Columbus City Council candidate Tiara Ross scored a win in the three-way primary race for District 7, earning the endorsement of all nine sitting council members.
Ross' candidacy has been marred by challenges to her city residency and eligibility. WOSU reported Ross owed nearly $3,800 in unpaid parking tickets and that she allegedly drove on a suspended license.
The endorsements are some of the first major declarations of support issued in Ross' race against Jesse Vogel and Kate Curry-Da-Souza.
WOSU spoke to Councilmember Christopher Wyche, who said Ross' experience in city government shows she is ready for the job.
"(Ross) is ready to go and hit the ground running from day one. And again, the urgency of the time requires someone with that type of experience in this role," Wyche said.
Wyche said the concerns about Ross' parking tickets and residency are "just noise," stating he was happy Ross owned up to her mistakes and proved she qualified for the ballot.
The information would not have come to light if not for the political blog "The Rooster." Ross didn't pay off those tickets until the blog reported about them.
"I don't think it'll hurt her," Wyche said. "I think... residents should come out, hear from Tiara, learn about her experience, go to her website, go to these candidate forums. You will see what we all see in her.
Wyche said he's been impressed with Ross on the campaign trail. Wyche said Ross' policy proposals around housing and aiding senior citizens has impressed him the most.
Vogel criticized the endorsement in a statement to WOSU, saying the council members are trying to "put their thumb on the scale" in favor of Ross.
"Voters in Columbus are tired of the Democratic Party’s political insiders choosing the next in line," Vogel said. "I’m confident my campaign will win because of the hundreds of Columbus residents getting involved for the first time in local politics to support my campaign, helping me knock doors and reach voters."
Vogel cited endorsements from Columbus City Schools' board member Sarah Ingles, Ohio Working Families Party and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund among the support she has received from city residents.
Curry-Da-Souza sent a statement Monday night, saying she was not surprised at the council members endorsing Ross.
"I am choosing to run as an Independent because I was asked by our community, and their endorsement is what matters to me," Curry-Da-Souza said. "My focus has and will continue to be to ensure that our neighbors have a seat at the table as we address issues that are important to all of us like housing, food, and child care. I am here to be accountable and answerable to the people of Columbus, just as I have been in the more than two decades of service, working and raising children here in this community."
Former mayoral candidate Joe Motil endorsed Curry-Da-Souza Monday morning, calling her an "independent choice" for the council seat. Motil criticized the council's endorsement and said it is a reason to vote against Ross.
Motil called Ross a "handpicked candidate" and a "puppet" of current council members.
"(Columbus city councilmembers are) members of a political party that requires and rewards blind allegiance, even in the face of breaking the law. I mean this is further evidence that we have a City Council that does not serve the citizens and just their private agenda," Motil said.
Ross' spokesperson Millie Vaughn responded to Motil in a statement.
"Tiara Ross is a public servant, and with a strong track record of doing the work—long before she was ever a candidate for public office," Vaughn said.
Vaughn also listed several other endorsements Ross received from community members like civil rights attorney Sean Walton, Ohio Young Black Democrats President Jordan Hawkins and Near East Area Commission Chair Nathan Harris.
Motil said he is throwing his support behind Curry-Da-Souza, because he admires her involvement in the community as a former chair of the Near East Area Commission. He said he likes her work in addressing the type of quality-of-life issues that Motil said are present in most areas across the city.
"She knows how to navigate through the bureaucracy of city hall and also, as an independent candidate, she's not controlled by the political powers of our city. And I think that's very important to a lot of the voters out there in Columbus," Motil said.
Motil said he likes Curry-Da-Souza's policy proposals like adding a fee on vacant homes and addressing food deserts and food insecurity on the city's east side.
Ingles, who endorsed Vogel, said she thinks he is the best choice for the council because of his ideas for fare-free bus rides, his opinions on housing and his work on immigrant rights. Ingles said Vogel is a friend and has worked with him during his time at the Legal Aid Society of Columbus.
"I think all of those things are really crucial to have a deep understanding of if you're going to try to govern the very diverse city of Columbus," Ingles said.
Ingles didn't criticize Ross, unlike Motil.
"There are lots of really strong candidates in this race, and that's a blessing for our city to be in a position where we have good people running. Council is certainly entitled to endorse whoever they want to endorse and do what they want do, so I don't have much comment beyond that," Ingles said.
Early voting in Franklin County begins on April 8. The two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to November's general election.
