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Updated: 3:05 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022

Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers is joining the race to lead Cuyahoga County government.

Sellers kicked off his campaign in a Zoom press conference Wednesday afternoon. He said it would have been 鈥渋rresponsible鈥� to hold an in-person event during a new spike in coronavirus cases.

Standing 7 feet tall, Sellers was the Chicago Bulls鈥� first-round draft pick in 1986. He first won election as mayor to the southeast Cleveland suburb of more than 13,000 people in 2011.

That experience as mayor 鈥� and before that as the city鈥檚 economic development director 鈥� formed the foundation of Sellers鈥� campaign pitch on Wednesday.

鈥淭o make good things happen in Warrensville Heights, we changed the game,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e aimed high. No half-stepping and no settling for mediocrity.鈥�

His top priorities as county executive would be shoring up safety-net services, supporting all of the county鈥檚 59 municipalities and resolving 鈥渢he jail situation.鈥� For years, county and court officials have been making plans to rebuild or revamp the jail and Justice Center in Downtown Cleveland.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a development project, but it鈥檚 more than building locks, steel,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more than that. When you have a jail, the people are in your care. And so there鈥檚 a responsibility for that, and we have to plan and develop accordingly.鈥�

Sellers enters the race with name recognition that reaches beyond his hometown suburb鈥檚 borders. For years, he has provided color commentary for Cleveland Cavaliers games on TV and radio.

Though a small part of the county, Warrensville Heights has proved a Democratic political powerhouse. Former congresswoman and current HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge preceded Sellers as mayor. Sellers is also close with newly elected U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, a former Warrensville Heights councilwoman.

Former Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed, who was instrumental in Mayor Justin Bibb鈥檚 general election campaign, .

Sellers faces former University Circle Incorporated leader Chris Ronayne in the Democratic primary this May.

The county party鈥檚 executive committee is expected to vote on an endorsement in the race late this month, before the February filing deadline. Sellers described himself as an 鈥渁vid member鈥� of the county Democratic party and said he鈥檚 been introducing and re-introducing himself to its members.

Sellers said he considered his primary opponent a friend, but contrasted his experience with Ronayne鈥檚. As a mayor, Sellers has to 鈥渁nswer the bell 24/7,鈥� he said.

鈥淗ow I grew up, competition is not a bad thing,鈥� Sellers said. 鈥淚t only makes you better. It proves who can get it done, and it proves who can鈥檛 get it done. It should show that. And it doesn鈥檛 have to be adversarial.鈥�

The two men are currently the only Democrats in the running. Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell suspended her campaign for county executive on Tuesday.

Republican former county commissioner Lee Weingart has been building support for his county executive campaign for nearly a year.