On the day before Cleveland's primary elections, both City Councilmen Zack Reed and Jeff Johnson are still campaigning. The council candidates are expected to be the top two challengers to incumbent Mayor Frank Jackson, and both said they feel confident in their chances of securing a top-two spot, thereby advancing to the November general elections.
Reed, who spent the morning visiting RTA rapid stations, was on his way to a senior citizens' home when Scene spoke with him. He said he'd be speaking with seniors for the rest of the day.
Tomorrow, Reed said, he'll be visiting polling places all day long, gradually making his way from the west side to the east side. He'll have an evening watch party at Crop Bistro in Ohio City.
"A watch party slash hopefully a victory party," Reed said.
As for his mood and his expectations:
"We're good," Reed said, employing his favored Royal We. "We feel good and we feel confident. Our whole hope is to continue to let people know that it's time for a change. Today and tomorrow, we're still campaigning, letting people know that we're going to create jobs. It's jobs and safety, jobs and safety."
Jeff Johnson, speaking from his car, was out campaigning too. He said he'd be hitting polling places for most of the day tomorrow as well, and that his evening watch party will be held at his Glenville campaign office.
Heading into tomorrow, Johnson said he felt "comfortable."
"I absolutely believe that we achieved all of our goals for the campaign," he said. "We campaigned on both sides of the river and we got our message of 'Neighborhoods First,' into a conversation that could not be ignored."
Johnson said that his success tomorrow may depend on voter turnout, which has historically been low in Cleveland primary contests, but like Zack Reed he believes that Cleveland voters are ready for a change.
"I'm not predicting anything," Johnson said, "but I feel very comfortable. And I know the voters will tell us what they want tomorrow."
