Cleveland voters looked to a brighter future on primary election day, giving the most votes to Justin Bibb, whom we endorsed in August to be the next mayor of Cleveland because he offers the promise, vision and hope city residents need to thrive.
Now, the voters need to close the deal by voting for Bibb in the general election Nov. 2. His opponent is City Council President Kevin Kelley.
One of the best lines we’ve heard about this election is that Kelley offers the highest floor while Bibb offers the highest ceiling. Let’s aim high, for once. Let’s vote for the candidate with the highest potential.
Kelley, indeed, has plenty of experience in government, with some genuine wins during his time leading the council, such as his work on reducing infant mortality and providing lawyers to indigent families facing eviction. When we consider what he promises to do as mayor, though, we wonder why he did not fulfill those promises as council president the last eight years. If Kelley saw the need for all that he promises, why didn’t he meet the need before now?
Bibb brings the promise of collaboration. He has attracted support from all strata of the city, from energized young voters to the elderly, from business leaders to the heads of nonprofits. For too long, Cleveland’s leadership has been in silos. Bibb already has shown he can unify people, including in the way he brought people together under his umbrella.
Cleveland’s most pressing need is a reduction in violent crime -- it’s a city where the sitting mayor’s grandson was gunned down this month -- and Bibb’s approach involves a focus on efficient deployment of safety forces and better training for officers. That’s a smart way to go about it, without bankrupting the city.
Cleveland’s longer-term need, though, is economic prosperity for all. That’s going to take a mayor who builds a coalition of people with varying interests and leads them through strategies that ensure the city’s long-term viability while continuing outgoing Mayor Frank Jackson’s focus on providing more equitable access to wealth and opportunity for all.
This election is the first chance in a generation for Cleveland voters to choose which path they want to take. Kelley represents the status quo and where we have been. Bibb, along with a raft of passionate City Council candidates, is the path forward. Together, they could make for a prosperous and peaceful future.
Vote Bibb for Cleveland mayor in the Nov. 2 election. Early voting begins Oct. 5.
About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.
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* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.
* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this endorsement editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
Other resources for voters:
The endorsement roundup for all endorsements by The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com in the Sept. 14 primary, including audio of the endorsement interviews.
The League of Women Voters vote411.org voters’ guide.
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September 26, 2021 at 05:00PM
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Justin Bibb remains the best choice for Cleveland mayor: endorsement editorial - cleveland.com
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