Council President Martin Sweeney lost two of the most loyal members of his East-Side-heavy majority on Thursday when his majority leader, Glenville’s Sabra Pierce Scott, and South Collinwood’s Roosevelt Coats announced in tandem that the end of the month was their end of the line.
According to a few Council members, Sweeney was taken completely by surprise.
“It was a complete shock to me,” said Ward 11 Councilman Mike Polensek, a three-decade veteran. “And I can tell you, when Marty called me last night at 8:15, I truly believe he was as shocked as anybody. I have no reason to doubt that. Every indication was that they were running.”
Just last week, Pierce Scott, 50, told this reporter “bring it on” when asked about how it felt to have former political heavyweight Jeff Johnson running against her. But she admitted on Friday that she was just joshing.
“I said to myself, ‘He’s going to think I’m crazy,’ but I know what I’m doing. I knew I wasn’t going to be running. But it’s true. He can bring it on. I don’t care who’s in the race, I’m going to do what I can to ensure a victory for Sheri Cloud.” Pierce Scott has recommended Cloud, the executive director of a nonprofit arts organization with no political experience, to succeed her.
“This community deserves 110 percent representation,” she said. “You gotta be able to bring it every morning you wake up. I’m 50, and that’s not old, but I’m still a little shy of that 110 percent, and I’m not going to let this community down. My tour of duty has come to an end and I appreciate their support and their participation.”
