Beachwood City Council Election 2011: Justin Berns

Editor's Note: As part of Patch's local election coverage, we will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more informed decisions at the ballot box. Stay tuned for more coverage of the election, and for full election coverage, visit  and "like" our Beachwood Elections Facebook Page.

Name: Justin Berns

Age: 42

Occupation: Real Estate Developer

Education: The Ohio State University, 1987-1990; Beachwood High School - 1987 Graduate

Political Affiliation: Democratic

Office Sought: Beachwood City Council

Previous Political Office Sought or Held: Appointed to Beachwood City Council in 2010.

Candidate Statement: I believe that my 19+ years of dedicated service to the City and its residents have given me wide-ranging experience and knowledge of the City’s affairs and governance, making me an ideal candidate to retain my Council seat.

In May of 2010, City Council unanimously selected me from among 14 candidates to fill the unexpired Council term of Ken Kleinman, and it has been my honor and privilege to do so. Prior to my appointment to Council, I actively served the City and its residents continuously since 1992 as a Volunteer Firefighter, on the Cable Television Commission, and on the Planning and Zoning Commission, allowing me to gain unique insights into the City’s operations and the concerns of its residents and business community. Prior to my appointment to Council, I regularly attended Council meetings for four years and become familiar with both the manner in which Council conducts itself and the issues it has addressed.

My wife Lisa and I are parents of three children – Caleb (7) and twin daughters Allie and Sarah (6). I am the only Council member who currently has children enrolled in the Beachwood School District, giving me a distinct interest in seeing that the City and schools work cooperatively. In addition, I have been a coach for the Recreation Department’s youth baseball program for the past three years, giving me the chance to work with children in our City and another avenue to meet many of you.

Beyond my family and serving the City, I am the President of Berns Custom Homes, a land development firm and custom home builder that also performs home renovation projects. As a developer and builder, I have first-hand experience with the construction of infrastructure improvements like roads and sidewalks. I have also developed and constructed rental properties, office and warehouse buildings, and automobile dealerships. And, as the manager of residential, commercial, and industrial rental properties, I have prepared and followed short- and long-term budgets, and have a strong understanding of financial reporting. I believe that these experiences give me a unique perspective on many of the challenges that the City may face in coming years.

My civic and business activities have given me opportunities to understand the concerns of Beachwood residents and the ways in which the City can help address those concerns, and I have devoted myself to addressing those concerns on Council.

Beachwood is the best governed community in Northeastern Ohio, and I have been proud to serve you on Council. I now ask for your vote on November 8th so that I can continue to help our City thrive and prosper.