Republican Ed Lewis' burgeoning political career was in trouble.
He envisioned himself as a future mayor of the City of Champions, but a 2015 campaign against the incumbent was not in the offing.
He took a close shave in the sixth ward in 2013 from FirstMerit bank executive Linda Litman, and Litman was coming back for another run.
Lewis wanted to run for council at large, so he could cultivate a city wide base that he could utilize when he finally did run for mayor, but there were already three strong incumbents serving the city at large, and he probably wasn't going to beat any of them.
Ed Lewis needed help.
Without some serious intervention, the City of Champions could have been deprived of the enlightened wisdom and leadership of Ed Lewis.
Fortunately for Ed Lewis, Democrat at large councilwoman Michelle Del Rio Keller came to save the day.
In a bi-partisan spirit of cooperation, and behind closed doors machinations reminiscent of old school Chicago political machines, Ed Lewis cooked up a plan to save his bacon.
Lewis and Del Rio Keller would switch seats.
Del Rio Keller would give up her safe council at large seat, and run for Lewis' Ward 6 seat, and Lewis would slide into Del Rio Keller's safe council at large seat.
Word around town is that Ed Lewis begged and pleaded Del Rio Keller to switch races with him.
Word is he implored Del Rio Keller to make this switch, or his political career could come to end.
Most surprising to any reasonable observer is that Del Rio Keller agreed to the switch.
She appeared to be more worried about Ed Lewis' political future than her own.
Normally, incumbents of one political party, in this case a Democrat, don't worry about incumbents of the other party, in this case a Republican.
Del Rio Keller would now face a difficult Democratic Primary against a very serious candidate who came within a handful of votes of winning in 2013 in Ward 6.
Ed Lewis would basically get a free ride as a candidate for council at large, thereby creating a city wide base for when he does run for mayor, and avoiding a tough election.
Democrat Del Rio Keller would put her own political career in jeopardy while Republican Ed Lewis got a freebie.
What did Del Rio Keller get from this deal other than a tough campaign which she eventually lost?
By six votes.
Apparently, nothing.
Usually when someone 'cuts a deal,' they get something.
Anything.
In this case, Del Rio Keller was had.
At least the Indians who sold Manhattan island to the Dutch got $24 worth of wampum when they were swindled.
Michelle Del Rio Keller didn't get that much.
She did, however, get beat.
Ed Lewis may have gotten beaten by Linda Litman as well.
But we will never know, as he convinced Michelle Del Rio to take it on the chin instead.
Ed Lewis must be a masterful negotiator, or Del Rio Keller was just a total patsy.
A number of our faithful readers have shared with us that Del Rio Keller holds the Parks Board responsible for her loss, and that she has been on a jihad against them since her defeat
By six votes.
But the person most responsible for Michelle Del Rio Keller's loss is Michelle Del Rio Keller.
She listened to the pleas of Ed Lewis, whose negotiating skills must be so good, he can literally sell ice to Eskimos.
Maybe his plan to eventually become mayor of Massillon is to convince the incumbent to switch seats with him.
Although, we doubt his next opponent will be so easily manipulated.
Unless that opponent is Michelle Del Rio Keller.
