Fudge on the ballot for Tubbs Jones' seat in November

EUCLID -- It's official. Warrensville Heights Mayor Marcia Fudge will replace the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The 11th Congressional District executive committee gave her the nod just after 9:30 p.m. tonight at its meeting at Euclid High School.

She'll run against 59-year-old Republican Thomas Pekarek, who has run unsuccessfully for public office numerous times. Fudge is a former chief of staff to Tubbs Jones. She had the backing of Tubbs Jones' predecessor, Louis Stokes, and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and told members of the Cuyahoga County executive committee that her experience as a congressional aide made her well-qualified.

Fudge, 55, beat out four other nominated candidates -- the Rev. Marvin McMickle, Jeff Johnson, C.J. Prentiss and Bill Patmon -- for the win. She won 175 of 281 votes.

The same group has filed to run in the Oct. 14 Democratic primary for the right to advance to a Nov. 18 special election. Since no Republican has filed, the winning Democrat will serve out the last few months of Tubbs Jones' term. Tubbs Jones was the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress. She died unexpectedly on Aug. 20 after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

Tom Beres was live at Euclid High School following the meeting.

See Kim Wendel's coverage of the meeting on Twitter.