Downtown, Jul 2004
ISBN: 0743466268
Incumbent Cleveland Mayor Joseph Way Sr. is battling challenger Lester Ratcovic in a dirty campaign. Joseph's son Assistant DA Joe Jr. is a popular local figure for having been a former college football star and being influential in bringing the return of professional football to the city. Sr. constantly reminds the Dog Pound of his son's sports accomplishments.
Click here to see the rest of this review...
The Way approach to politics shared by both men is self-righteousness in public, but playing dirty when they can get away with it. The break occurs when teenager Jenni Sanchez tells Jr. that Ratcovic sexually harassed her. Jr. gets her to go public without involving the Ways and sinking the enemy's campaign. Not long afterward, someone beats the girl to death. Joe does not look back with any remorse as she served her purpose until he learns that his role model Sr. has had a longtime affair having caught his dad in the act. The next day Joseph Sr. dies. As he works on the eulogy, Joe Jr. knows the statue has fallen from the pedestal.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
