Mallory predictions: Berding, Lynch and Bortz

State Sen. Mark Mallory doesn't think it's a good idea to go on record endorsing a slate of council candidates, and so has politely declined to answer questions about who should be elected.

But asking him who he thinks will be elected is another question, and he freely offered up his predictions the other day.

Mallory thinks Democrat Jeff Berding is a shoo-in as a challenger. The second "open" seat is up for grabs, he said. "Some days I think Damon Lynch will win, and some days I think Chris Bortz will win." Lynch is a Democrat; Bortz a Charterite.

There may be more than two open seats if an incumbent loses, however, and Mallory thinks Republicans are vulnerable. "I'm not sure if (Chris) Monzel will be back. And (Sam) Malone -- he's consolidated his support in the black community, but has lost support in the white community. So there could be as many as four open seats."

He was quick to add, "I can work with any of them."