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Akron, Canton mayors included on original supporters list in error. Candidate, daughter plan four stops in area
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Feb 14, 2008
In a confusing array of statements, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic's name was incorrectly included on a list of Ohio officials Wednesday who had endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.
After the campaign sent out the list in the afternoon, Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth said the announcement was ''premature'' and Plusquellic would personally release his endorsement when he was ready.
By 6:30 p.m., however, Plusquellic issued a written statement saying he was backing Clinton and blamed the confusion on a Friday event, where he said he was hoping to make his announcement.
He said that event will not be held because of scheduling problems.
''I believe that Senator Clinton is the best prepared candidate to lead our country,'' he wrote.
Meanwhile, Canton Mayor William Healy II, whose name also was on the campaign's list, said Wednesday that he will not be endorsing a
candidate for Ohio's March 4 presidential primary.
''He will support the Democratic nominee,'' said Adam Herman, a spokesman for Healy. ''He is not taking sides before the March 4 primary.''
As big-city mayors, both Plusquellic and Healy could potentially be tapped as delegates by the Democratic Party for the convention in September.
The endorsement confusion came as the Clintons are planning four stops in Northern Ohio in the next two days.
Chelsea Clinton, Clinton's daughter, will be at the University of Akron this afternoon, following a morning visit to Cleveland State. Hillary Clinton will be in Warren this morning and Lyndhurst, a Cleveland suburb, Friday evening.
Plusquellic and Healy were among nine local officials included on a list of about 100 current and former office holders across Ohio who have endorsed Clinton. A release from the campaign said they will be part of the campaign's ''Ohio Leadership Council'' and will ''mobilize grassroots support for Hillary.''
Isaac Baker, a spokesman for Clinton's campaign, said Wednesday that there was a miscommunication with Healy's office.
''We look forward to earning his support in the weeks ahead,'' he said.
Endorsing Clinton
The Beacon Journal confirmed that seven of the local officials on the list have endorsed Clinton. They are: state Rep. Steve Dyer, D-Green; Wayne Jones, a former state representative who is the finance chair of the Summit County Democratic Party; John Schmidt, Frank Comunale and Ilene Shapiro, Summit County Council members; Akron City Council member Kelli Crawford; and Kathy Catazaro-Perry, a Massillon City Council member.
Comunale and Jones are both in line to be Congressional district delegates for Clinton.
Before now, few local public officials had made presidential endorsements.
Jones said he thinks Clinton has ''the most experience'' and is ''the best candidate.'' He said he's also excited about Sen. Barack Obama, the other Democratic presidential contender.
''Nothing would make me happier than a Clinton-Obama ticket,'' Jones said. ''We are lucky to have two good candidates — either one who would whup the Republicans.''
Crawford said she agrees with Clinton more on the major issues. Both she and Jones attended a packed organizational meeting for the Clinton campaign Wednesday evening in the Memorial Meeting Hall in Akron.
Endorsing Obama
Obama's campaign has received a few endorsements from local public officials. These include Akron City Council President Marco Sommerville; state Rep. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron; and Barbara Sykes, his wife, who is a former state representative and former chairwoman of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
Obama also got the endorsement Wednesday of David Wilhelm, Bill Clinton's campaign manager in 1992 who later became chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Wilhelm announced his support for Obama during a news conference in Columbus in which he said he planned to try to use his clout in the Democratic Party to push more of the party establishment to back Obama.
Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Obama, acknowledged Wednesday that Clinton has ''the support of the political establishment in Ohio.''
''We believe Barack is in the position to do well here because of the grassroots support we have seen across the state and because of his message,'' he said.
LaBolt said some of Obama's key supporters will have events in Ohio this week. He said Obama won't travel to the Buckeye State this week but might be here next week. No details on any visits have been finalized.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith2thebeaconjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In a confusing array of statements, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic's name was incorrectly included on a list of Ohio officials Wednesday who had endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.
Get the full article here.
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