Winners & Losers From The Democratic Primary

[Michael Deneen]

Last night was historic in Lakewood politics, as Michael Skindell and Nickie Antonio each scored big wins in their respective races. There was also an election for members of the Democratic Party Central Committee, which is the group that makes official County Party endorsements.
Matt Kuhns has provided a nice summary of the facts at this link:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... =7&t=24767

As someone who's been politically active in Lakewood for 27 years, I wanted to share a few thoughts on the results.
As a Skindell and Antonio supporter, I obviously think that the voters are the big winners in Tuesday's vote.
Here is some more analysis of who I think the winners and losers are from the big day.

Winner: GRASS ROOT POLITICS
Skindell and Antonio both ran grass roots campaigns, fueled by volunteers and activists. They were both outspent, and each faced opposition from the Party Establishment. In this "Citizens United" age, it's encouraging to see that people can beat money. If the Democratic Party is to be successful statewide and nationally in the long term, it will have to adopt this strategy.

Loser: THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MACHINE
Sweeney and Bullock, assisted by the fact that the vote occurred on the day of the Women's March, had the endorsement of the party machine. In a previous era, that would have guaranteed victory. Party Bosses have historically relied on voters to follow their commands via "sample ballots". However, voters have become increasingly jaded about the Party Apparatus. The snub of loyal progressives like Antonio and Skindell pushed most voters past their breaking points, and inspired a revolt against party leadership.

Winner: TOLERANCE
Nickie Antonio, a pioneer in LGBT politics, faced a brutal smear campaign from Sweeney. Radio ads calling her "Trickie Nickie" and claims of "special interests" were underhanded politics. Voters rejected these tactics by a wide margin, particularly in Lakewood.

Loser: DOG WHISTLE POLITICS
In its closing stage, Sweeney conjured memories of Gay Rights battles of the 2000s. His use of the terms "dark money" and "special interests" were clearly aimed at gay rights advocates. This appeal fell flat, thankfully.
Bullock, himself an expert in dog whistle politics, rose to power in 2007 with terms such as "Section 8" and "protecting Lakewood's borders". Bullock's advocacy for the 2008 pit bull ban, and his continued defense of it in 2018, cost him a large swathe of voters.

Winner: CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS
Formed only two years ago, this Lakewood-based group backed both Skindell and Antonio. CCPC also helped many new precinct captains to win their races, which will change the Democratic Party's DNA from within. Coming on the heels of last fall's win by Tristan Rader, the group is becoming a viable force on the political scene.

Loser: TEAM SUMMERS
Although Bullock tried to hide his alliance with Sweeney, Mayor Summers was an enthusiastic public supporter of the Clevelander. Summers, emboldened by his CCF-backed win in 2015, thought his endorsement would helped offset Antonio's strength in Lakewood. It did not.
Summers failure comes six months after his slate of incumbent council members was thumped in last November's general election. Marx and Nowlin lost their seats in that election.
Based on recent results, Dave Anderson and Sam O'Leary should be very nervous about their futures.

Winner: TRANSPARENCY
Much of the anti-establishment fervor in this race was fueled by growing mistrust. The lack of transparency in Lakewood is well documented. This encouraged many folks to run for precinct leaders, since they wanted to increase the amount of transparency in party politics and move away from "back room deals".

Loser: TOM BULLOCK
It may seem redundant to label him a loser, but it's impossible to overstate the colossal nature of Bullock's failure. Over the past six months he has been humiliated twice at the polls, a feat which few politicians have ever achieved. In November he almost became the first incumbent council member to lose his seat in 24 years.
After narrowly avoiding elimination in that race, he was crushed 56-44 by Skindell despite enjoying the party's official endorsement. He had the Political Establishment and a financial advantage, and still managed to lose by double digits. That's simply amazing.

For 11 years he has desperately fought to climb the political ladder, but he remains in the same position he won in 2007. He tried and failed to win this same seat against Antonio in 2010. In that race he tried to parlay the Dimora scandal into votes by depicting Antonio as a corrupt "party boss". That failed miserably.
He later tried to be elected Council President....only to lose to newbie Sam O'Leary. The fact that the longest tenured member of city council can't get a leadership position is a clear indicator that his colleagues don't respect him.

Winner: Statewide Democratic Nominees
Cordray and Brown, already facing tough fights in the red state of Ohio, caught a break with these local elections. The Democrats will be heavily outspent by the GOP in November, and will need to rely on grass roots activists to be competitive. It will also be critical for Brown and Cordray to roll up HUGE margins in Cuyahoga County. The nomination of Sweeney and/or Bullock would have sent party activists into complete revolt....and guaranteed that neither of those things would happen.

Loser: Cindy Marx
Like Bullock, Marx has experienced an incredible fall from grace. A year ago she was an incumbent council member, and felt comfortable in her seat due to Summers' support and the Party Machine. She lost the council race in November, becoming (along with Nowlin) the first incumbent council member in 24 years to lose a campaign.
Since that defeat, she has curried favor with the Establishment by filing a complaint against Skindell with the County Party. She campaigned for Bullock in this state rep race, hoping to inherit his council seat. She even told people that "a vote for Bullock is a vote for me".
Not only will she not be on council, but she lost her race yesterday for the Central Committee. Her neighbors voted against her 81-72, electing newbie Emily Christescu.

[Bridget Conant]

Great analysis.

That’s twice now that the Dems have sunk money into Bullock with no success. I think he’ll find it increasingly difficult from this point to even think about another race. However, his ego knows no bounds so I wouldn’t put it past him. He’ll just have to use his own money and I think he’s already in debt according to past campaign financial disclosures.

The really important takeaway is that the same old isn’t going to cut it anymore. The BSL Issue energized a lot of younger people and they mostly followed through and voted. This does not bode well for many of the old guard.

Time for change! Let’s get rid of OLeary, Litten, and Anderson next.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Great analysis.

That’s twice now that the Dems have sunk money into Bullock with no success. I think he’ll find it increasingly difficult from this point to even think about another race. However, his ego knows no bounds so I wouldn’t put it past him. He’ll just have to use his own money and I think he’s already in debt according to past campaign financial disclosures.

The really important takeaway is that the same old isn’t going to cut it anymore. The BSL Issue energized a lot of younger people and they mostly followed through and voted. This does not bode well for many of the old guard.

Time for change! Let’s get rid of OLeary, Litten, and Anderson next.

Bridget

You know there is time before the election.

Perhaps if they did some soul searching they could see the forest for the trees.

They have every right to fight for what they believe.

THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO LIE AND COVER UP FACTS AND DOCUMENTS FROM CITY HALL.

Everyone makes mistakes, and with the Summers Regime, I imagine it is easy to lose ones moral compass and understanding that they are not part of the MAyor's Team, but representative of the people of this city. That they are not there to rubber stamp everything and build a wall to protect our liar in chief, but question our Mayor, and demand that resident's rights are always served at every turn.

They claim to be Democrats, now maybe they should start to act like them.

I remember my long talks with Sam O'Leary before getting on council, he assured me that the last thing he ever wanted to be was like Tom Bullock. Today he is nearly a clown errr clone of Tom Bullock. The boy who dreams of being Mayor is going down the wrong road. John Litten needs to find a voice and say publicly what he says in private. David Anderson needs to go back to his roots when he worked for Howard Metzenbaum and what he learned there. Dan O'Malley has but one chore. I doubt Bullock can be rehabilitated, his actions means he will have to slink away to a town where they do not know him and start over again. Actually Lakewood residents should start a recall campaign on him immediately as he has proven he has ZERO interest in representing Lakewood residents on council and all he cares about is Tom Bullock.

The sun is starting to shine in Lakewood again. People are starting to talk again. We can heal this city, but not with those that divided us with lies in power.

I look forward to the Skindell / Carson election, it will be the perfect platform to show just how broke Lakewood politics are and soon to be were.

Wake up, smell the coffee, or get out.

.

[mjkuhns]

Sweeney and Bullock, assisted by the fact that the vote occurred on the day of the Women's March, had the endorsement of the party machine. In a previous era, that would have guaranteed victory. Party Bosses have historically relied on voters to follow their commands via "sample ballots".

Well, I will say that the primary sample ballot program probably needs to be judged an instructive experiment, more than a successful one.

So far as I know this was unprecedented. A great big, full-color pamphlet with photos, mailed out to many households multiple times, as well as handed out on Election Day.

Yet if the purpose was to influence primary contests, it seems not to have worked. Of the six (literally) highlighted candidates in contested races: Dan Brady won, I don't actually see an opponent listed for Yvonne Conwell, and the other four candidates all lost their primary.

I'm not sure what else the purpose could have been. Building awareness for down-ballot candidates could be very worthwhile, but that would argue for placing more emphasis on candidates with November opponents. No opposing party candidate seems to have filed against Brady or Conwell. Whereas e.g. Ohio Supreme Court candidates Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly could certainly use more early awareness, and weren't in this anywhere.

Even from a totally neutral, dispassionate standpoint, I think the resource-investment in this publication calls for serious rethinking.

[Michael Deneen]

Even from a totally neutral, dispassionate standpoint, I think the resource-investment in this publication calls for serious rethinking.

They have no regrets about wasting that money. The Machine went "all in" to destroy the rogue candidates.....they are beginning to recognize that CCPC is gaining power, and they wanted to "nip it in the bud".
CCPC has built a base of support on the west side, they are terrified of that support spreading countywide.

I look forward to the Skindell / Carson election, it will be the perfect platform to show just how broke Lakewood politics are and soon to be were.

Let the Ass Kicking commence! I'm going to enjoy seeing Carson decimated (literally....I think 90 percent for Skindell).
Side Note: Carson is a regular lurker here, so "Hello Jay!"

Time for change! Let’s get rid of OLeary, Litten, and Anderson next.

As a Ward 2 resident, I can attest to the fact that Sam the Sham is in VERY deep trouble. Our activists are "locked and loaded" to take him out. He was elected last time on the false premise that he supported the hospital....this time he will having nothing to run on except Summers' support.
Good luck with that.

Anderson is in less trouble, if only because Ward 1 is Team Summers strongest area. There might be enough support among the Clifton Park/Butler wing of the party to help him survive...but it won't be easy. Especially for a guy with a 1980s grasp of social media.

Litten is such an empty vessel that I can't even comment.

[Bridget Conant]

Especially for a guy with a 1980s grasp of social media.

Litten is such an empty vessel that I can't even comment.

Your observations of Anderson and Litten are adroit. I’m not sure why they even want to be on council. Empty vessels both.

As for Carson, his “sticking it to the little guy for the man” quote about himself on his podcast site won’t sit well with the largely Dem demographic he “wants to represent.” That in itself is hilarious - he wants to represent the common folk?

He won’t campaign - he doesn’t want the job. He only got in it to try to stop Skindell if Bullock lost. It was a strategy that was never going to work - much like most of their grandiose plans for Lakewood.

I, too, will enjoy seeing Skindell kick his rather prominent a$$.

[Mark Kindt]

My compliments to each writer in this thread for some very thoughtful and insightful political analysis. Impressive talent!

[cmager]

The sun is starting to shine in Lakewood again. People are starting to talk again. We can heal this city, but not with those that divided us with lies in power. I look forward to the Skindell / Carson election, it will be the perfect platform to show just how broke Lakewood politics are and soon to be were.

Jim, it's a damn good start, but only a battle in a long war. Witness the installation of the same old shameless cast into the Three Arches Foundation. That crowd with all their Lakewood roots, civic history, and law degrees sold out Lakewood Hospital and the very culture of city hall and the city as a whole. Be vigilant as these are Lakewood's deep state players, often fake Democrats, who may get bored and greedy and try again with the city schools, the library, the Beck Center, Winterhurst (oops), city services, the post office, or anything else that consists of public/private assets that are ripe to privatize to the benefit of them and theirs. It's a long war that won't be won until they're rooted out and chased from any power, and history written AND learned.

[dl meckes]

I must admit that I am still completely mystified by the allegations that dark Trump money was financing Antonio's campaign. It's nonsensical. Desperate. Perhaps it was the people who let Kevin Butler take an ethics class for their benefit.

Onward to November.