More than a dozen Democrats hope to be the next candidate for the 11th congressional district. Cuyahoga County's 330-member Democratic Party executive committee meets Thursday night to formally appoint their candidate. But with so many vying for the seat, Stokes and Jackson have appointed themselves and a handful of others as first-round screeners and plan to make a recommendation to the committee for Thursday’s vote.
Some Democrats, though, are balking at the Stokes-Jackson meeting taking place in secrecy. The mayor and former congressman decided not to open their session to the public or media. Rose M. Allen is a member of the Democratic executive committee.
ALLEN: If, in any way, our role is usurped by a selection panel saying 'this is the person it should be,' it seems to be defeating the democratic process.
Even the identity of the members of the Stokes-Jackson panel is being withheld. They are simply described as a "group of leaders." While their recommendation will be non-binding, Stokes and Jackson have asked other Democratic Party executive committee members not to endorse anyone until their panel announces its preferred choice.