CLEVELAND — On Monday, former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich became the latest candidate to announce intentions to run for mayor of Cleveland. The field of candidates is vying to replace four-term Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s whose decision to not seek a fifth term was not entirely unexpected as many candidates began entering the mayoral race well before Jackson’s May 6 announcement.
In a poll released by Baldwin Wallace University last month, Kucinich was leading the field with 17.8% of those surveyed saying they would vote for him. But of the Clevelanders surveyed, 48% were unsure who they would vote for.
Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones polled at 13.3%.
The primary to replace Jackson will be held Sept. 14. The top two candidates in September will go head-to-head head Nov. 2.
As of Monday morning, 14 candidates, not including Kucinich have filed with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Here are some of the candidates who have announced their candidacy:
Basheer Jones
Jones was first elected to Cleveland City Council’s Ward 7 in 2017. Jones became the first Muslim on Cleveland City Council. Jones is the vice chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and is a member of Development Planning and Sustainability, Safety, and Workforce and Community Benefits Committees.
Jones has received national attention as a contributor on national news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC.
“We have a very special opportunity to foster new ideas, new hope, new determination, new leadership to create a city that honors our dreams,” Jones said at his announcement event. “We must maximize this incredible opportunity. In order for us to do that, we have to have leadership that is energetic, that is courageous, that is bold and who listens to the voices of all Clevelanders.”
Kevin Kelley
Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley entered the race on April 8. Kelley has served Cleveland’s Ward 13 since 2005. Kelley is not running for a fifth term due to his mayoral candidacy.
Before joining City Council, Kelley was a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
“This is the most important Mayoral election of our lifetime,” Kelley said in his official announcement. “We are coming out of a pandemic that has afflicted thousands of Clevelanders, taken more than 400 Clevelanders’ lives, left countless unemployed, and caused a deep recession – our second in just over 10 years. Navigating these challenges requires not only big ideas, but the knowledge, experience, and commitment to put those ideas to work. That is what I offer Cleveland.”
Dennis Kucinich
Kucinich was Cleveland mayor from 1977-79, as he was first elected at age 31. Although he survived a recall effort in 1978, he lost re-election to George Voinovich in 1979. .
He continued his political career by becoming a member of Cleveland City Council and the Ohio Senate. In 1997, Kucinich began a 16-year tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, which ended after losing a 2012 primary to Rep. Marcy Kaptur when Ohio consolidated its U.S. House seats.
During his tenure in the U.S. House, Kucinich ran twice for the Democratic nomination for president.
Since his U.S. House tenure, Kucinich has provided commentary for Fox News.
Zack Reed
Former Councilman Zack Reed entered the race in March after an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2017. Reed earned 40% of the vote against Jackson in the November general election.
Reed served Ward 2 from 2001 through 2017. He lost his seat in 2017 as he opted to focus on a mayoral run over a reelection bid.
Since his 2017 mayoral bid, he worked in the Ohio’s Secretary of State Office as a minority affairs coordinator.
Reed said that Cleveland is “plagued by poverty, violence and lack of opportunity” and that “inaction has become the status quo.”
Sandra Williams
State Sen. Sandra Williams announced her candidacy May 3.
Williams was first elected as a state senator in 2015 and won again in 2019. Her district includes downtown and much of the east side of Cleveland. She is the ranking member on the energy and public utilities, ways and means and higher education committees. She also serves on the insurance committee.
She previously served as a four-term member of the Ohio House of Representatives.
“Advocating for Clevelanders has been my life’s work,” Williams said in a statement. “After graduating from John Hay High School, I put myself through college at Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland State and Tiffin University. Then I spent 10 years working as a corrections, parole, and probation officer. Now for the last twenty years, I have worked on behalf of the people of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio in the State Legislature.”
Others who have filed paperwork with the board of elections but have not held elected office before include:
- James Jerome Bell
- Justin Bibb
- Michael J. Chal
- Ross Dibello
- Michael F. Kilbane
- Landry McNord Simmons Jr
- Keyshawn Dwayne Varnado
- Anthony Lee Wilson
- Latorya Jean Witche
