Approximately 40 percent of Lakewood’s registered voters participated in the November 2, 2010 general election, according to the official results released last week by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

15,747 valid ballots were cast, a modest 12 percent increase over the 2009 general election total, but still well short of the 25,000 vote output the city has produced in peak years.

As a point of note, while the city had 39,153 registered voters on the date of the general election, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Lakewood’s 2009 population to be 50,235. It is reasonable to assume that many thousands of voting-age residents are not registered. It should also be acknowledged that although the voter registration list is routinely stripped of people who no longer reside in Lakewood, it still has many names of people who, for one reason or another, are inactive.

Click on the map to view a larger image of the percentage of registered voter turnout by ward precinct.

The city is divided into four wards. Each ward is subdivided into 10 precincts, with the exception of Ward 4; it has 11 precincts. The average precinct has 955 registered voters. The smallest has 733 voters, and the largest has 1,147 voters.

A look at the map above shows that the precincts along the coast of Lake Erie had some of the city’s highest percentages of overall voter turnout. Just like the 2010 primary election and the general election in 2009, Precincts 3-A (between Nicholson and Belle) and 1-H (Clifton Park) had the highest percentages of participation at 58.2% and 55.6%, respectively. The city’s southwest precincts also had a strong showing. Precinct 2-J (between Athens and Lakewood Hts., and Morrison and Warren) had a 47.2% rate of participation.

Precinct 4-E (W. 117^th to Cove, Clifton to Detroit) and Precinct 4-G (half of Birdtown, and W. 117^th to Ridgewood, south of Franklin) had the lowest percentage rates at 21.8% and 22%, respectively. Almost all of the precincts in Ward 4 performed poorly.

Click on the map to view a larger image of the total number of active voters in the November general election by ward precinct.

Because the total number of registered voters varies from precinct to precinct, it is also worth examining the total number of active voters in each ward precinct to gain a more balanced perspective of the city’s voting landscape.

The ward precincts with the greatest number of citizens who cast votes are 3-A, 1-J, and 2-A – basically from Nicholson to Webb, all along Lake Erie – with 581, 544, and 517 votes, respectively.

Not surprisingly, Precinct 4-E (W. 117^th to Cove, Clifton to Detroit) and Precinct 4-G (half of Birdtown, W. 117^th to Ridgewood, south of Franklin), which had the lowest percentage of participation, also had the fewest number of individuals vote with 185 and 198, respectively.

The two red-colored precincts in Ward 1, 1-G and 1-F, are home to large number of renters and apartment buildings and that could be the source of their low voter turnout.

With a couple of exceptions, Ward 4 continues to be a source of concern. Low voter participation there is just another symptom of larger problems. It is like a diseased limb. Can it be contained and cured or will it spread?

It would be helpful if there was an organization that could lavish care and attention on that part of town in the same way that LakewoodAlive gets resources poured into the central part of the city known as Downtown Lakewood.

Click on the chart to view a larger image.

This chart provides context to the performance of each ward on election day. There are three columns for each ward precinct. The first column contains the ward precinct name. The second column shows the ward precinct’s total number of registered voters. The third column shows the total number of people in the ward precinct who actually voted in the general election.

The data in the columns is sorted by number of people who voted from highest to lowest. The precinct wards color corresponds to the map depicting percentage of overall voter turn out.

For example, Precinct 4-I had 399 voters on election day, the second highest total in Ward 4, and the 15^th largest precinct turnout in the city. However, in relation to the total number of registered voters there, only 34.8% of them voted, the 31^st lowest total percentage in the city.

One last observation, check out the total voting percentage for each ward. Wards 1, 2 and 3 are virtually the same at around 42%, while Ward 4 is at 34%.

One down and two to go. After elevating one of their own to fill the expected year-end vacancy in the mayor’s office, the Lakewood City Council must now pick two replacements to complete the unexpired terms of departing council members Nickie Antonio (At-Large) and Mike Summers (Ward 3).

In addition to the 26 resumes already submitted by residents, 10 others came in before Monday’s extended deadline.  A few residents who applied for the mayoral vacancy also asked to be considered for the council openings. 20 of applicants reside in Ward 3 and will receive consideration for both positions.

The council met in closed-session on Monday evening to discuss each of the candidates. Summers and Antonio are abstaining from the process. The five remaining council people agreed last week to send questionnaires to qualified candidates.

Here are the candidates:

(Ward 3 residents have an asterisk after their names. Names of applicants who submitted materials after the most recent deadline extension are underlined.)

Dan Alaimo: The French Ave. resident has lived in Lakewood for 27 years and would focus on park improvement and local entrepreneurship. He has a background in journalism. See application (.PDF)

Dan Bartos*: The Lewis Dr. resident is a lawyer whose practice represents children and families. He is a proud Democrat who would devote time on the council to maintaining the city’s status as “the Best Place to Raise Kids.” See application (.PDF)

Jacob Bell*: The Elbur Ave. resident has a background in education and high school athletics. He would “work tirelessly to connect to our younger audience in Lakewood and try to connect emerging small businesses with our citizens.” See application (.PDF)

Robert Bond: The Hall Ave. resident has a business background. The 23-year resident also applied for the mayoral vacancy. See application (.PDF)

Aaron Brockler: The Orchard Grove Ave. is an assistant prosecuting attorney with the county. He believes the city needs “an injection of young, motivated and innovative leadership.” See application (.PDF)

Bill Call: The Lake Ave. resident believes the future of the city is at risk and would manage city finances more strategically, restore city control over Lakewood Hospital, and fight union demands. Call has a background in finance and accounting. See application (.PDF)

Stephen Davis*: The 25-year Edgewater Dr. resident has a background in commercial printing. He would take creative approaches to find pragmatic solutions to problems. See application (.PDF)

Patrick Duffy*: The Kirtland Lane resident has a background in sales and experience managing large projects. See application (.PDF)

Savannah Dugan: The Edgewater Dr. resident would help find ways to make the city more sustainable and economically friendly and strengthen small business. Her background is in design and she’s a lifelong city resident. See application (.PDF)

Kenneth Farley Jr.: The Belle Ave. resident has lived in the city for 12 years. He also owns two Lakewood rental properties and is a corporate auditor. See application (.PDF)

Hannah Fritzman Belsito: The Cohassett Ave. resident is a newer homeowner in Ward 4 and has a background in relationship-building. See application (.PDF)

Donnald Heckelmoser Jr.*: The Giel Ave. resident has lived in the city for four years. His background is in non-profit community development. See application (.PDF)

Edward Herman*: The Lincoln Ave. realtor is also a lawyer who would use his knowledge of residential real estate to protect the city’s housing stock, which he refers to as its “greatest asset and greatest liability.” See application (.PDF)

Michael Holyko*: The Marlowe Ave. resident was born and raised in the city. He wants to “spearhead seeing a return to total greatness to a city I truly love.” His background is in behavioral health.  He also applied for the mayoral vacancy. See application (.PDF)

David Howard: The Hopkins Ave. resident has lived in Lakewood for 10 years. He is president of the Lakewood Stonewall Democrats and would work to solve the problem of absentee landlords and disruptive renters. His background is in public policy. See application (.PDF)

Tracy Jemison: The Riverside Dr. resident’s background is in investment management. He has lived in the city for about eight years and believes the role of city council is to be a good steward of tax revenues. See application (.PDF)

Shawn Juris*: The Lincoln Ave. resident has background in the insurance business and is president of Pillars of Lakewood (formerly known as the Lakewood Jaycees). See application (.PDF)

Kyle Krewson: The St. Charles Ave. resident has a background in urban planning and would put an emphasis on public safety. See application (.PDF)

John Litten*: The Wyandotte Ave. resident has been a Lakewood homeowner for about eight years. His background is in graphic arts and summer camp management. See application (.PDF)

Carole Lohr: The Carabel Ave. resident is a lawyer who represents victims of employment discrimination, harassment, and wrongful discharge. See application (.PDF)

Edward McCartney: The Clifton apartment dweller would focus on promoting Christianity and morality. He has a background in photographic processing. See application (.PDF)

Gregory McQueen: The Ridgewood Ave. resident has a criminal justice background, and was once an intern for Lakewood City Council. See application (.PDF)

Gaynel Mellino*: The Edgewater resident is a lawyer with a background negotiating leases and contracts. Mellino has lived in Lakewood for over 25 years. See application (.PDF)

Patrick Metzger: The Clifton Rd. resident has a background in economic development and is chairperson of the Lakewood Citizen Advisory Committee. See application (.PDF)

Edward Monroe: The Clifton Blvd. resident would focus on keeping the housing code strong and building a strong bond with the business community. He has a background in sales and government. See application (.PDF)

James Nagy*: The Cliff Dr. resident is both a lawyer and a realtor. The 16-year city resident is also a member of the city’s board of zoning appeals. See application (.PDF)

Jon “J.T.” Neuffer*: The Lewis Dr. resident is a human resources professional. He is also the founder of his street’s block club. See application (.PDF)

Ryan Nowlin*: The Chase Ave. resident is a lawyer specializing in family law and believes his conflict resolution skills would be an asset to city council. He is a fourth-generation Lakewood resident. See application (.PDF)

Jennifer Overstreet*: The Chesterland Ave. resident has lived in Lakewood for about 13 years. She has a background in project management and believes her knowledge of budgeting and sustainability would make her an asset on council. See application (.PDF)

Aaron Purdum: The Mars Ave. resident has a background in operations management. He wants to ensure that the city is safe and economically stable. See application (.PDF)

Daniel Rigney*: The Clarence Ave. resident has a background in administration and construction. See application (.PDF)

Timothy Rinehart*: The Robinwood Ave. resident has a background in automotive product sales and has lived in the city for over 15 years. He has prior experience on a city council. See application (.PDF)

Bryan Rosser: The Cannon Ave. resident is a lawyer who believes individuals have a civic duty to participate in government at all levels. The five-year resident of the city would seek re-election if appointed. See application (.PDF)

Matthew Sattler*: The Belle Ave. resident has a background in economic development and is a six-year resident of the city. See application (.PDF)

Daniel Shields: The Westwood Ave resident is a lawyer with a background in all phases of civil and criminal casework. The 15-year resident would focus on housing and business development. See application (.PDF)

David Stadler*: The Clifton Blvd. resident is a trial lawyer. The 14-year resident would focus on the maintenance and improvement of Lakewood’s housing stock. See application (.PDF)

Jared Shapiro*: The Marlow Ave. homeowner of six years has a background in medical sales. He wants to use his energy and ideas to make the city more welcoming for entrepreneurs and safer for children. See application (.PDF)

Jeffrey Sobieraj: The Mars Ave. resident has a background in sales and business process consulting. He has owned a home in Lakewood for three years, and also applied for the mayoral vacancy. See application (.PDF)

Kyle Weigand*: The Richland Ave. resident was born and raised in Lakewood. He would focus on economic, social, housing and safety issues. He has a legal background. See application (.PDF)