Pictured are former Ohio governor Ted Strickland, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, (wearing Black suit), and Carnegie Roundtable President Charles E. Bibb Sr., a former East Cleveland city councilman

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com

(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio- Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland, who lost reelection to current Gov John Kasich in 2010, and who announced in February that he will seek the Democratic nomination to seek to unseat Republican U.S . Sen. Rob Portman in 2016 will speak at 2:30 pm on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 before the Carnegie Roundtable at Angie's Soul Food Restaurant in Cleveland (Editor's note: Angie's Soul Food Restaurant is at 3400 Saint Clair Avenue in downtown Cleveland. Contact Carnegie Roundtable President Charles E. Bibb Sr. by phone at (216) 659-4619 for more information. Bibb said that because space is limited people must R.S.V.P. by calling him. Doors open at 1:30 pm).

A February Quinnipiac University poll has Strickland leading Portman by nine points.

Bibb said that Strickland is the better candidate for Black people and others.

"Ted Strickland subscribes to President Obama's  agenda but is his own person," said Bibb, who is Black. "By the Republicans in the U.S. Senate prolonging the confirmation of qualified now U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch, who is Black, the Black community, and others,  know now, and more than ever, that we need Democrats like Ted Strickland in the United States Senate."

Those slated to attend the event, said Bibb, include Cleveland Councilman Kevin Conwell, South Euclid Mayor Gail Williams Byers, South Euclid Councilwoman Ruth Gray, attorneys, community activists, and others.

The lunch menu for the event, which is optional to purchase, includes oxtails, smothered, baked, fried and barbecued chicken, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, sea food, and peach cobbler.

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