Office of Civic Engagement

2021 Cleveland Mayoral Candidate News

Learn More about the 2021 Cleveland Mayoral Candidates  

News: Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Forum | Candidate Field Narrows | YOUR Choices for Cleveland Mayor

Back to the 2021 Cleveland Mayoral Race Information page.


Cleveland Mayoral ConferenceCleveland Mayoral Candidate Forum: Wednesday, July 21, 2021, 5:30–7:00 PM

July 19, 2021
Join The Conversation to Hear What the Cleveland Mayoral Candidates Have to Say
Watch the event video.

The Office of Civic Engagement is a proud community partner of the Ohio Environmental Council for their important upcoming virtual event.

Every Cleveland resident deserves to live in a safe home in a healthy neighborhood. Residents deserve clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and high-quality, nearby green space to enjoy. Residents deserve access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy resources to power our homes, water utilities to provide for our families, and safe multi-modal transportation options to get us where we need to go.

Watch Cleveland mayoral candidates discuss their vision for tackling the most pressing environmental and environmental justice issues facing Cleveland residents.

All Cleveland mayoral candidates were invited to participate in this event. The candidates were asked a series of questions sourced from advocates and community members on topics related to environmental justice, water, land and green space, infrastructure and transportation, as well as energy and air quality.

This event was moderated by Justin Glanville, a local reporter and producer for Ideastream Public Media.

Topics included:

  • Clevelanders live within miles of one of the world’s richest freshwater resources, yet some residents face challenges to accessing clean, safe, and affordable water. How will Cleveland’s Mayoral Candidates address water issues throughout the city?
  • What plans do Cleveland’s Mayoral Candidates have to connect Clevelanders to high quality parks and public green spaces?
  • Investments in our built environment—specifically housing and transportation—are crucial to taking Cleveland to the next level. How will Cleveland’s Mayoral Candidates ensure healthy homes and equitable transportation options for all Cleveland residents?
  • Cleveland has been ranked as the 5th worst city for asthma sufferers, and the burden is highest for poor children and children of color. What plans do Cleveland’s Mayoral Candidates have to improve Cleveland’s poor air quality?

This was a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) educational event. Many of the event hosts are recognized as public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and, as a result, cannot endorse or oppose any candidate for elected public office.


Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Field Narrows from Eight to Seven

July 9, 2021
Eight Cleveland Mayoral Candidates submitted signatures by the filing deadline of June 16, 2021. By June 29, 2021, one candidate, Landry Simmons, withdrew from the race. Simmons was the only Republican in the crowded Cleveland Mayoral Race, but he fell short of the 3,000 valid signatures required. With Simmons off the September 14, 2021 primary ballot, Cleveland will no longer have a Republican candidate to consider. 

There is still a diverse pool of candidates to choose from. The official list of candidates range in age from 34 to 74 years old. Seven men and one woman are on the ballot. There are candidates with local, state, and national political experience. The list includes candidates with public, nonprofit, military, and private sector experience. They all have different ideas and perspectives on how to capitalize on Cleveland’s opportunities and how to solve Cleveland’s issues. Best of all, the CHOICE is yours! 

Keep in mind, the Cleveland Mayoral Race is nonpartisan. Cleveland’s current mayor, Frank G. Jackson, a Democrat, has served Cleveland for the last 16 years but the office has been occupied by Democrats, Republicans, Whigs, and nonpartisan mayors. Cleveland has had 26 Democratic mayors (52 terms), 22 Republican mayors (34.5 terms), 7 mayors under the Whig party (9 terms),  and 2 nonpartisan mayors.

Cleveland Mayor’s Responsibilities  

Cleveland has a strong mayor and city council system. The mayor of Cleveland has many responsibilities including appointing nine voting Cleveland Municipal School District school board members, working with 17 city council ward members, proposing a city budget, signing legislation into law, overseeing Cleveland’s day-to-day operations, and serving as the face of Cleveland. 

Challenges Facing Cleveland’s Next Mayor 

The next mayor of Cleveland will also determine which issues facing Cleveland will be focused on and how those issues are approached. Issues challenging Cleveland and many other large cities include: aging infrastructure, increasing crime rates, poverty, struggling school systems, disparate access to resources and opportunities, shrinking population, inequities in health care, wealth creation and distribution, education, digital technology, infant mortality, the opioid crisis, lead crisis, and lack of public transportation which can expand economic opportunity for residents. The OCE has listed highlights from each official candidate’s platforms below in alphabetical order. We encourage you to visit their official campaign websites to learn more about their plans to address issues facing Cleveland and how they will leverage opportunities for Cleveland residents.


YOUR Choices for Cleveland Mayor

July 9, 2021
Justin Bibb
“Cleveland Can’t Wait!”
Bibb was born and raised in Cleveland's Mount Pleasant neighborhood. His platform includes: innovation within public safety, safe and secure neighborhoods, high quality education, healthy communities, economic relief and recovery, modern and engaged city hall, and climate and environmental justice. 
To learn more about Justin Bibb’s campaign, visit his official website for Cleveland Mayor:  https://www.bibbforcle.com/.

Ross DiBello
“Together a Better Cleveland is Possible.”
DiBello is a resident from Cleveland's West Park neighborhood. His campaign platform focuses on poverty, racial injustice, improving local education, housing inequity, homelessness, public transportation, green spaces, police, mental health, addiction, and other services, renegotiating with the Ohio Lottery for the City of Cleveland, addressing minority infant mortality rate, quality jobs with higher wages, police budget and criminal justice reform, amendments to the city charter, and recasting the yearly budget. To learn more about Ross DiBello’s campaign, visit his official website for Cleveland Mayor at: ​​​​https://rossdibello.com/.

Basheer Jones
“For a Better Cleveland”
Jones was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the City of Cleveland. His platform is building public safety and fighting violence, creating a comprehensive plan to address COVID-19 and its aftermath, cultivating an inclusive and equitable economy, transparency and accountability to restore trust in city government, and education. 

Kevin Kelley
“Forging a New Path.”
Kelley is a resident of Old Brooklyn. Kelley’s platform emphasizes community-based approach to public safety, workforce development, paid parental leave for city employees, addressing the digital divide, corporate greed, housing instability, investing in Cleveland’s public health, transit and transportation, improving infrastructure, and protecting Clevelander’s right to vote. To learn more about Kevin Kelley’s campaign, visit his official website for Cleveland Mayor at, https://www.kevinforcle.com/.

Dennis Kucinich
“Light Up Cleveland”
Kucinich roots are in Cleveland. His platform is focused on justice, utilities, the economy, health, education, housing, transit, and being a green city. To learn more about Dennis Kucinich’s campaign, visit his official website for Cleveland Mayor at: https://kucinich.com/.

Zach Reed
“Experience You Can Count On.”
Reed is a Mount Pleasant resident. His campaign platform focuses on building healthier communities, safer neighborhoods, a stronger workforce, and a strong economic future. 

Sandra Williams
“Trusted Leader, Veteran of Army Reserves, Delivering Results, Finding Solutions”
Williams was born in Mount Pleasant and raised in Cleveland. Williams platform focuses on economic development, housing affordability, education, public safety, and justice reform. 


Questions or Comments 
If you have questions or would like more information about Cleveland Mayoral Race, please reach out to Anita Ruf-Young, OCE Director, at a.rufyoung@csuohio.edu, or Anthony Kukura, OCE Graduate Assistant, at vikesvote@csuohio.edu