Summit County Councilwoman Tamela Lee plans to defend her seat in next year’s election despite facing federal bribery charges and being on suspension from her council position.
Lee wasn’t able to file her own District 5 petitions because a condition of her bail specifies that she can’t have contact with county employees. Her sister, Lucille Humphrey, filed her petitions with the Summit County Board of Elections on Wednesday, which was the filing deadline for the March 15 primary.
Lee, 57, was arrested last week for allegedly accepting packs of cigarettes, food and small amounts of cash in exchange for an elaborate series of influential favors for her three indicted co-defendants. Lee has denied the charges and previously told the Beacon Journal she has “always served my constituents with utmost integrity.”
Lee, though, faces primary competition for her district that includes Akron’s Ward 3 and 4 and Copley and Fairlawn. At least one of her opponents thinks it’s irresponsible for her to run.
“I think that her focus is clearly not on the people,” said Assistant Akron Prosecutor David Hamilton, 31. “If I was in that position, I wouldn’t do it. That shows you where her focus is … I believe the people in our district deserve better.”
Lee, a Democrat and councilwoman since 2011, and her attorney, Timothy Ivey, didn’t return phone messages Wednesday seeking comment.
Also running for Lee’s seat are: Akron Councilman DeAndre Forney and Pastor Eugene Norris, both Democrats, and John Sans, a Republican.
Forney, who is fulfilling Mayor Jeff Fusco’s at-large City Council seat through the end of the year but didn’t run for a full City Council term, said he helped with a transition period on City Council and would like to do the same on County Council. He said his running isn’t a condemnation of Lee.
“I am praying for her and hope that everything is resolved with her,” said Forney, who was nominated for the District 5 seat in 2011 at a Democratic Party precinct committee meeting, but lost to Lee by 15 votes.
Asked about the rules for a candidate running when he or she is under indictment, Paula Sauter, the elections board’s executive director, said Wednesday that she wasn’t sure.
“We’ve never dealt with this issue before,” she said. “I don’t have an answer. Being able to run and being able to hold office are two different things.”
The elections board still must review the petitions of the candidates who filed Wednesday before they are certified to the ballot. The deadline for write-in candidates is Jan. 4.
Other highlights
Other highlights from Wednesday’s filing deadline include:
• Interesting matchups: Former Summit County Councilman Bill Roemer is challenging Summit County Executive Russ Pry, while Cuyahoga Falls Councilman Jeff Iula is taking on Fiscal Officer Kristin Scalise. Neither race has primary competition.
• Republican rematch: Former state Rep. Matt Lynch is again challenging U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce for his 14th Congressional District seat, a rematch of a heated battle in 2014. Lynch is backed by tea party groups, while Joyce is supported by more moderate-leaning organizations.
• Ohio Senate showdown: Two well-known Democrats are competing for the Ohio Senate seat that is open because Sen. Tom Sawyer is term-limited. Vernon Sykes, a long-time legislator, will take on Elizabeth Walters, the former executive director of the Ohio Democratic Party. The victor will face Jonathan Schulz, a Republican.
• Judges running for judge: Summit County Judge Tom Teodosio, a Democrat, is vying for the Ninth District Court of Appeals seat of retiring Judge Carla Moore, also a Democrat, while Summit County Judge Lynne Callahan, a Republican, is aiming for Republican Beth Whitmore’s appeals court spot. Akron Municipal Court Judge Katarina Cook, a Republican, is running for Summit County Domestic Relations Court. Teodosio and Cook face competition, while Callahan doesn’t.
County clerk of courts
• Clamoring for clerk: The open Summit County Clerk of Courts seat created by the election of Dan Horrigan to Akron mayor has generated a lot of interest, with four candidates filing to run. The Democrats are: county Councilwoman Sandra Kurt, the temporary chairwoman of the county Democratic Party, and attorneys Bradford Carlton and Neil Rothstein. The Republican candidate is Ann Marie O’Brien, a former president of the Akron Bar Association.
The candidates are running for a full term, but someone must be appointed to fulfill the remaining year of Horrigan’s term when he becomes mayor Jan. 1.
Pry appointed Chief Deputy Clerk Mary Lou Daughtery on Wednesday to serve as clerk from Jan. 1 until the party meets to choose a replacement. The committee must meet between Jan. 10 and 15.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098.