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The November general election seems a long way off. It’s Tuesday, Nov. 5, and the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7, which is little more than a month away.
There will be issues and candidates on the ballot. Keep in mind that Berea has non-partisan elections. That means there is no D or R or I or any other initial after a candidate’s name. Candidates for public office in Berea don’t run as Democrats or Republicans or any other party designation.
I have received several questions about this issue so I thought I’d explain it here.
In 2016, our Charter Review Commission, which studies the City Charter every five years, recommended, among other things, that Berea switch to non-partisan elections. The charter amendment proposal also called for candidates for mayor, city council president and council members at large to have 75 valid signatures on election petitions and ward council representatives to have 50 valid signatures. Those petitions would be due to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections 60 days prior to the election.
City Council agreed with that recommendation and put it in on the November 2016 ballot for a vote by residents. Berea voters approved that change by a vote of 4,342 (59 percent) to 3,066 (41 percent).
The Nov. 5 election will reflect that change to non-partisan elections in Berea. So, while candidates for state or national office may identify with a national political party, Berea candidates do not. Just wanted to give you a head’s up.