Fall Elections

[Stan Austin]

I was just wondering--- are the Council Seats up for election this Fall? The reason I ask is that if there are, and candidates have filed petitions, then in a modern 21st Century Lakewood campaign, Labor Day should mark the last lap of the campaign. Early voting starts in October and by this time a serious candidate should have made 5-7 voter contacts - doorstep by the candidate, lit drop, mail, paid advertising. A campaign should be on auto pilot by this time with the finish line in sight.
Based on that criteria, I guess the elections are NEXT Fall because I haven't seen any campaign activity with the exception of the obligatory 4th of July Parade.
The reason I bring this up is that I have always seen a direct correlation between a good campaign and a good office holder.
But, to date, I have not seen this.

Stan Austin

[ryan costa]

it is possible the candidates agree that their constituents are too complacent to react to or notice any of the campaigning methods you have mentioned.

[marklingm]

I was just wondering--- are the Council Seats up for election this Fall? The reason I ask is that if there are, and candidates have filed petitions, then in a modern 21st Century Lakewood campaign, Labor Day should mark the last lap of the campaign. Early voting starts in October and by this time a serious candidate should have made 5-7 voter contacts - doorstep by the candidate, lit drop, mail, paid advertising. A campaign should be on auto pilot by this time with the finish line in sight.
Based on that criteria, I guess the elections are NEXT Fall because I haven't seen any campaign activity with the exception of the obligatory 4th of July Parade.
The reason I bring this up is that I have always seen a direct correlation between a good campaign and a good office holder.
But, to date, I have not seen this.

it is possible the candidates agree that their constituents are too complacent to react to or notice any of the campaigning methods you have mentioned.

I would like to say that it just doesn't matter but it should matter.

Someone needs to step up to the plate in the 'Wood.

Or, maybe it is true ... and ...

[Peter Grossetti]

The three At-Large seats are up for election.

Current at-large council members Brian Powers and Monique Smith are not seeking re-election.

The ballot will be:
current at-large councilman Ryan Nowlin
current Ward 2 councilman Tom Bullock
Anthony Davis
Cindy Marx
Sam O'Leary

note: should Mr. Bullock win an at-large seat, his Ward 2 seat will be filled by appointment by council.

[Jerry Ritcey]

I found official web sites/Facebook pages for 4 of the 5 people running. If you find others, let me know and I'll update this post.

In alphabetical order:

* Tom Bullock (Incumbent, Ward 2) https://www.facebook.com/TomBullockforLakewood
* Anthony Davis http://LoveLakewood.com (I could not find a site or page specific for the election)
* Cindy Marx http://marxforlakewood.com/
* Ryan Nowlin (Incumbent) https://www.facebook.com/NowlinForLakewood
* Sam O'Leary http://www.olearyforlakewood.com

[Michael Deneen]

In terms of media coverage and campaign activity, it's the polar opposite of the 2003 election. We won't be seeing "60 Minutes" anytime soon.

I don't think that campaign inactivity is limited to Lakewood.

One of my co-workers is running for Shaker Heights Council.
He still hasn't held a fundraiser, done a lit drop or mailing, or purchased yard signs.
Apparently most of the other candidates there (including incumbents) are also inactive.

In some ways the inactivity is a good thing.....the cost of running a local campaign, even for something like school board, has skyrocketed over the past 20 years. The market may be correcting itself.

[Betsy Voinovich]

The three At-Large seats are up for election.

Current at-large council members Brian Powers and Monique Smith are not seeking re-election.

The ballot will be:
current at-large councilman Ryan Nowlin
current Ward 2 councilman Tom Bullock
Anthony Davis
Cindy Marx
Sam O'Leary

note: should Mr. Bullock win an at-large seat, his Ward 2 seat will be filled by appointment by council.

I don't know, Peter, thanks for the info. I don't like seats being filled by appointment. There is no way that this doesn't lend itself to an insider choice. That's not saying that a choice pre-made by the Council and Administration would necessarily be a bad one, but it sets a bad precedent (actually continues one) and is not really good for the Democratic process.

I know, I know, Lakewood citizens can submit their names to be considered for appointment, while the Council follows the letter of the law, but it can be completely proven that the decisions for the appointment of the Mayor, and the subsequent open council positions were made before other people even put their hats in the ring.

(If you look at the timing of when names were put in, by whom, for positions that weren't even open yet, you can prove it. It's documented on the Deck. I will find that link later.)

Give me an old-fashioned campaign. There is talk that we will have another appointment instead of election for the Board of Ed this year also.

Whether you like Tom Bullock or not-- I'd rather have him stay as Ward 2 Councilman and fulfill his term, than have him leave that job, causing an opening that has to be filled by appointment. I like it when the candidates have to go door-to-door, answer questions in the Observer, participate in forums at the library, etc.

But as has been pointed out by Stan, where is all of that? Where's the campaign? Jerry, I appreciate the links, and the opportunity to do my own homework, but is it possible that the candidates think that they are more likely to win if we know nothing about them? Or maybe if we don't vote at all?

Betsy Voinovich

[Ryan Salo]

Does grassroots campaigning work anymore? Unfortunately I really don't think so.

I think it is just about who you get to endorse you. In the last 8 years or so we have seen many candidates out work and out spend their opponents in both council and school board elections just to be beat by folks that are in the "in". Stan you know this very well don't you? You worked on one of the campaigns that unfortunately lost.

The general population seems to not know how to make up their own minds anymore, and I guess it is just easier to be told what to do...

I am sure there will be some endorsement pieces going out soon that will "decide" the election.

The only question I have is if Mike Summers will be on it or if it will just be Fitz.