Today, Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 was general election day for selecting the 58th Mayor of Cleveland.

 

The contest was between Justin Bibb (former Keybank Executive) and Kevin Kelley (current City Council President). Both candidates were selected out of a field of seven in the primary election held on September 14th.

 

The winner will be sworn in as the 58th Mayor of Cleveland on January 3rd, 2022 --replacing current Mayor Frank G. Jackson who held office for 16-years.

 

If the winner decides to best Mayor Jackson’s record by staying in office for the next 20 years – well the next change election will be in 2041 -- not quite around the corner.

 

Election day was a cool and crisp day – about 45 deg. F -- sometimes partly sunny and sometimes partly cloudy. The autumn sun and clouds were having their usual back and forth dance!

 

I walked from our house on Cooley Avenue on the south side of Jefferson Park to the polling station located on West 130th Street – a little south of CVS Pharmacy on Lorain Avenue -- formerly a K of C facility and now a party center.

 

The lead photograph shows the official signs outside the polling station with a selfie and a Ohio Voted sticker. I love these stickers! The campaign signs for the two candidates are from the front lawns of houses along West 132nd Street.

 

 

Since the candidates were not permitted to display their signs immediately outside the polling station – I propped up my Welcome Jimmy Dimora Public Square sign – seen all over Cleveland since 2016 -- a sign with patriotic colors and a cryptic message – part of performance art – that draws all kind of comments -- sweet and caustic -- which of course are part of the act. The sign was propped in front of an American flag -- also a work of art.

 

 

The second photograph shows a Clevelander with a cheery disposition who gladly posed for a photograph. I told him to tell Ms. Moore that I voted for her just because he was promoting her candidacy. This admission seemed to delight him. The gentleman was the only person outside the polling station.

 

 

The third photograph is a composite of signs that I saw displayed in front lawns when I walked north along West 132nd Street on my way to the polling station.

 

 

Holdouts: There are still some signs from the primary campaign. The fourth photograph shows signs for Ross DiBello and Dennis Kucinich. Some citizens develop a bond with their candidates and just don't want to discard their signs just because their candidate lost.

 

On my way back – I played an hour of solo tennis in Jefferson Park's tennis courts as shown in the fifth photograph. I had brought my bag with the racquet and balls with me on my way to the polling station. There was a lone player in the basketball courts. The rest of the park was abandoned.

 

The leaves have started to change color as the sixth photograph shows a tall honey locust tree in the north lawn of the park -- north of the tennis courts.

 

In the evening I took a short walk before 6:00 p.m. to the tennis courts to turn on the lights. The lights brighten up part of the park in the darkness that descends on the city after sunset. Today the sun set at 6:20 p.m.

 

And what did I see?

 

The setting sun – in full glory as shown in the last photograph.

 

This was nature’s way of saying -- thank you for voting to sustain democracy in the United States!

 

What a delightful day!

 

Enjoy the remaining seven weeks of autumn!