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Several community groups are hosting candidate forums and debates for the Columbus school board and city council candidates ahead of November's election.

Kate Curry-Da-Souza came in third out of the three candidates in the Columbus City Council District 7 primary in May. She gained about 20% of the vote city wide.

Columbus City Council candidate Jesse Vogel announced AFSCME Council 8 is endorsing his campaign. It's the first union to declare support for Vogel. Six other unions have backed Tiara Ross in the race.

Both Tiara Ross and Jesse Vogel have claimed the "progressive" mantle that is used by Democrats who don't identify with the moderate wing of their party. More and more Democrats have been embracing the label since U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders first ran for president.

Tiara Ross is aiming for an endorsement from the Franklin County Democratic Party after consolidating support from all of Columbus City Council and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. Her opponent Jesse Vogel wants the party to sit out of the election for the District 7 seat.

Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters is resigning her post after four years in that office.

Local school board races and the State Board of Education are nonpartisan in Ohio, and party affiliations are not listed alongside the names of candidates.

Under the Columbus City Charter, a candidate for Columbus City Council is required to reside within city limits one year prior to the city's May primary. The Rooster, operated by by D.J. Byrnes, claims Ross lived in Reynoldsburg as recently as August.

Five candidates filed to run for Columbus City Councilmember Otto Beatty III's seat. Beatty told reporters he would not seek election after he was appointed to the seat in January.

Olentangy Orange High School Principal Monica Asher was placed on paid leave by the district. No explanation or reason was given by the school district.