Cool Cleveland columnist Mansfield Frazier
Passing the Torch... or Bring in the Clowns

Legendary Cleveland City Councilwoman Fannie M. Lewis died early Monday, leaving a hole in Cleveland politics that can never be filled. Hardworking, outspoken, and willing to take on all challengers when it came to the defense of Hough (no matter how high and mighty they happened to be), she was truly one-of-a-kind; a connection back to the time when leaders sprang up from the grassroots.

However, she passed away "politically intestate," which means she didn't "will" her seat as Hough's representative to anyone in or out of the ward. While the more respectful of her constituents are observing a decent period of mourning, other, more politically ambitious types, are maneuvering to take her place... and have been doing so even before her body got to the funeral home. I know this for a fact because between 8AM and noon on the day of her death I received no less than five calls from ward residents. While they were pretending to be saddened by her passing, they certainly were not being bashful about soliciting my support for their candidacy to replace the esteemed Councilwoman.

However, not grooming anyone to take her place was not a political accident or oversight on her part: Fannie Lewis didn’t make "political accidents" and she overlooked nothing. Everything she did was purposeful, thought out ... by design and intention. As previously mentioned, Fannie could play hardball with the best of them.

No one stays in power in a ward for close to 30 years without being politically astute, but the vacuum created by her passing without an heir apparent sets up a real dog fight in Ward 7. Along with some highly qualified, dedicated and public-spirited citizens throwing their hats into the ring, there will be some clowns, buffoons and fools vying for the job... a job that might be short-lived if the reduction of City Council goes through. There just might not be a "Hough" — as we currently know it — left to be represented if someone strong-willed and bright enough to lead the community doesn't emerge from what promises to be a very large pack of contenders for the seat.

Much was accomplished in Hough because of Fannie Lewis; and, yes, much was accomplished in the ward in spite of Fannie Lewis. But there is no denying the footprint she left on the community she dearly loved, and it will be very interesting to see where Hough (the neighborhood I happen to live in) heads in the near and distant future. Councilwoman Lewis indeed left some very big shoes to fill. Stay tuned, this is going to get very interesting.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com

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