Bay Village Mayor Debbie Sutherland won an apparent third term over challenger Jim Scott, a current councilman-atlarge, with a victory margin of about 80 votes. Here, a group of supporters, Sutherland and her husband, Robert (on the far right of the sofa), check election night results. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Sutherland takes narrow victory
Incumbent beats Scott by less than 100 votes
By Jeff Gallatin
Bay Village
Published Nov. 11, 2009

For Mayor Debbie Sutherland, an apparent close margin of victory is still something to be thankful for.

With some absentee and provisional ballots still uncounted, Sutherland had an apparent victory of slightly under 80 votes over Councilman-at-large Jim Scott in her bid to win a third term. Scott said he has sent Sutherland an e-mail congratulating her on an apparent victory, but noted he holds out some hope of victory due to the absentee and provisional ballots still uncounted.

As of Nov. 6, Scott noted that there were 125 absentee ballots in the city uncounted as well as 138 provisional ballots. Friday is the last day votes can be counted.

Sutherland questioned whether those ballots could make a difference in the final outcome.

“Not all of them can always be counted,” she said. “Some ballots are not counted because of an error such as a voter registering improperly or doing it wrong after moving. In addition, we believe we have some support in those areas as well.”

Scott said he hoped to pick up additional support in the balloting.

“We kept pretty close tabs on the absentee ballots, and there are 457 unaccounted for,” he said. “We’re thinking that a good number of them could be in the provisional ballots and other absentees. We worked those pretty hard, so we’re seeking additional support there. We’re also hoping for some support from absentee ballots from people in the military serving elsewhere. I’m a veteran, and we sent out information to service members about me. I know they appreciate mail from home, so that could make a difference.”

John Soloman (left), campaign adviser to mayoral challenger Jim Scott, checks voting results with his candidate Nov. 3. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Scott’s e-mail read, “Debbie, Congratulations on your win. Let’s move forward and work together for the good of the community.”

Although it’s her smallest margin of victory with her two previous victories being more than 20 percent over her closest opponents, Sutherland said she appreciates the opportunity voters have given her to continue her administration’s work.

“I’m very grateful to the voters for their continued support,” she said. “We’re going to be very busy in a number of areas.”

Scott said he believes the narrow margin can be attributed to his campaign staff’s work.

“We ran a good, clean, hard race and had a good message for the voters,” he said. “We focused on better financial management for the city, more transparency in government and working with people.’

Sutherland said she couldn’t pinpoint exact areas where voters might have had an issue with her administration. Asked about her unsuccessful run as a Republican candidate for the Cuyahoga County Commission last year, she said it was poissble it could have played a role.

During the campaign, the candidates differed strongly on issues such as government finances and transparency in Sutherland’s administration. Scott said the city needs stronger financial management as well as more transparency in government.

Sutherland said the city has always received strong financial rankings form independent agencies and said city information is always readily available to the public.

Scott, whose council seat was not up for election, renewed his call for an independent audit committee of city finances.

“It’s something the state recommended, and I believe in it,” he said. “We focused those type of issues and others, and I believe people responded.”

Sutherland said her opponent ran a hard race and said her administration will continue working hard.

“We’re preparing RFPs for getting a new Web site,” she said. “We’re also continuing to work with the EPA on moving different sewer work and projects forward. I’ve also talked to the county about working on upgrading the city master plan since the the last one was done in 1999. We’re looking to see whether we get the grant for the I-90 interchange. There’s a lot going on.”

If the results stand, Scott said he does not plan to run for mayor again.

“No, this was probably a one-time deal,” Scott said “I’m not a rich man, but I sank a lot of my own money into the race and I don’t like the idea of doing that.”

Sutherland reiterated that she has no other plans to seek another elected office again.

“This is it,” she said. “I’m the mayor of Bay Village and I’m very happy with that.”