Meet the at-large candidates for Toledo City Council: Cerssandra McPherson

TOLEDO, Ohio —

Twelve people are vying to fill six at-large Toledo City Council seats.

In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 4 election, WTOL 11 will introduce you to the candidates who are in the running. Check back on this article every week to learn about them.

At-large council member Cerssandra McPherson is one of those hoping to keep her spot on the dais.

“I love what I do, so that is why I am seeking to keep my seat for another term, which would be my final term,” McPherson said.

McPherson was appointed in 2020, after four former Toledo city council members were suspended following a bribery scandal.

She was then elected to a full term in 2021.

“When I came on with the other three council persons we all were like, ‘OK, what’s our goal?’ And we all said ‘youth programming,'” McPherson said. “When we got the ARPA dollars — ‘what are we going to do?’ And we all said, ‘put money towards summer programs.'”

While McPherson says helping expand youth programs is one of the things she’s most proud of, she says one of her biggest challenges has been dealing with gun violence.

“We were hoping that the programs and activities would reduce that [violence]. It has on some areas. But then again, in other areas, it still hasn’t, so that’s been a challenge for me.”

If re-elected, McPherson says she would continue to address the issue by connecting with families impacted by violence and working with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.

“It’s going to take some different programs, and it’s going to take everybody. Not just the police, not the schools, but it’s going to take the store owners, the librarians, the neighbors, the clubs, the organizations, everybody.”

On Nov. 4, voters will also cast their ballots for mayor.

As a council member, McPherson has only worked with the Wade Kapszukiewicz administration.

McPherson says that regardless of who wins the mayoral election, she will keep an open line of communication with them.

“Administration and council has to work together and when the community sees us working together hand in hand, it also brings stability to our community.”  

The other 11 candidates running are:

• Council president Carrie Hartman
• Council member Brittany Jones
  
• Council member George Sarantou
  
• Council member Mac Driscoll
  
• Council member Nick Komives
  
• Tom Waniewski
• Ed Beczynski
• Erin Kramer
• Tom Names
• Robert Pasker III
• Blair Johnson