O'Connor's son running for City Council
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Corey O'Connor, a son of the late Mayor Bob O'Connor, is running for the City Council seat once held by his father.
The decision he announced Wednesday night has the potential to create a rift in the ranks of the late mayor's allies. That's because the 5th District City Council seat he seeks is now held by Doug Shields, the former council president, who was a longtime aide to the elder O'Connor.
Mr. Shields had planned to relinquish the seat, and had encouraged Corey O'Connor to run for it, because he had planned to run instead for a district judge seat.
Mr. Shields' plans were undercut, however, by the prospect that the judicial seat will be eliminated in a belt-tightening move by the state's courts. In that case, Mr. Shields said he would run for re-election even if challenged by Mr. O'Connor.
Chris Zurawsky, the president of the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, has also signaled interest in the council race.
"I have a passion for this city, and I believe I can help make it a greater, even more livable place," Mr. O'Connor, 26, said in an interview. "My ideas are that we need some new energy and new resources down in city hall. I believe I have an ability to get people to work together."
In an interview earlier Wednesday, before Mr. O'Connor's announcement, Mr. Shields said that his plans remained up in the air.
Judge Donna Jo McDaniel, the president judge of Common Pleas Court, recommended the elimination of the East End judicial district along with two others in the county, but the final decision on the court structure rests with the state Supreme Court.
"I was no secret that I had stated my intention to seek the magistrate seat held by Judge [Nathan] Firestone," Mr. Shields said last night. "I'm anxiously waiting any kind of determination from the Supreme Court. If we do not hear, I'll run for the city council seat."
First Published January 20, 2011 12:00 am
