Lucas County Democratic Party votes to endorse candidates in 3 contested Democratic races

Party Chairman Ron Rothenbuhler said the endorsed candidates’ names will go on a slate card that will be mailed to voters.

Breaking with a nearly 10-year-old policy, the Lucas County Democratic Party voted today to endorse candidates in three contested Democratic races in the May 6 primary election.

Endorsed were Carol Contrada of Sylvania Township for re-election as a Lucas County commissioner, Assistant Lucas County Prosecutor Ian English for Lucas County Common Pleas judge, and Toledo lawyer Jay Feldstein for Lucas County Domestic Relations judge.

The endorsements were made during a special meeting of the Lucas County Democratic Party executive committee today.

The local Democratic Party abolished pre-primary endorsements in 2005 to remain neutral in the re-election contest between incumbent Toledo Mayor Jack Ford and rival Carty Finkbeiner.

The ability to endorse was reinstated Feb. 27 because of last year's mayoral election, in which Democratic voters were evenly split between two unendorsed candidates, resulting in no Democrat on the general-election ballot for the first time.

Party Chairman Ron Rothenbuhler said the endorsed candidates’ names will go on a slate card that will be mailed to voters. Early voting starts Tuesday.