Mercedes R. Cotner (March 1905 - November 29, 1998) was an American politician, serving as a Cleveland City Council member and the first woman clerk.
She was also the first Democratic woman to run for mayor of Cleveland.
Mercedes was a precinct committee member then ward leader.
In 1954, she was appointed to Cleveland City Council,[2] then won elections in Ward 2[3] until becoming clerk in 1964.
In 1973, Cotner ran for mayor when James Carney dropped out 13 days before the election.