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Apr

20

Local writer examines convicted felon John Boyd’s fitness to be Cleveland City Councilman


Wendy Hoke’s front-page teased article in tomorrow’s Christian Science Monitor is available online now, with a separate interview between Wendy and CSM.

The question the article explores, “He served time; can he serve on the Cleveland city council? John A. Boyd feels his rehabilitation makes him a model of hope for those struggling as he did.”

Some opinions on that, included in the article:

One influential local politician, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, is complimentary if careful: “Regardless of whether or not I agree with him on specific issues, John’s candidacy is a valuable social service in that it heightens our awareness of the barriers to seeking a second chance confronted by ex-offenders.” Boyd has worked on Jones’s previous campaigns.

Although Boyd didn’t receive The Plain Dealer’s endorsement, the paper’s editorial board did note April 17 that, “Boyd could continue to make a big difference…. He offers a living example of hope to the young people in one of Cleveland’s poorest wards.”

It’s a conundrum for our times, one which may only become more not less common. Kudos to Wendy for covering with great narrative.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:16 pm April 20th, 2008 in Announcements, Cleveland+, Crime, Culture, Government, Ohio, Politics, Social Issues, Writing 

Comments

17 Responses to “Local writer examines convicted felon John Boyd’s fitness to be Cleveland City Councilman”

  1. 1 Wendy Hoke on April 20th, 2008 11:11 pm

    Thanks for the nod, Jill. :)

  2. 2 Oengus on April 21st, 2008 12:31 am

    State law would prohibit Boyd from taking office there are two other candidates that have criminal records running besides Boyd.

    There are contradictions, the article does not offer the same criminal history, this PD article offer a story of armed robbery of a grocery store in which Boyd shoots a 72 year old man in the chest twice.

    http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/03/half_of_clevelands_ward_6_cand.html

    The article from the PD quotes Boyd as saying; “I have not encountered anyone who has told me I can’t run,” You have to wonder if he continues to say that after the article was published. He pursed an education into a field that restricts felons, not very wise. He is doing it again pursuing something he cannot attain.

    I have to wonder about Mamie Mitchell and her admitting to her personal insolvency, good god she is now earning 70K, pay off your bills Ms. Mitchell!

    I think that Boyd has a job and working with at risk youths is a good position for him, however he has to come to terms with the law, once again.

    I am fine with a sort of long drawn out method of absolution of past crimes, petitions and probation periods and time frames eventually the record could clear, but this man killed people. The two articles tell two very different a story of the crime, that disturbing isn’t it.

  3. 3 Wendy Hoke on April 21st, 2008 6:38 am

    I wrote a profile of the man, not his crime. I’m not judging whether or not he’s fit for office. My interest in writing about him was in learning the motivations of someone who would chose such a path, knowing the potential risks that either he could:

    A) lose
    B) win
    C) win and then be told by the state that he can’t hold office

    As for the original crime (he has committed many), I asked him to describe the day, which is what you read in my story. Only a fraction of that story made it into the final.

    As for his education. He became a social worker assistant. He was initially denied licensure, but appeared before the state board to explain his background. Based on his testimony, the board reversed its decision and granted him the license.

    I wasn’t interested in writing a news story ala the PD. They’ve got that covered fine. I’m a features writer and was interested in the story of a man who is seeking redemption.

  4. 4 Jeff Hess on April 21st, 2008 7:30 am

    Shalom Jill,

    If criminals can’t pay their debt to society we may as well enact two-strikes-and-your-dead rule.

    B’shalom,

    Jeff

  5. 5 Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive » MY COMMENTS… on April 21st, 2008 7:40 am

    [...] Local writer examines convicted felon John Boyd’s fitness to be Cleveland City Councilman. Posted in [...]

  6. 6 molly on April 21st, 2008 7:49 am

    what is a social work assistant?

    being a social worker, ive never heard of such a term- social work intern yes, but not assistant

    though i do not think a criminal record should keep somone from the position of soialworker (as it brings a needed new perspective to the practice end of the field), but let it be said that social work is a liscensed profession, and you either are or are not a social worker and coining a new phrase to include non-liscensed idviduals in any way creates confusion on the boundaries inherent in social work

    just had o put that out there

  7. 7 Wendy Hoke on April 21st, 2008 8:55 am

    A licensed social worker assistant worked under the guidance of a licensed social worker (LSW).

    It is a licensure issued by the state of Ohio.

  8. 8 Carole Cohen on April 21st, 2008 9:10 am

    I agree with Jeff’s philosophy about people paying their debt to society and then being allowed to move on. The only chink in the chain is the law. I’m not sure how rules are established and unless you’re a county commish and can do whatever you want, most laws have to be revised. That seems to mean he could win but not ever be allowed to hold office? That’s the part of the plan I don’t understand. If you can’t win why run? Unless it is just to point out the issue and try to affect change? Dunno

    The article was wonderful btw.

  9. 9 Wendy Hoke on April 21st, 2008 9:23 am

    Thanks, Carole.

    John thinks he can win, which is why he’s running, and he also thinks the law is on his side. He’s a smart, resourceful guy and does his homework, so maybe he’s right. We’ll have to see what the OAG says, but then again Dann has his own mess ‘o problems right now.

    Beyond the legal question, I think he has embraced being the poster boy for the formerly incarcerated. He has a job he enjoys not because someone pitied him, but because he went out and fought for the opportunity that was initially denied him based on his past convictions.

    Many other ex-offenders may not be so inspired to do the same. For them, it may be easier to go back to the streets.

    My goal was to take a look at one man’s attempt at redemption. We do pay it lip service, but our laws undermine any notion that rehabilitation is truly possible.

  10. 10 David H. Lukenbill on April 21st, 2008 1:33 pm

    Great story about redemption, and I hope it works out for John Boyd.

    One point; the discrepancy about the crime may not be a discrepancy at all as the grocery store may have been also a numbers house.

    As a reformed criminal—thief and robber—who served 12 years in maximum security prisons, being released in 1969, going to college and receiving my masters in public administration and now developing leadership tools for reformed criminals through my nonprofit organization, The LampStand Foundation, I am aware of the difficulty John will have with the election and its aftermath, but with his personal history related in the excellent CSM article, he is obviously a person of some grit and will deal with those obstacles as he has dealt with the other barriers—justifiable ones to be sure as the community should be wary of a former murderer and criminal—to becoming a person of worth and dignity.

    Criminals can transform themselves and when one does so, all of us who can, should be supportive of him, if for no other reason than to give the larger social aspects of the rehabilitation effort the support it needs.

  11. 11 DJO on April 21st, 2008 3:44 pm

    John Boyd would certainly be a great symbol of true rehabilitation. His election would be a triumph for him personally and for a lot of young black men who know how difficult it is to ever rise above a life of crime. But symbolism aside, one reality should prevail for voters in the sixth ward: John Boyd wouldn’t be a good councilman.

    Some nearby wards are fortunate to have coucilwomen like Phyliss Cleveland, Nina Turner and Sabra Pierce Scott. While not perfect, these women possess the intelligence, vision, compassion, and savvy to address the enormous challenges facing their neighborhoods and Cleveland as a whole. Does John Boyd? Are businesses are going to take him seriously? Can he be an effective an advocate for his constituents at all levels?

    It’s true that there is a real shortage of black male role models in this city. It’s tragic. There is ONE black male on the Common Pleas Court. None on Juvenile Court. On City Council, men like Joe Jones and Zack Reed have been public failures. John Boyd would be a sincere example for ex-offenders, and he can be – but not as a councilman. What all his constituents need most is a fighter who can play at the big level to change the problems that transcend race, gender, and even crime. Maybe neither of these candidates is that person. But Mamie Mitchell comes closest by far.

  12. 12 redhorse on April 22nd, 2008 12:39 am

    Great piece, Wendy, and thanks for pointing us to it, Jill.

  13. 13 Wendy Hoke on April 22nd, 2008 6:32 am

    Thanks!

  14. 14 Jill Miller Zimon on April 22nd, 2008 10:42 pm

    The good news bad news about the decline of print newspapers is that they cannot do this kind of narrative coverage that enthralls and engages and tells us so much more about the human condition and why we do what we do – and why others do what they do.

    The good news is that the Internet offers the possibility to do just that – and if the print outlet owners can figure that out, we’ll go to the next level of storytelling.

  15. 15 Wendy Hoke on April 23rd, 2008 6:46 am

    I couldn’t agree more. Thanks, Jill!

  16. 16 Oengus on April 23rd, 2008 8:47 am

    Does the attorney general have the authority? The law is it gray is it unclear; the law addresses convictions of felonies and detail which felonies are grounds for removal from government.

    It is the same thing again, when you murder it is disrespect for the law also disrespect for life. The disrespect is still there, the law is there and being disregarded.

    Keeping felons out of government is a good policy, when you begin making acceptation to the rules then you have yet another opportunity for corruption. Offering preferential decision based on the individuals would do just that.

    The attorney general enforces the laws passed through the legislative body, they do not rule on the law, they enforce the laws and if not then it is the attorney general that would then be held accountable.

  17. 17 Jill Miller Zimon on April 23rd, 2008 12:47 pm

    Oengus – why don’t you trust us, the voters, residents and citizens to decide whether or not we want this individual representing us? Direct representation and all, yes?

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