Annual Bagel Brunch marks last campaign push before General Election

ELYRIA — For more than three decades, Temple B'nai Abraham's bagel brunch has marked the last major event before the general election. Held the Sunday before voters hit the polls, the temple's fundraiser sees more than 30 dozen Bialy's bagels sold with proceeds benefiting Temple B'nai Abraham and a charity of the congregation's choosing. Event chairperson Debbie Schmitt, of Avon Lake, has been a member of the temple for 25 years, and other than during the pandemic cannot remember a year without the annual benefit. This year's event saw sponsorships from politicians and campaigns as well as ticket sales to help raise funds for the temple and victims of Hurricane Helene. One of the congregation's former members lives in Asheville, North Carolina, which was devastated by Helene in late September, Schmitt said. The storm killed more than 100 people in North Carolina alone. "Ten percent of our proceeds will go to the hurricane victims," Schmitt said. The temple has had a long tradition of donating a portion of its proceeds to local charities, though it expanded it last year to Magen David Admon in Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on the Jewish nation. MDA is akin to Israel's Red Cross or emergency management agency. Holding the brunch the Sunday before Election Day makes the date easy to remember, Schmitt said. This is the second year the brunch has taken sponsorships from political campaigns, though it had long before been an unofficial stop at the tail end of the campaign trail. For longtime politicians like incumbent County Treasurer Dan Talarek, the brunch was not so much a campaign stop but an annual brunch stop with his wife, Gail. The Democrat has held his seat since 1988 and has attended even when not up for reelection, he said. Such events are a way to meet people and answer constituents questions, he said. As of Nov. 1, the Treasurer's Office began taking credit cards for online payments, he said. Talarek faces Republican challenger John Prajzner on Tuesday. With election results just days ahead, Talarek said he felt good. Rich Resendez, a Democrat running for Lorain County sheriff against Republican Jack Hall, said the challenge of running a county-wide campaign is reaching as many voters as possible. "I think we've got the message out," he said, adding he shared Talarek's optimism heading into Tuesday's election. "I feel we've done everything we could do," Resendez said. Incumbent county Commissioner Dave Moore, a Republican, said everything now is up to the voters. "Do they want to go backwards to the days of closed-door meetings, or do they want to move forward with what they've seen in the last 15 months?" Moore said. "... There's a lot of positive energy outside." Moore faces Democratic challenger Brian Baker. This year marked Baker's first county-wide campaign — and all the steak-frys, pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners that go along with it. "I think the turnout's there – I just talk to a lot of people and hopefully put enough effort in to get the people out to support us," he said. Lorain County Clerk of Courts incumbent Democrat Tom Orlando was excited. "I'm trying to focus on doing a good job for the citizens of Lorain County on a day-to-day basis (and) sending our message out around the county. We're good stewards of Lorain County Clerk of Courts and good stewards of tax dollars and providing what we feel is world-class service in our legal and auto title divisions," he said. "Hopefully those are things the voters recognize." Orlando faces Republican Maurice Corbin to keep his seat for a third full term. As an incumbent, Orlando said he has a better understanding of the political landscape than when he first ran in 2016, and felt the election system in the U.S. is "one of the best systems in the world." Incumbent state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-Avon, said even after all her campaigns, her motto is to "run scared." She faces Democratic challenger Genevieve Flieger in her bid for a fourth term. "I guess I'm at a point in my life where if I lose, I lose. It's not the end of the world," Manning said. "I see so many tragedies in the world, losing a race, it's OK. I know how to run a race … (I'm) comfortable but always very nervous about elections." Dan Petticord, the Democratic candidate for Lorain County Common Pleas Judge, said he has tried to stem his emotional reactions as the campaign winds down. "I realized that we get into our own heads and hopefully as a lawyer you train yourself not to do that," he said. I got to a very calm midpoint and said we've done what we can do, we've made the arguments that we've made for why I think I'm the right person with the right experience and the people now get to decide. That's the system we live in." On the other side of the aisle, Republican Giovanna Scaletta-Bremke said the last few days before the election have been busy. She shared Petticord's acceptance of putting everything in the hands of electors. She is also seeking the Common Pleas seat. "You never know," she said. "You work hard and let the voters decide." Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.