Issue 26 Election 2019: Cleveland Heights Will Elect Mayor

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — In 2021, Cleveland Heights voters will elect their first mayor in more than a century. The move to an elected mayor started Tuesday, when residents moved to amend the city's charter and pass Issue 26, to install a mayor, with 64 percent of the vote.

"Cleveland Heights voters made history today. They transformed a system of government created a century ago into one we believe holds promise for a brighter future. They demonstrated the power of focused civic engagement," said leaders with the Citizens for an Elected Mayor group in a statement sent to Patch.

Cleveland Heights is currently governed by an elected city council and a city manager. The city manager is hired by city council and reports to city council, and handles the day-to-day business of running Cleveland Heights. With Issue 26 passing on Tuesday, that will all change.

Issue 26 passed Tuesday with 6,854 votes, versus 3,846 votes against the measure. The results are unofficial until the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections certifies the vote tally.

However, barring sweeping revisions to the vote count, Cleveland Heights will amend its charter and, in 2021, residents will vote for an elected mayor. That mayor would become the city's executive branch leadership and will serve a four-year term.

"I am always proud of all the things that make Cleveland Heights such a special place to live. The passion and engagement of our residents was reflected in the Issue 26 campaign. People on both sides of Issue 26 worked tirelessly promoting what they thought was best for the city. In the end, the voters spoke and decided the time was right to change our form of government to the Mayor-Council form, directly electing a full-time mayor," said Cleveland Heights Councilwoman and current Mayor Carol Roe.

The battle over Issue 26 was vitriolic and divvied Cleveland Heights into warring factions. Neighboring lawns sported contradicting signs: one for Issue 26, the other against. Social media groups devolved into childish name calling or book-length posts extolling the political benefits of one form of government versus another. On Tuesday, the latest salvo in that dispute, perhaps the biggest volley possible, came to a noisy finish.

And now the community must re-stitch itself together.

"As a council, it is important that our residents feel that they are being heard and that their concerns are addressed. I assure you we will work tirelessly to represent and serve our community and ensure a smooth transition. We remain committed to work hard for all in our community to ensure a safe, vibrant, attractive city," Roe said in a statement.

"To those who disagreed with Issue 26, we know you did so from your sincere convictions and desire to continue to make the Heights the best it can be," the Citizens for an Elected Mayor group said. "We encourage everyone in the community to remain civically engaged and help ensure a strong future. There is much work to be done. We look forward to working side-by-side with everyone to ensure that Cleveland Heights remains a special place."