Annette Blackwell

Ohio Democrats have finally filled their statewide ticket with Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell saying she will run for auditor.

Blackwell said she is running for auditor “to make Ohio a safe and affordable place to live for working families across the state. For too long, our state government has been plagued with corruption that’s worked out well for special interests while leaving the rest of our state struggling with rising costs and communities like mine deprived of critical resources.”

Blackwell was first elected in 2015 as mayor of Maple Heights, a city of about 23,000 residents in Cuyahoga County.

A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide executive branch position since 2008.

Democrats have struggled to fill the lower part of its statewide ticket with Blackwell announcing Tuesday and Seth Walsh, a Cincinnati City Councilman, declaring Friday for state treasurer.

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, a Republican, cannot run this year for re-election because of the state’s term-limits law. Faber is running this year for attorney general.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who also cannot run for re-election this year because of term limits, is the lone declared Republican candidate for auditor.

Blackwell said as auditor, she plans to “tackle” state government “corruption and safeguard our tax dollars by holding bad actors accountable. But I also want to partner with communities across the state so they can provide a safe and affordable place to live for working families in every corner of Ohio.”

Blackwell also serves as Maple Heights’ safety director.