Work Remains Undecided

By David Johnson
The CNL

Cleveland mayor David Work told The Cleveland News Leader on Friday that he was still undecided on a bid to seek a second term.

Work, who was elected mayor in 2005, said he will make a decision soon.

"I'll decide with the next week or two," Work said.

The incumbent mayor announced publicly less than a month ago that he planned to retire as director of the Rosedale/Bolivar County Port in June of this year. Work, however, announced just days later that he had changed his mind and would not retire from the port.

When asked Friday whether or not his decision to stay on as port director could factor into his decision to seek re-election, Work said it could.

"It could when I sit down and decide," he related. "It very well could. I'll be 74 in June. I'll have to see."

In 2005, Work, then Cleveland's alderman-at-large, denied interest in the mayor's job as late as January. Weeks later he qualified to run for mayor, eventually receiving a majority of the vote in a three-person Democratic primary.

Ward 3 alderman Billy Nowell has qualified to run for the mayor's office. Nowell, a Democrat, will vacate his aldermanic seat in Ward 3.

The Democratic primary is set for May 5.