Here's the PD's editorial board "endorsement" for Brian Kazy:
Brian Kazy hasn't been a standout on Cleveland City Council, and little wonder. He was hand-picked by former Council President Martin Sweeney to succeed him in January 2015 in the far West Side ward book-ended by interstate highways. Kazy was then retained by voters in the 2015 elections.
Though Kazy denied it, Sweeney's maneuver was a transparent reward for Kazy taking on a Sweeney foe [1], incumbent Ward 14 Councilman Brian Cummins, in the 2013 elections, when Kazy lost to Cummins narrowly. (This year, Kazy's nephew, Kyle Cassidy, ran unsuccessfully against Cummins in the primary [2], although Kazy disavows playing a role in that campaign.)
But Kazy, 47, also hasn't been a total nonentity on council. When he finally was present to vote on it, Kazy opposed the dirt-bike track [3] championed by council leadership and Mayor Frank Jackson. He's also worked hard to address quality of life issues and to keep small businesses and factories, and their jobs, in the ward, which borders both Lakewood and Brook Park. Kazy opposed a Cleveland-only $15 minimum wage on the logical grounds that it would prompt Ward 16 businesses to move just a few blocks into neighboring communities.
Challenging Kazy's re-election is Ellen Cleary, 30, assistant director of housing at Case Western Reserve University. A native of Cleveland's West Park neighborhood, she wants to instill more progressive values at City Hall. But Cleary is less attuned to ward realities than a strong council member must be. Kazy's record is unremarkable, but City Hall experience counts. The voters of Ward 16 should re-elect Brian Kazy Nov. 7. Early voting starts Oct. 11.
The Plain Dealer has also endorsed Brian Cummins:
Links:
[1] http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/01/brian_kazy_appointment_illustr.html
[2] http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/09/councilman_brian_cummins_holds.html
[3] http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/a_divided_cleveland_city_counc.html
[4] https://www.tools4noobs.com/online_tools/youtube_xhtml/