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By Angela Hay
This article is part of the Cleveland Observer’s voter information series designed to prepare Cleveland voters for the general election on Nov. 4, 2025.
Informed participation in local elections is a crucial way to shape the city. Unfortunately, getting reliable non-biased information about the candidates and their beliefs can be challenging. With incumbent candidates, we can review their voting records and accomplishments, but for new candidates, we have to cast a wider net. Here are three questions that will help you determine if a candidate’s vision aligns with your hopes and dreams for the city.
Question #1: What experience does this candidate have?
Most candidates share their biographies on their official campaign websites. A good biography will tell you what they’ve done and how that applies to the work they hope to do on the city council. In most cases, new candidates have less specific political experience than incumbents, but they may have life experience that applies to the role.
Ward 12 candidate Tanmay Shah keeps it simple by describing himself as “a union organizer, lawyer, and truck driver.” Ward 9 candidate Alana Belle uses the words artist, activist, and organizer, then offers details about her Cleveland childhood, her experiences with direct action, and her work in grassroots organizations.
No campaign website for Ward 4 candidate Rehan Waheed or Ward 3 candidate Erich Stubbs shows up in the first three pages of a Google search, which may make it difficult for voters in their wards to learn about their qualifications.
The candidate’s narratives are likely to highlight their accomplishments and downplay controversies, but they are a good place to start.
Question #2: What is this candidate’s vision for my ward and for Cleveland?
Because new candidates haven’t yet demonstrated their vision for the city, they need to be able to express it in other ways. Their game plans should be easy to find and understand on their official channels. Per her campaign page, Ward 8 candidate Charlotte Perkins intends to focus on community initiatives such as “neighborhood cleanups, youth mentorship programs, senior support services, small business workshops, resource fairs, and events that celebrate our local culture.” Ward 12 primary winner Tanmay Shah wants the city to invest in “housing, food access, and city services…for working-class families.” He also promises affordable groceries.
Compare the new candidate’s plans with the actions of the incumbent candidate in your ward. There is no guarantee the candidate will accomplish what they set out to do, but you can measure their intentions against your own hopes.
Question #3: What else, good and bad, has this candidate been involved in?
Reading pages the candidate controls may not give you the full story. Fortunately, the internet has a long memory. You can search for news that confirms their accomplishments, contains quotes from them, or reveals controversies.
Searching for Ward 1 candidate Juanita O. Brent reveals that, prior to running for city council, she served as the Democratic representative of District 18 in the Ohio House.
Searching “Juanita O Brent news” will take you to an interview about why she’s transitioning from state to local government. Searching “Juanita O Brent controversy” uncovers news stories about her response to threats from another Ohio representative.
Waheed has an active LinkedIn page where he publishes articles and re-posts on Cuyahoga County finances, racism, and comedian Jon Stewart.
What to do when Googling isn’t enough
There may be things you want to know about new city council candidates that an internet search can’t uncover. Fortunately, there are several other resources at your disposal.
SignalCleveland.org created a Voter Guide for the city council race. They publish candidates’ views on Cleveland issues like affordable housing, term limits, and government spending.At the time of this writing, the guide still included candidates that did not end up on the ballot, but you can sift through those to read the current candidates’ responses.
Some organizations offer support to candidates in the form of official endorsements. Check in with groups you respect for their opinion on who deserves votes. Planned Parenthood has announced its endorsement of Alana Belle, and the Ohio Working Families Party has made endorsements for Wards 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12.
Finally, many of these candidates are actively campaigning as the election nears. Check their social media pages for updated schedules, and meet them face-to-face. Their behavior in person could cement you as a supporter for life or send you running the other way.
Angela Hay is a journalism student at Capital University, graduating in December 2025. Over the summer she interns with the Cleveland Observer, where she focuses on telling unique stories from Greater Cleveland.
