By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher

CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Black Women's Political Action Committee of greater Cleveland, which is led by Elaine Gohlstin, has announced its endorsements as the Nov. 3 general election nears and early voting gets underway.

In closely watched races, the organization endorsed Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy for reelection, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Wanda Jones to retain her seat, and Judges Ray Headen and Emanuella Groves for two of four open seats on the 8th District Court of Appeals.

Headen is seeking to retain his seat, and Groves, a Cleveland Municipal Court judge, is seeking election to the appellate bench that serves Cuyahoga County.

Jones, Headen and Groves are all Black.

The second largest of Ohio's 88 counties, Cuyahoga County includes the largely Black city of Cleveland, and is roughly 29 percent Black.

The list of BWPAC endorsements is as follows.

JUSTICE OF THE OHIO SUPREME COURT

Sharon Kennedy

OHIO 8TH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS-CUYAHOGA COUNTY (ENDORSEMENTS FOR FOUR OPEN SEATS)

Emaneulla Groves, Ray Headen, Sean Gallagher, Anita Laster Mays

CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GENERAL DIVISION (ENDORSEMENTS FOR FOUR OPENS SEATS)

William Vodrey, Robert McClelland, Shannon Gallagher, Wanda C. Jones

OHIO STATE SENATE

Tom Jackson (Senate District 24)

OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Phil Robinson (House District 6), Joan T Sweeney (House District7), Janine Boyd (House District 9), Stephanie Howse (House District 11), Juanita Brent (House District 12), Bride Rose Sweeney (House District14),  Jeffrey A. Crossman (House District 15)

CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL

Cheryl Stephens (District 10)

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Lisa Woods (District 5-Medina County)

Meryl Johnson (District 11-Cuyahoga County)

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BY: THE BLACK WOMEN'S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF GREATER CLEVELAND

Elaine Gohlstin, president; Una H. R. Keenon, vice president; Maria Valle-Solomon, treasurer; Patricia M. Ivery, recording secretary; Deborah Black, corresponding secretary; Elaine Gohlstin and Patricia M. Ivery, co-chairs Political Action Committee; and, LonCherié Billingsley and Jénine Nickerson, co-chairs Public Relations Committee

Paid for by BWPAC: Maria Valle-Solomon, treasurer, P.O. Box 18185, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com