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Pictured is Ohio 11th Congressional District Candidate Shontel BrownBy Kathy Wray Coleman and Minister Dale Edwards, executive director of the Call and Post Newspaper.
CLEVELAND, Ohio-Flanked by elected officials, Black clergy, community activists, community members and volunteers, Ohio 11th Congressional District Candidate Shontel Brown, also the chair of the county Democratic party, kicked off her campaign for Congress Saturday, March 9 outside at Mount Olive Baptist Church on Cleveland's largely Black east side.
A Warrensville Heights Democrat, Brown is the first Black woman to lead the county Democratic party.
"I am extremely honored by the outpouring of support from the volunteers, elected officials and community members who came out today in support of my campaign," Brown told the Call and Post at her campaign kickoff on Saturday. "This past week has been truly momentous for the 11th congressional district constituents in Ohio with the confirmation of Rep Marcia Fudge last week as secretary of HUD."
She went on to say that "I look forward to connecting further with residents and building upon the legacy of those who have proudly served our congressional district."
Also a county councilwoman representing county District 9, which includes Bedford, Bedford Heights, parts of Cleveland Ward 1, Shaker Heights, Warrensville Heights, and the villages of Highland Hills, North Randall, Orange, Pepper Pike and Woodmere, Brown is among seven declared candidates seeking to fill the seat left by the resignation of Ohio 11th Congressional District Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, who was sworn in last week as U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
The MC for Saturday's campaign event was Bishop Eugene Ward, executive pastor and CEO at Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church and president of G-PAC, a greater Cleveland political organization.
Rev. Ward said he is one of many area Black clergy who support Brown that understand the importance of getting a Black person in Congress who can build upon Fudge's accomplishments and her commitment to pushing policies that will enhance both the 11th congressional district and the Black community of greater Cleveland.
Other event speakers included Mount Olive Baptist Church Senior Pastor Larry L. Harris Sr., Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers, Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell, state Rep Kent Smith (D-8), and Anita Gray, past director of the Anti-Defamation League of Cleveland.
Rev. Harris welcomed those in attendance to Mount Olive and said Brown, her mother, Rickki Brown, who was on hand to support her daughter, and the Brown family are faithful members of Mount Olive.
The first Black woman to lead the city of Maple Heights, a majority Black Cleveland suburb, Blackwell said that getting Black women in office is a priority and that Brown is Black, female, and capable, and that she will do right by Black people, and women.
Mayor Sellers, who succeeded Fudge as the mayor of Warrensville Heights after Fudge became a congresswoman in 2008, told the crowd that Brown is qualified to lead Ohio's largely Black 11th congressional district and that she is smart, practical, easy to get along with, and accessible.
"She [Shontel Brown] will return your phone calls, " said Sellers of Brown, adding that so many elected officials will ignore their constituents after they are elected.
A Brown ally, Fudge was the first Black woman to serve as mayor of Warrensville Heights, a majority Black Cleveland suburb.
Other elected officials there were Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley, Cuyahoga County Council President Pernel Jones, Richmond Heights Councilwoman Kim Thomas, and Warrensville Heights City Council member Kim Hodge-Edwards, who is Brown's campaign manager.
Activist Mattie Hayes, owner and operator of n Mattie Hayes' Floral Shop in Cleveland, presented Brown with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of community activist women for her support of women's rights and Civil Rights.
Brown is the first of the candidates hoping to replace Fudge to hold an in-person campaign kickoff.
Ohio Gov Mike DeWine, per state law, will set a date for a special election to fill the former congresswoman's seat .
Ohio's largely Black 11th congressional district includes most of Cleveland, a majority Black pocket of Akron, and staggering suburbs of Cuyahoga and Summit counties in the Northeast part of the state.
It is a Democratic stronghold, as is Cuyahoga County, the second largest of Ohio's 88 counties.
Hence, the candidate who wins the Democratic primary is all but assured to become Fudge's replacement in Congress.
A former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Fudge served in Congress for nearly 12 years before accepting President Joe Biden's offer to lead HUD.
