2 days ago
Democrats defy calls to remain neutral, endorse Tiara Ross for Columbus Council D7 seat
Despite calls from some within and outside the party to stay neutral, the Franklin County Democratic Party has endorsed Tiara Ross over fellow Democrat Jesse Vogel in the Columbus City Council District 7 race on the Nov. 5 ballot.
After tense debate at a packed meeting on July 22, eligible party members voted 106-48 by a show of hands to endorse Ross ahead of the Nov. 4 election.
During the meeting, Vogel and multiple party members reiterated their plea for the party not to endorse either candidate.
Voters want a choice on the ballot, Vogel said.
'If this party gets involved in endorsing in this race, it will send a message to Democrats that they don't have a choice and it will hamper our ability to continue the hard work to mobilize voters across the city,' Vogel said.
An open letter circulated ahead of the meeting called for the county Democratic party to stay out of endorsing in the District 7 council race and got more than 600 signatures, mostly from ordinary voters. Some of the opponents to endorsement packed into the meeting at the IBEW 683 Union Hall, in addition to Ross supporters.
Ross said she would be proud to accept an endorsement.
'I'm asking for you to stand with the candidate who has taken on powerful interests and won,' Ross said ahead of the debate and vote. 'I'm ready for Columbus City Council because I believe in a city that has leaders who will roll up their sleeves and do the work.'
Vogel, a public interest attorney, is more of an outsider to the party establishment than Ross.
Heading into the meeting, Ross already had endorsements from a bevy of powerful local Democrats, including the entire city council, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, and City Attorney Zach Klein.
Klein spoke at the meeting in favor of endorsing Ross, an assistant Columbus city attorney. He said she's been a strong advocate for tenants and criminal justice reform.
The party's screening committee recommended Ross, based on her experience in city government. It was not a unanimous committee decision, said Screening Committee Chair Gretchen James.
Ross narrowly beat Vogel in the citywide May primary 41% to 39% by about 700 votes. Meanwhile, Vogel won in the district they're vying to represent 49% to 31%, according to a Dispatch analysis. They knocked independent candidate Kate Curry-Da-Souza out of the race.
All city residents vote in all nine council districts under an unusual district system the city launched in 2023. Candidates must live in their geographic districts.
The county party has no policy in its bylaws about when to endorse in a race between Democrats, said Brian Shinn, the county party's parliamentarian. He told The Dispatch before the meeting that not having a policy gives the party flexibility.
During the meeting, opponents to endorsement repeatedly said staying neutral would encourage voter turnout and engagement.
A few also mentioned Ross' driving record. In March, it was discovered that Ross had been driving on a suspended license for a speeding ticket and had nearly $3,800 in unpaid city parking tickets.
Ross supporters said she has earned a spot on the city council, noting she won the primary.
Ross told The Dispatch after the meeting that she's "truly honored to have the support of the party."
"I'm disappointed," Vogel told The Dispatch after the meeting. "Tonight we saw political insiders and elected incumbents support the status quo."
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Democrats endorse in Columbus City Council race despite calls to pass
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