The long version

The choice between incumbent Mayor Jane Campbell and current Cleveland City Council President Frank Jackson is not an easy one. Both obviously have the best interests of the city at heart. Both have an emotional and even passionate love of the city, although Jackson's demeanor is cool and businesslike.

In a way, this election is a choice between two incumbents, because each is a seasoned politician who has been on the job for long enough that they have shown their stripes. Mayor Campbell has been in office for almost four years, and was a County Commissioner before that. Council President Jackson is the reigning leader of Cleveland City Council who has been a Councilman representing his ward for 16 years. Neither can claim to be "new" or "different." If Cleveland wanted something out of the box, they would have voted in greater numbers for one of the many challengers in the primary.

But the two candidates do have vastly different personal and leadership styles. And your choice of who to vote for will probably hinge on whose style you prefer, Mayor Campbell's warm and fuzzy sympathizing, or Council President Jackson's dispassionate manner.

First, I would urge any voter to read the Cool Cleveland Interviews of each candidate. It is instructive to hear candidates discuss their ideas in an uncensored and unlimited forum. Often, once the elevator-speech sound bite is exhausted, people who continue speaking end up finding a way to put a foot in their mouth. With others, the extra space and time allows for more creative approaches to difficult issues. I'll let you read the two interviews and decide which you feel is which. Mayor Jane Campbell (here) and Council President Frank Jackson (here).

Interestingly, the videocasts of each candidate have also proven to be useful in understanding how each candidate works their way through the issues. Body language, tone of voice, facial expression, and eye contact all add context to the words being spoken. View the three Cool Cleveland videos as Mayor Jane Campbell answers questions on regionalism [Windows or Mac]; on racism in Cleveland safety forces [Windows or Mac]; and why she isn't getting credit for her accomplishments [Windows or Mac]. Then view the three Cool Cleveland videos as Council President Frank Jackson answers questions on arts and culture as economic development [Windows or Mac]; the challenges of the Cleveland Public Schools [Windows or Mac]; and the interesting case of Steelyard Commons and Wal-Mart [Windows or Mac]. Another interesting fact is that, by a factor of five to one, more people viewed last week's videos than read the interview.

It is a fact that Mayor Campbell has made substantial improvements in city government since she has taken office, just as she has lost much of the momentum that she once had. While cleaning up the finances, balancing the books and making Cleveland a better place to do business are far from insignificant, they are still just a beginning. And if that hard work took the first two years of her administration, which it probably did, then the last two should have built off that base. And if she remains in office, she'll have another opportunity to build.

It is dismaying to acknowledge that, while Jane Campbell came to office with impressive advantages, many of these have been squandered. Following Mayor Michael White's abysmal final years, Campbell was certain to be an improvement. Able to relate to Cleveland's African-American citizens and friendly with the faith community, this support has only eroded during her time in office. Having served as a County Commissioner, the expectation was that a Mayor Campbell would get on well with those three most powerful politicians in the County. That she was unable to maintain a productive working relationship with the Commissioners is one of her major failings. Many former colleagues have begun supporting her opponent, and with her famously prickly manner, it is unclear how this would affect a second term.

Council President Frank Jackson seems an unlikely leader. His demeanor is more administrative than ministerial. His ideas flow from logic rather than bold vision. His words do not come fluently and it is difficult for him to tell people exactly what they want to hear. In a way, it would be fine if he never learned how. But his view of progress is rooted in action, not words.

Listen to his anecdotes and while he is slowly getting more comfortable on the stump, he tells honest stories rather than vignettes constructed to warm the ears of the listener. He has a strong belief that government should help everyone, especially those who need help the most. In a city such as Cleveland, or any major city today, this is certainly what is required from a Mayor who must daily deal with a public school system in distress and in need of constant improvement.

Frank Jackson does not seem to be ambitious for power or position. While the same could be said of former Mayor Michael White's early years, it is difficult to envision that a Jackson administration would follow a similar trajectory. Jackson's campaign seems to have arisen from his strong frustration with the state of leadership in his home town.

Jackson's view of economic development seems to be directly connected to the fate of the region. He seems to sincerely abhor the inter-community competition for jobs that pits city against suburb. His sights appear to be fixed on the bigger prize, while still remaining conscious of the difference between the things a politician or legislator can do, and the things one can only talk about. He is not (yet) sensitized to the myriad special interests and the code language that is designed to appease each group. Bt even he admits that he is a quick study. If he is elected with the help of his business and political supporters, it will be important to see if and how that support is acknowledged.

Jackson has attracted strong political allies, a well-connected campaign management, and a political organization that is affording him a fighting chance to win power. And he is rising to this challenge, to the surprise of many. It remains to be seen how he rises to the many challenges facing the city and the region, should he be elected.

Frank Jackson brings a thorough, even encyclopedic understanding of how legislation is passed in order to create momentum. His facility of the levers of power could serve him well in enacting positive change in the city and the region. If he's able to maintain his cordial relations with other elected officials and leaders in the region, his understated manner may help cut through Cleveland's notorious political quicksand. This region desperately needs someone who can ameliorate the noxious self-doubt coupled with self-interest that cripples this region.

We've seen what Mayor Jane Campbell can do. Most people are disappointed. And if Council President Frank Jackson is elected Mayor and he disappoints, we should be looking for new leadership again in four years. That's the way the system works, or should work. Cool Cleveland endorses Council President Frank Jackson for Mayor of Cleveland.

--Thomas Mulready (:divend:)