Over a hundred people are running for seats on the newly created, 11-member County Council. Another dozen are vying to become the first executive of Cuyahoga County. Voters will get a chance to narrow this huge field of Democrat, Republican, Green and Independent candidates in the upcoming primary election. But, at a recent community meeting on the east side, long-time East Cleveland political observer Charles Bibb said voter confusion over all the candidates will likely work against the reform effort --- and that's not all.
BIBB: The average person doesn't know there's an election coming up September 7th.
And, the fact that September 7th is the day after the Labor Day holiday doesn't help matters. Hiram College Political Science professor Jason Johnson says voters need to be diligent about researching the candidates and voting.
JOHNSON: I think if people took these races more seriously and were more impassioned about what their impact can be, it could actually inspire the men and women running to do greater things. But, if we have a low turnout race where people don't take this seriously and say, "Aw, this doesn't really matter," that's what we're going to get. I sincerely believe the American people often get what we deserve.
In the coming days, voters will have several chances to size up the candidates for the new position of County Executive. There will be a candidates forum Tuesday, August 10th, at the Broadway United Methodist Church at 6 p.m. The Cleveland City Club will be hosting the Republican hopefuls, Wednesday, August 11th, at Noon...and the Democrats on August 19th.
