Mercedes_R._Cotner

Mercedes R. Cotner

Mercedes R. Cotner

American politician

Mercedes R. Cotner (March 1905 - November 29, 1998) was an American politician, serving as a Cleveland City Council member and the first woman clerk. She was also the first Democratic woman to run for mayor of Cleveland.[1]

Early life

Her parents were Caroline E. (Auer) and John S. Trapp. Cotner grew up in Ohio City.

Career

Mercedes was a precinct committee member then ward leader. In 1954, she was appointed to Cleveland City Council,[2] then won elections in Ward 2[3] until becoming clerk in 1964.[4] She retired in 1989.[5]

Cotner opposed an incinerator in her district. She supported the Erieview project and urban renewal.

In 1973, Cotner ran for mayor when James Carney dropped out 13 days before the election.[6] In 1987, Cotner was appointed to RTA.

Personal life

Cotner married George Cotner in 1927.[7][8] She had two children, Gerald L. and Timothy G.

References

  1. [1]
    "COTNER, MERCEDES R. | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University". case.edu. 3 April 2020.
  2. [2]
    Morton, Marian J. (22 August 1995). Women in Cleveland: An Illustrated History. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-32896-0.
  3. [3]
    The City Record. City of Cleveland. 1961.
  4. [4]
    Toledo Blade. Toledo Blade.
  5. [5]
    ""The Women Who Would Be Mayor" by Marian Morton – Teaching Cleveland Digital". 2 March 2015.
  6. [6]
    McDannald, Alexander Hopkins (1974). The Americana Annual: An Encyclopedia of Current Events. Americana corporation. ISBN 978-0-7172-0205-8.
  7. [7]
    Who's who in the Midwest. A.N. Marquis. 1967.
  8. [8]
    Mark Gillispie, The Plain Dealer (26 March 2011). "Cleveland's Mercedes Cotner was councilwoman, political mentor: Women's History Month". cleveland.
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