What’s on the ballot in Ward 5 this November? – The Cauldron

With early voting underway, the time is now to take a look at what is on the ballot this November, and for the local community, this involves statewide issues, local judicial races and more. 

In Ward 5 of Cuyahoga County, there are 11 total measures on the ballot. 

Candidates on the ballot include seven graduates of CSU College of Law: TJ Dow, Joseph F. Russo, Timothy W. Clary, Shiela Turner McCall, Joanna N Lopez Inman, Bridget M. O’Brien and Jocelyn Conwell.

For Judge of Municipal Court: Uncontested Races

Of the six races for Judges of Municipal Courts on the ballot, two candidates are each uncontested, Sydney Strickland Saffold and Michelle D. Earley.

Saffold graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Earley graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Both have extensive legal careers in the Greater Cleveland area. 

For Judge of Municipal Court: Contested Races

Russo is running against incumbent Torres-Lugo.

Russo has experience as an accountant, credit analyst and Cuyahoga County Administrative Judge at Juvenile Court. Russo shared why he is running for the position in a statement online.

“I aspire to be judge at Cleveland Municipal Court because I believe I am the right candidate to move the court forward on day one and into the future,” said Russo. “I was born and raised in this city and I care about the people that live here. I believe I can make a difference in the lives of the parties who may appear before the court.”

Torres-Lugo, a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras and Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law, has been endorsed by the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party and other organizations, all on top of an extensive law career.

“My commitment to considering the seriousness of the offense and its impact on the community demonstrates my dedication to upholding justice and maintaining the well-being of society,” the incumbent shared in a statement online.

In a four person race, Lopez Inman, O’Brien, Conwell and Dow are vying for the same seat as Judge of Municipal Court.

Lopez Inman has served as a contract attorney, solo practitioner of law, assistant prosecuting attorney, magistrate and tutor. She has been endorsed by Northern Ohio Fire Fighters Association, The Plain Dealer and more. 

O’Brien has 20 years of diverse legal experience in Cleveland that includes work as a deputy court administrator, staff attorney, legal consultant and more. She has received endorsements from organizations such as Plumbers Union Local 55, Insulators Local 3, Pipefitters Local 120 and more.

Conwell has over 33 years of experience as a licensed attorney. She has worked in the Cuyahoga County Detention Center, as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Cuyahoga County, solo litigator and acting judge in South Euclid. 

Having left office representing Ward 7 in 2018 amid a financial scandal, Dow is returning to the ballot. He calls for mandatory in-person training for all court staff focusing on treating those who come before the court “fairly and respectfully,” public outreach programs encouraging the community to observe court proceedings, and more. Dow has worked in civil and criminal law as a practicing attorney throughout the Greater Cleveland area. 

Clary is running against incumbent McCall for Judge of Municipal Court.

Clary has worked for the prosecutor’s office for about nine years and is now working for the public defender’s office. He enjoys representing people new to the municipal court, helping those who need it. Clary wants people to be confident in the court system, having the process move quickly and fairly. 

McCall worked in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. She was previously a licensed social worker and assistant prosecutor for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. McCall is one of the judges responsible for the domestic violence docket and has participated in expungement and drivers license clinics to help “people put their lives back on track,” according to a statement.

In a three-way race, Jeff Johnson, Heather McCollough and incumbent Mark R. Majer are running for a seat as Judge of Municipal Court. 

Johnson has spent 35 years in public service, working 28 years as an attorney. He previously served in the Ohio State Senate and lost a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives amid federal extortion and wire fraud charges, which eventually resulted in a conviction and 15 month prison sentence. Johnson also lost the primary election as a nonpartisan candidate for mayor of Cleveland in 2017. Johnson currently works as a magistrate for Cleveland Housing Court. 

Current Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Marilyn Cassidy filed a police report on Oct. 13, 2023, which stated that Johnson ran towards her “furious and enraged” before two bailiffs stopped him, though no charges have been filed.  

Majer has served as a magistrate, chief legal counsel and assistant prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, prior to his current position. 29 of his 31 years in the legal field have been spent in Cuyahoga County. 

McCollough, who has 20 years of experience practicing law, has worked as the Assistant Law Director and Prosecutor for East Cleveland and for the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center. She is further described as “fair, honest, and impartial” and a single mom who enjoys supporting people who may see court as traumatizing and stressful. 

A quick Google search of McCollough reveals a Change.org petition for disbarring McCollough that has been circulating since Sept. 29, 2022 and currently has 52 signatures. The petition alleges unprofessionalism and that McCollough has shown prejudice in decisions, though no evidence is provided.

Clerk of Municipal Court

Clerk of Municipal Court since 1996, Earle B. Turner is running against challenger Brian C. Kazy, who has served as bailiff, probation officer and Cleveland City Councilman for nine years. 

Kazy graduated from Bowling Green State University and previously served as a member of the executive board for the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. 

Turner graduated from Central State University in 1975 and has since earned numerous awards, accreditations and other professional memberships, including a position on the Cuyahoga County Democratic Committee. 

State Issues 

Issue 1, a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution protecting the right to reproductive care, including abortion, and Issue 2, proposed legalization of marijuana, are also on the ballot. 

A proposed tax levy, a renewal and increase, for Cuyahoga Community College District is on the ballot for funding operating costs for educational services. 

A proposed Charter Amendment for Cleveland, Issue 38, seeks to require the city to establish the People’s Budget Fund (PB Fund), also known as participatory budgeting, to implement city-wide and neighborhood-specific projects, with the allocation of PB funding being equitably distributed by neighborhoods. 

Different Wards have different measures on the ballot. For more information and precinct-specific information, sample ballots for all of Cuyahoga County are available.

Early voting will take place 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Election Day is Nov. 7.