Blackwell has suspended her candidacy to focus on her current role as mayor, according to a statement appearing to come from her campaign team. It was emailed Monday to the Cuyahoga Democratic Women’s Caucus.
reported on her pending candidacy after finding her live campaign website and letter to constituents asking for their support. She officially announced her candidacy two days later, on Dec. 8.
Her departure narrows the race back to the original two candidates: Democrat Chris Ronayne and Republican Lee Weingart. The two began campaigning long before two-term Executive Armond Budish announced he would not seek re-election.There’s speculation that Blackwell’s neighbor to the north, Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers, may take her place.
Sellers, back in 2013, was two years into his first term as mayor and said he owed it to residents to see it through. His current term will expire at the end of 2023. Prior to being elected mayor, Sellers served as the city’s director of economic development for 11 years. He’s perhaps best known for being a former Ohio State and NBA basketball player.
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