Short deadline to replace Rep. Tubbs Jones

CLEVELAND, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- While Democrats in Cleveland are still mourning the sudden death of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, they must move quickly to replace her on the ballot.

Tubbs Jones had been expected to win a sixth term easily. Now, if her name remains on the ballot, her Republican challenger, Thomas Pekarek, would be the likely winner under Ohio law, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

While the election is only three months away, the district must also have a primary and general election to pick someone to serve the remainder of Tubbs Jones' fifth term. Leaving the seat empty is not an option under a 2006 federal appeals court ruling.

The dates of the special elections are up to Gov. Ted Strickland. The party is expected to decide on a candidate for the general election by Sept. 26 when ballot printing begins.

To complicate matters further, one of Tubbs Jones' potential successors is Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones. If he runs for Congress, he would no longer be able to run for the county post.

Tubbs Jones died Wednesday after suffering a stroke.