Pictured are Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley (wearing blue), a Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, and her newly chosen lieutenant governor running-mate Cheryl Stephen, who is Black and a the former mayor of Cleveland Heights and current member of Cuyahoga County Council(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)

DAYTON, Ohio — Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democratic candidate for governor, announced on Wednesday that former Cleveland Heights Mayor Cheryl Stephens, who is Black and also a Cuyahoga County Council member, is her pick for her lieutenant governor running mate as the May 3 Democratic primary nears.

"I’ve known Cheryl for years, since we both served as mayors of our cities, and she’s exactly the type of leader we don’t have enough of in this state," Whaley said.

Stephens said it is an honor to run on Whaley's ticket as a lieutenant governor candidate.

"I’ve spent my career fighting so that everyone has the opportunity to own a home and so that families can build wealth and leave something behind for their kids," said Stephens, who is vice president of Cuyahoga County Council. "Together, Nan and I will help build that dream for all Ohioans." 

Whaley was  elected mayor of Dayton in 2013 and is not seeking another term in 2022. She ran for governor in 2017, but dropped out to endorse Richard Cordray, who lost the general election to Mike DeWine in 2018.

If Whaley and Stephens were to win it would be the first time in Ohio history that both the governor and lieutenant governor were women.

While the primary is in May, the general election is Nov. 8. The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 11.

(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com) the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.