By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, Ph.D.
The Truth Contributor
When Black women stand up—when they speak the truth, when they refuse to be silenced—things begin to change. – bell hooks
The main takeaway from last week’s municipal election is that when Black women lead, the city takes notice.
For the first time in Toledo’s history, two African American women — Councilwomen Cerssandra McPherson and Brittany Jones, PhD, — were the top vote-getters in the at-large City Council race.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz interprets the outcome as “a vivid illustration of the enduring importance of African Americans to the Democratic Party’s coalition.” While national headlines focused on Democratic Party wins across the country, Toledo’s local result carried its own message: Black women voters — and leaders — are now at the center of the city’s political gravity.
“African American women form the single most loyal voting bloc within the Democratic Party,” the mayor said to The Truth. “To have Cerssandra and Dr. Jones perform so well speaks to the political power African Americans wield in Toledo.”
With Councilwoman Vanice Williams, who now serves as City Council President, leading alongside McPherson and Jones, the women form a triad of influence the city has never seen before. Working collaboratively on the priorities of Jones, McPherson and Williams, the mayor pledged to push forward policies on neighborhood reinvestment, youth opportunity, and public safety— initiatives designed to directly confront the realities of Toledo’s most neglected neighborhoods.
This election also marks a generational turning point in Black political leadership emerging before our eyes. Since the passing of Mayor Jack Ford, the local political torch seemed suspended between eras, and McPherson sees her role as one of mentoring and multiplication.
“I’m committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders. When people stand and speak together as a community —and not let politicians divide them—they are at their most powerful to create change,” she emphasized.
Yet, Toledo’s new political reality is not just about who won—it’s about what their victory represents.
Although Lucas County’s voter turnout barely cleared 21 percent, Elections Director Lavera Scott observed that people seemed to vote “more consciously” this cycle. “They’re not just voting for all six candidates (as they have often done in past elections), they’re voting only for the ones who represent their values.”
Scott’s observation is a reminder that authenticity still matters in an era of politics-by-polling and of the declining influence of high-profile endorsements.
Constantly visible but never self-promoting, McPherson’s advocacy has always been grounded in service rather than the spotlight. Whether she’s at a neighborhood cleanup, a prayer vigil, or a community meeting, McPherson shows up—not for cameras, but for people. As a result, “the votes I received reflect a broad coalition from across Toledo, but I also know the African American community clearly represented a major bloc of support, because they know me best. They know what I stand for in my heart,” she told me after the election.
While McPherson brings institutional knowledge, experience and a long-standing institutional network, including the Black church and labor, Brittany Jones brings a background in health and a focus on Toledo’s struggles with food insecurity and community wellness.
Yet, as Toledo writes this new chapter in its political story, the implications reach beyond a single election.
A longtime political analyst and local election observer summed up the moment this way: “The rise of these two successful candidates means they got more than just traditional central-city support. This has to be meaningful.”
He added that if McPherson, Jones and Council President Vanice Williams can use their platform to “raise issues and get results,” their success could expand Black political participation for years to come. “It’s something that can be built on, if their leadership translates into visible change.”
The challenge now is to ensure that the story of November 2025 is not just a headline stating that two Black women made history, but that the event becomes a movement toward a more equitable, participatory Toledo, where every neighborhood and every voter matters.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, PhD, at drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org