Marcus Atkinson
HispanicOhio.com editor
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For the third consecutive Democratic 2nd Ward primary in Lorain, Dennis Flores and Andy Drwal will ask the voters to vote for him. On the surface one may think why the voters cannot make up their mind or why one candidate doesn’t just give up, but if you dig in a bit deeper, the answers are obvious.
Without the support of the local Democratic Party, Flores campaigned against Brian Hazelett and won the council seat in 2007 – which makes up part of downtown and central Lorain. The self-proclaimed “people’s councilman”, quickly gained a reputation as a person who is out with residents cleaning neighborhoods and committing his efforts to grassroots projects to improve the ward.
A year later he was arrested for driving under the influence and soliciting prostitution, and that opened the door for Andy Drwal, a Navy veteran and retired Lorain firefighter. Drwal, like Flores is a lifelong resident of Lorain he definitely looks the part of councilman on paper and was a solid contrast to Flores.
Drwal defeated Flores for the council seat in 2009.
Holding only two years in office makes it challenging to establish oneself on council, and soon after Drwal won his seat, it clear Flores would challenge again, and he did.
The two candidates had nothing nice to say about each other during the 2011 campaign; Flores saying Drwal was an easy “yes”, vote for the city’s administration, with Flores’ legal troubles, and the perception of community apathy Drwal carried during his term in office, stories were not hard to come up with.
In a close race, Flores regained his seat.
In an all but déjà vu experience, in 2012 Flores was again, arrested, this time for amongst other things driving while drunk and now for the third time Flores v Drwal in ward two this May.
The voters once again will answer the questions, does Flores deserve another chance? Will Drwal represent the needs of ward 2 like a councilman should?
Many people in the ward like Flores beyond his name recognition he is often the opposing voice in council meetings, he participates in community organizations designed to improve the area. Drwal often speaks of his passion for Lorain and for his ward. He shares his desire to improve the area and work with council to make the city better.
Some voters in the ward say Drwal did not do enough for the area, so despite Flores’ issues, they will vote for him as a councilman who makes change, others say Flores was already given a second change and as councilman he represents what is wrong with the city. Come May 7, voters will decide for the third time in six years.