Today, Tuesday, September 14, 2021 was primary day for selecting the two top candidates to run in the general election for Mayor of Cleveland.

 

Primary day turned out to be a nice and hot sunny day – 88 deg. F with 49% humidity.

 

The sun rose at 7:05 a.m. and will set at 7:38 p.m.

 

In case you missed it, 2021 is election season in Cleveland, Ohio!

 

Current Mayor, Frank G. Jackson – a very popular (?) mayor – who was elected four times in succession in the past 16-years -- finally called it quits -- don't know why -- but you guessed it – his honor finally wants to spend quality time with his family.

 

The following seven courageous Clevelanders, who would love to replace Mayor Jackson, and spend their quality time solving the city’s problems, were on Tuesday’s primary ballot:

 

Justin Bibb (former Keybank Executive),

Ross DiBello (Attorney from West Park),

Basheer Jones (Ward 7 City Councilman),

Kevin Kelley (City Council President),

Dennis Kucinich (former Mayor & Congressman),

Zach Reed (former Ward 2 City Councilman), and

Sandra Williams (State Senator & only woman in the race).

 

I voted at the polling location on West 130th Street – a little south of CVS Pharmacy on Lorain Avenue -- formerly a K of C facility and now a party center.

 

After I had voted, I got the customary sticker.

 

I love these stickers as the photograph shows.

 

I was #54 at the polling location. The polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and I voted around 12:30 p.m. The polls will close at 7:30 p.m.

 

Voters were coming in at a slow rate when I voted. Met folks who had voted when I was walking to the polling location.

 

Saw elderly and disabled voters come in their cars -- park them on West 130th -- by the polling station – get out -- and walk gingerly with their canes and go inside. Truly remarkable – should put some of the citizens who don’t bother to vote to shame.

 

While I voted – and like many responsible Clevelanders -- vote in every election -- not every registered voter votes.

 

In the 2017 Mayoral primary – there were 11 candidates including two write-in candidates.

 

A total of 32,780 votes were cast.

 

This was approximately 13% of the total registered voters – nearly 1 in 8.

 

It would be nice-- in fact very nice -- if all the registered voters voted.

 

But Clevelanders – like voters in other cities in the U.S. – have more important things to do than vote.

 

You can bet on that!

 

Election watchers are predicting a 15 to 20% turnout.

 

When the numbers come in – we will see what the voter turnout was.

 

The top two performers in the primary will run for the November 2 general election with early voting starting on October 5th. The winner will be sworn in as the 58th Mayor of Cleveland on January 3rd, 2022.

 

And, Clevelanders will soon see -- how many promises will be honored and how many broken!

 

Enjoy the election season!