Kevin Kelley Is Running For Cleveland Mayor

CLEVELAND — Kevin Kelley is running for mayor of Cleveland.

The president of Cleveland City Council announced his long-expected campaign on Thursday. Kelley has been Ward 13's representative to council since 2005, and president of council since 2013. He spent the past several weeks holding events in all of Cleveland's wards.

“This is the most important mayoral election of our lifetime,” Kelley said. “We are coming out of a pandemic that has afflicted thousands of Clevelanders, taken more than 400 Clevelanders’ lives, left countless unemployed, and caused a deep recession – our second in just over 10 years. Navigating these challenges requires not only big ideas, but the knowledge, experience, and commitment to put those ideas to work. That is what I offer Cleveland.”

Kelley lives in Old Brooklyn. He said his experience growing up with unemployment and the loss of a loved one makes him uniquely prepared to help Cleveland as it emerges from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will come out of this recession better than we went into it. Every person in every neighborhood will count and be a part of our recovery,” Kelley said. “We will do this by investing in our people and leveraging the assets that already exist. We will do this by ending the digital divide, by educating and training residents for careers that pay well enough to support their families; and by ensuring every neighborhood is healthy, strong and safe.”

Former Cleveland City Councilperson Zach Reed and newcomer Justin Bibb have also launched their mayoral campaigns. Rumors of potential bids are circling Dennis Kucinich and current Mayor Frank Jackson (who, if he ran, would be seeking a fifth term in office).