Dems pick their candidates

As expected, the Cincinnati Democratic Committee endorsed two more Cincinnati school board candidates over the weekend -- Chris Nelms, a prevention educator for Children's Hospital Medical Center, and Michael Flannery, the former WCPO television reporter.

The pair joins Wyoming teacher and College Hill resident Eve Bolton on the Democratic slate. All three are first-time school board candidates.

Incumbent Rick Williams is now the one school board candidate without a Democratic endorsement in a smaller-than-usual field. The four will battle for three seats in November.

You'll recall that the Democrats had already announced their three candidates in August, but two of the three couldn't get enough signatures on their nominating petition. Flannery and Nelms are their replacements.

“These candidates truly believe in the Democratic principles and are determined to make a difference for our children,” said Committee Co-Chair C. Freeman McNeal, in a press release.

Flannery did not pursue the endorsement in the party's first attempt at fielding a full slate.
However, Nelms did interview with the Democrats before the filing deadline and was turned away.

In an interview earlier this month, Democratic Committee co-chair Aryeh Alex said Nelms didn't get the nod at first because he was "a little politically green" and was unknown to the party leaders. But he will now have the full backing of the party as the race continues, despite the original reservations.