Officials examining options to fill Tubbs Jones’ seat, special election likely

Gov. Ted Strickland will probably call for a special election to fill the remaining five months of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland), who died Wednesday.

The secretary of state's office said it is speaking with the attorney general and governor's office to review state law before deciding on what the next course of action should be for the district's representation.

Ohio State University law professor Daniel Tokaji said two elections are required: one to fill the remaining portion of Tubbs Jones' 2008-09 term, the date of which the governor may choose, as well as the general election in November for the 11th Congressional District, in which Tubbs Jones was running.

Tokaji said it appears the law puts the power of nominating Democratic candidate for the special election and general election in the hands of a "district committee" comprised of members of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party's Central Committee who live in Tubbs Jones' district (which is entirely in the county). The deadline to choose a candidate is 10 days before either election.

Republicans already have a general election candidate, engineer Thomas Pekarek. However, the Cuyahoga Co. Republican Party would also have to nominate a candidate for the special election.

The district would almost certainly elect a Democrat in both elections. Tubbs Jones had been in Congress for five terms, the latest of which she won by 66 percent.

John Kerry won 81 percent of the vote in the district in 2004 over President Bush.