out its postcard reminders. Alvanitakis attributed this to “a delay in mail service”, and said the party’s mailing gives voters information about how to confirm their absentee ballots have been accepted by election officials.

Alvanitakis pointed out that in 2008, before he was elected Governor, John Kasich tried to vote absentee but “his ballot was never received or counted.” She said if he “had received our postcard, it might have reminded him to contact the Delaware County Board of Elections in time to rectify the situation and allow him to cast a provisional ballot.”

Alvanitakis’ email reply ended with the sensible suggestion that “absentee voters should always track their ballots online or reach out to their county board of elections to confirm their ballots were received and accepted."

Clearly, if you vote by mail, you should follow the Board's advice and call 216.443.VOTE [8683] or visit www.443VOTE.com and check the status of your ballot.

Nina Turner to accept slot on Green Party ticket?

Ohio politician has history of going against the grain

(Reports have been circulating nationwide since yesterday that Nina Turner has been offered the Vice President slot on the Green Party ticket. Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein tweeted about 4pm today that no offer has yet been made and that she is "in discussions with several strong candidates".)

It was a typically bold and courageous move when former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner surprised many in the political world and joined up with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in his pursuit of this year’s Democratic presidential nomination. She quickly became one of Sanders’ most prominent, vocal, and ubiquitous surrogates, opening rallies, introducing the candidate, and appearing on talk shows on a regular basis.

It was a bold move because Sanders was a distinct underdog with next to no recognition in the black community. Heck, he wasn’t even a Democrat, and Turner had just gotten through establishing herself as a major rising star in the Ohio Democratic Party. 

A swift and unpredictable rise

Turner’s political rise had been unusually swift and totally unpredictable. The eldest of seven children, her parents split up before she was five. Graduating from high school in 1986, she worked a variety of jobs before returning to school. But before turning 30, she had obtained associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, along with getting married and starting a family.

Former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner

Turner’s first political position was in Columbus as legislative aide to then state Senator Rhine McLin of Dayton. She returned home to work in the administration of Cleveland mayor Michael White, rising quickly to become Executive Assistant of Legislative Affairs and then Director of Government Affairs for Cleveland public schools, which are under mayoral control. With the mayor’s blessing, in 2001 she ran for city council against the incumbent. She lost, but four years later, she beat his wife, who had succeeded him mid-term.

Turner took office in January 2006 but served substantially less than a full four-year term. When an unexpired term in the Ohio Senate came open in 2008, she leapfrogged several of her political seniors to win the appointment. She later won a full term and remained there until she was term-limited in December 2014.

Turner’s boldest move as a public official came in 2009, when she stood virtually alone among Cleveland-area black elected officials and backed a measure to reform a corrupt and obsolete county government that had been thoroughly dominated by the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. Vilified by the party hierarchy and most of the black political establishment for her apostasy, Turner became a certified political star when the reform measure received overwhelming support countywide, including the black community. She ruffled establishment feathers again in early 2012 with a preliminary challenge to Congresswoman Marcia Fudge before backing off and serving out her state senate term.

The next year, she started running for Ohio Secretary of State, hoping to become the first-ever black Democrat to win a non-judicial statewide election. Although the entire Democratic slate went down in flames in November 2014, her campaign enhanced her stature within the party, and she became the virtual co-leader with incoming party chair David Pepper until she resigned to join the Sanders campaign.

Diverging from the Clintons

It is unclear what commitments Turner made to the Hillary Clinton camp, if any — Turner says none — but the Hillary forces, including the eventual nominee herself, saw Turner’s move as a betrayal, in no small part because Bill Clinton had helped raise funds for Turner’s statewide bid. While Clinton forces all but accused Turner of being an ungrateful runaway, Turner said she chose Sanders because his position on the issues resonated more with what she saw as the black community’s needs.

Clinton of course went on to defeat Sanders for the nomination after a surprisingly long and difficult struggle, in part because she kept a near lock on African American support.

Turner was a fierce and effective campaign Sanders advocate throughout the campaign, so no doubt the Clinton forces enjoyed the opportunity to thwart Sanders’ two attempts to reward Turner’s work. Although wild rumors had Turner being stripped of her credentials and evicted from the convention, the actual payback was her being denied the opportunity to introduce Sanders the first night and then to place his name in nomination the second night.

Turner’s choice

No one should doubt the independence of Turner’s political calculus or her willingness to go against the grain. I have heard her deliver many speeches to diverse groups; not once has she failed to reprise her grandmother’s injunction about the importance of having a strong backbone. Turner is clearly not a Hillary fan at this point, nor is she apt to feel any loyalty to the Party establishment.  Accepting the reported offer to run with Jill Stein on the Green Party ticket would likely raise Turner’s national profile, and probably that of the Greens as well.

But to what end? The Green Party will not win the Presidency. They more than likely will come in fourth, behind both major parties and the Libertarians.

At age 48 and with undeniable political ambition, Turner is potentially a future mayor of Cleveland; that seat could open up in 2021. If a Clinton victory led to a federal appointment for Marcia Fudge, Turner would be a frontrunner for Fudge’s District 11 Congressional seat.

Yet too many losing races will dim even the boldest star. While Turner has options, she will pay a steep price for siding with the Greens whether or not Clinton wins in November. Nobody would risk incurring the ire of Madame President, and given the alternative to a Clinton victory, it’s hard to think Turner would want to do anything that would contribute to a GOP win this fall.

Successful political careers are based on some alchemy of hard work, relationships, timing, and luck. Bold as she is, it’s hard to see Turner putting all her chips on a Green veep’s race. I expect her to leverage the Green Party offer, decline it with grace, and find a way to remain relevant until a likely open mayoral race in 2021. It won’t be easy after the way the Clinton forces dissed her last week, but Nina surely knows politics ain’t beanbag. Sure, on some level squelching Turner’s biggest national moment was personal, but that’s how the game is played.

Turner usually does the right thing for the community. With all that’s at stake nationally, indeed globally, as well as personally, look for Turner to keep whatever blue chips she still has and not exchange them for a self-destructive green one.

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