1978 Cleveland Recall Election
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Cleveland Recall Election
determined whether or not Cleveland, Ohio
's 53rd mayor, Dennis Kucinich
would be removed from office. It was the first mayoral recall election in the city's history.
1978, Kucinich fired his police chief of only four months, Richard Hongisto
on live local television. Capitalizing on the issue, Kucinich's opponents began circulating petitions for the mayor's recall. Despite his consistent support for populism
and the workingmen's concerns, some felt that his bombastic nature and inability to compromise, as well as the youth and inexperience of some of his appointees, made him incapable of governing a struggling city.
Initially, the drive began slowly. Then on April 10, Cleveland City Council
voted to investigate a "midnight raid" by administration officials on the office of economic director Joseph Furber. Kucinich angrily called council "a group of lunatics" and "a bunch of buffoons." He also stated that "it's hard to believe that so many people can be so stupid," and asserted that "if they're not stupid then they are crooked, or maybe both." This led to council members joining the recall drive. Realizing his mistake, Kucinich offered an apology. However, on the same day, Bob Weissman assailed council and business leaders in a speech to the Harvard Business Club.
In the summer of 1978, Kucinich set up special police patrols, in response to high crime in public housing projects. Police refused to obey the order. The administration then suspended thirteen officers and ultimately touched off a two-day police strike. It was another first in the city's history.
Additionally, Kucinich vowed to veto a plan to lease a city-owned dock to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, which wanted the property so that it and Republic Steel
could build a new ore dock. At a July 10 council meeting, the mayor spoke against the lease and started to note the contrast between the actions of council on the matter and its cautious pace on Kucinich's recommendation to hire a computer company.
"Stick to the issue," ordered Council President George L. Forbes
. Kucinich responded, "Mr. Chairman, I determine the issue." "Not in this chamber," Forbes retorted. Kucinich still persisted: "Tactfully submit that you will permit me to continue my remarks." "Just one moment," Forbes said, "I chair these meetings..." Kucinich interrupted, "You have no ability, Mr. Chairman to censor my remarks!"
After using three of his four minutes at the podium to argue with Forbes, Kucinich continued to spend his last minute comparing the issue with the computer contract. In response, Forbes declared the mayor out of order and shut off his microphone. Infuriated, Kucinich continued to protest: "Mr. Chairman, this is a corrupt deal! I will not be silenced, Mr. Chairman!" After a statement by councilman Lonnie Burten, Kucinich stormed out of Cleveland City Hall followed by 15 aides. The action brought applause from the steelworkers union, who turned out in support of the ore dock. "Keep on going," one of them shouted. Forbes attempted to restore order. "Let's be quiet while they walk out."
Council Majority Leader Basil Russo, who had begun speaking before the mayor left, also pushed for order. "Mr. Chairman, that is wrong. We cannot allow the administration to totally break down communications in city government." He continued, "We don't want him to leave, I think he's hurting the interests of all the residents of the city of Cleveland." Although council approved the lease afterward, Republic Steel decided to leave the city and build its dock in Lorain
.
Although Kucinich challenged the validity of the signatures, Common Pleas Judge John Angelotta ruled against him. The Court of Appeals
and the Ohio Supreme Court upheld Angelotta's ruling and a recall election date was set for August 13, the first Sunday election in local history. The mayor's response was "Bring on the recall!"
The Plain Dealer, The Cleveland Press
, The Cleveland Call and Post, the Republican and Democratic parties, the AFL-CIO
and 24 of the 33 council members urged the mayor's recall. Kucinich fought back with television commercials
showing business leaders cutting up a cake shaped like Cleveland City Hall.
showed the following results:
The outcome of this survey showed the possibility of a Kucinich victory. These poll results became truth when the day of the recall election came on August 13. At first, the outcome of the election was uncertain. After a recount, the results were finally in. 60,014 votes were cast for recall and 60,250 against. Kucinich was able to retain his position by only 236 votes (a margin of less than 0.2 percent). He later thanked "God and the people of Cleveland for ignoring [his] imperfections and giving [his] administration another chance."
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
determined whether or not Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
's 53rd mayor, Dennis Kucinich
Dennis Kucinich
Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....
would be removed from office. It was the first mayoral recall election in the city's history.
Background
On Good FridayGood Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
1978, Kucinich fired his police chief of only four months, Richard Hongisto
Richard Hongisto
Richard D. Hongisto was a businessman, politician, sheriff and police chief of San Francisco, California, and Cleveland, Ohio.-Early life and education:...
on live local television. Capitalizing on the issue, Kucinich's opponents began circulating petitions for the mayor's recall. Despite his consistent support for populism
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
and the workingmen's concerns, some felt that his bombastic nature and inability to compromise, as well as the youth and inexperience of some of his appointees, made him incapable of governing a struggling city.
Initially, the drive began slowly. Then on April 10, Cleveland City Council
Cleveland City Council
Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. Its members are elected from 19 wards to four-year terms. The number of council members has decreased over the years...
voted to investigate a "midnight raid" by administration officials on the office of economic director Joseph Furber. Kucinich angrily called council "a group of lunatics" and "a bunch of buffoons." He also stated that "it's hard to believe that so many people can be so stupid," and asserted that "if they're not stupid then they are crooked, or maybe both." This led to council members joining the recall drive. Realizing his mistake, Kucinich offered an apology. However, on the same day, Bob Weissman assailed council and business leaders in a speech to the Harvard Business Club.
In the summer of 1978, Kucinich set up special police patrols, in response to high crime in public housing projects. Police refused to obey the order. The administration then suspended thirteen officers and ultimately touched off a two-day police strike. It was another first in the city's history.
Additionally, Kucinich vowed to veto a plan to lease a city-owned dock to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, which wanted the property so that it and Republic Steel
Republic Steel
Republic Steel was once the third largest steel producer in the United States.The Republic Iron and Steel Company was founded in Youngstown, Ohio in 1899....
could build a new ore dock. At a July 10 council meeting, the mayor spoke against the lease and started to note the contrast between the actions of council on the matter and its cautious pace on Kucinich's recommendation to hire a computer company.
"Stick to the issue," ordered Council President George L. Forbes
George L. Forbes
George Lawrence Forbes is an American politician of the Democratic Party. From 1974 to 1989, Forbes served as one of the most powerful presidents of Cleveland City Council. He is the former President of the Cleveland NAACP and is semi-retired from practicing law.-Early and personal life:Forbes was...
. Kucinich responded, "Mr. Chairman, I determine the issue." "Not in this chamber," Forbes retorted. Kucinich still persisted: "Tactfully submit that you will permit me to continue my remarks." "Just one moment," Forbes said, "I chair these meetings..." Kucinich interrupted, "You have no ability, Mr. Chairman to censor my remarks!"
After using three of his four minutes at the podium to argue with Forbes, Kucinich continued to spend his last minute comparing the issue with the computer contract. In response, Forbes declared the mayor out of order and shut off his microphone. Infuriated, Kucinich continued to protest: "Mr. Chairman, this is a corrupt deal! I will not be silenced, Mr. Chairman!" After a statement by councilman Lonnie Burten, Kucinich stormed out of Cleveland City Hall followed by 15 aides. The action brought applause from the steelworkers union, who turned out in support of the ore dock. "Keep on going," one of them shouted. Forbes attempted to restore order. "Let's be quiet while they walk out."
Council Majority Leader Basil Russo, who had begun speaking before the mayor left, also pushed for order. "Mr. Chairman, that is wrong. We cannot allow the administration to totally break down communications in city government." He continued, "We don't want him to leave, I think he's hurting the interests of all the residents of the city of Cleveland." Although council approved the lease afterward, Republic Steel decided to leave the city and build its dock in Lorain
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
.
Recall drive
If anything, these incidents fueled the recall drive even more. At first, recall petitions were some 3,355 signatures short of the required 37,552 when first submitted in May. Proponents of the anti-Kucinich movement had 20 more days to make up the difference and on June 1, an additional 5,321 signatures were obtained.Although Kucinich challenged the validity of the signatures, Common Pleas Judge John Angelotta ruled against him. The Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals
A court of appeals is an appellate court generally.Court of Appeals may refer to:*Military Court of Appeals *Corte d'Assise d'Appello *Philippine Court of Appeals*High Court of Appeals of Turkey*United States courts of appeals...
and the Ohio Supreme Court upheld Angelotta's ruling and a recall election date was set for August 13, the first Sunday election in local history. The mayor's response was "Bring on the recall!"
The Plain Dealer, The Cleveland Press
Cleveland Press
The Cleveland Press was a daily American newspaper published in Cleveland, Ohio from November 2, 1878, through June 17, 1982. From 1928 to 1966, the paper's editor was Louis Seltzer....
, The Cleveland Call and Post, the Republican and Democratic parties, the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and 24 of the 33 council members urged the mayor's recall. Kucinich fought back with television commercials
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
showing business leaders cutting up a cake shaped like Cleveland City Hall.
Outcome
An August 1 poll devised for The Cleveland Press by Urban Reports Corp. and Cleveland State UniversityCleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
showed the following results:
| Positions | Caucasian Caucasian race The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia... voters | African American African American African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States... voters |
|---|---|---|
| For recall | 29.8% | 38.1% |
| Against recall | 50.3% | 34.4% |
| Undecided | 19.9% | 27.5% |
The outcome of this survey showed the possibility of a Kucinich victory. These poll results became truth when the day of the recall election came on August 13. At first, the outcome of the election was uncertain. After a recount, the results were finally in. 60,014 votes were cast for recall and 60,250 against. Kucinich was able to retain his position by only 236 votes (a margin of less than 0.2 percent). He later thanked "God and the people of Cleveland for ignoring [his] imperfections and giving [his] administration another chance."