The Franklin County Democrats voted to endorse Tiara Ross in the two-way race for Columbus City Council District 7, representing downtown Columbus.
The party’s central committee voted 106 in favor, 48 against and a small number of abstentions Tuesday night to endorse Ross after debate over whether the party should even weigh in on the race. Jesse Vogel, the second candidate in the race, argued the party shouldn’t endorse and instead let voters decide on their own.
State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio of Gahanna tried to put forward an amendment to not endorse in the race, but that motion failed with 89 against, 61 in favor and one abstention.
An intense debate happened before the endorsement vote, with multiple committee members speaking up.
Supporters of Ross argued that since she won the most votes in the May primary, she should be the right candidate. Ross also won the support of the Franklin County Democratic Party’s screening committee.
Ross won the primary with 41% of the vote compared to 39% for Vogel. They were separated by about 700 votes.
Although Vogel won more votes in the boundaries of District 7.
Supporters of Vogel and others who wanted the party not to weigh in on the race argued the party should let a competitive primary play out. They said it could help increase voter engagement and voter turnout.
Ross will get the advantage of being on the county party’s slate card of endorsed candidates. This slip of paper is handed out to voters at the Franklin County Board of Elections early voting site and at polling locations on Election Day.
The city council race is technically nonpartisan, but both candidates have explicitly identified as Democrats. The two advanced in the May primary, knocking out independent candidate Kate Curry-Da-Souza.
District 7 represents downtown Columbus and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods. The whole city votes to fill the seat, not just voters in the district.
