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Age
36
Education
Stanford Law School (JD ’14), University of Chicago (BA '11)
Qualifications for office
Serves as Vice Chair of Cleveland’s Health and Human Services Committee and is co-chair of the City’s Lead Safe Advisory Board; ran and won a grassroots campaign in 2021 knocking doors on every street in Ward 12 beating a long term incumbent; worked as Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland; led a community coalition pushing to reform Cleveland’s lead-safe housing laws; clerked for Judge James Gwin of the Northern District of Ohio
Current occupation
Cleveland City Councilwoman, today's Ward 12
I’m proud to support city-wide, violence prevention efforts, including funding grassroots public safety models like the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance. We need to decrease the likelihood of violent, life-threatening interactions between residents, especially residents of color, and police. I’ve co-sponsored Tanisha's Law, named after Tanisha Anderson, a Black woman who was killed in police custody while in acute mental health crisis. Tanisha's Law would create a department for non-police response for people in mental crisis. This law would not only provide the right type of care to our neighbors in crisis, but it will free up police to respond to immediate health & safety calls and decrease negative police-citizen interactions.
In my first term, I’m proud to have passed Pay-to-Stay laws and Residents First to better protect our tenants from bad landlords. My second term housing priorities include: (1) Spend $50 million for lead-safe home repairs to protect our children from lead poisoning. (2) Expand homeownership through banking partnerships and down payment assistance to build generational wealth where it has previously been denied. (3) Support modular housing to create affordable infill homes, including land code updates. (4) Advocate for state-level property tax relief for long-term owner-occupants. (5) Pass Source of Income protections so voucher holders can access rental housing across the city without discrimination.
I support policies that expand voting access. At a minimum, Cuyahoga County should have more than one ballot box. Voter ID requirements must be straightforward. Voter registration should be year-round, including Election Day. Of course, all of these changes are controlled by the state and are becoming more restrictive. When I think about the voting issues within my control, I think about peoples’ trust in government. I believe low turnout stems from politics that fail to deliver for people’s needs. Why vote if you don’t think it will make a difference in your life? I work hard on City Council to get real results for my residents to rebuild broken trust. My goal is to increase voting by giving people something worth voting for!
Increasing economic opportunity is critical. I led passage of the 2022 wage theft ordinance, ensuring businesses that cheat workers can’t get city contracts. In 2023, I helped fix and index the City’s living wage to inflation. I strongly supported Ohio’s pay transparency law, prohibiting salary history questions and requiring pay ranges in postings. I also secured job quality commitments from Bedrock as part of a development deal. These efforts aim to raise wages, close pay gaps, and strengthen our local economy. To break generational cycles of poverty, we also need to make sure that these changes help our youth. That’s why I’ve been proud to support Youth Opportunities Unlimited focused on young people’s economic opportunities.
I would argue that Ward 5 is the most diverse Ward in the City. We have some of the wealthiest and poorest blocks in the City. We have students and seniors. We have luxury high rises, public housing, and single family homes. However, no matter where you go, you will hear residents express concern that the City isn’t living up to its promises. These failures to deliver basic services like working street lights and safe streets have eroded trust in government and signaled a call to action for our leaders. The Ward 5 Councilperson must be ready to dive into every problem from Central and Kinsman to Downtown and Midtown. They must be ready to deliver on the basic dignities of the city and ensure that Cleveland is working for all its residents.
Age
36
Education
Undergraduate Degree & Masters Degree from Baldwin Wallace University
Qualifications for office
Councilman Richard A. Starr is a seasoned community activist with skills in engagement and communication. 1. Advocate for change within the community. 2. Skilled multi-tasker in event management and relationship building. 3. Strong communicator essential for public service. 4. Former athletic director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland and leader at King Kennedy Club and East Tech Teen Center. 5. Collaborated with organizations like Burten Bell Carr and Slavic Village Development in Ward 5.
Campaign Phone
216-825-0876
Current occupation
Cleveland City Council Ward 5
Promoting public safety while fostering trust between residents and the police is essential. Here are key strategies to achieve this:
1. Community Policing: Foster positive interactions through foot patrols, community events, and partnerships with local organizations.
2. Training and Accountability: Provide training in de-escalation, cultural competency, and implicit bias, while enforcing accountability for misconduct.
3. Collaborative Problem-Solving: Work with residents and community leaders to create innovative, data-driven solutions for s
4. Transparency and Engagement: Increase transparency in operations and engage residents through town halls and surveys to address their concerns.
5. Investing in Social Programs!
Ensuring safe, quality housing and preventing displacement is vital for equitable communities. My key priorities are:
1. Affordable Housing Development: Increase affordable units by incentivizing developers with funding and streamlined permits.
2. Housing Preservation: Renovate low-income homes, assist homeowners facing foreclosure, and establish community land trusts.
3. Rent Control and Tenant Protections:!Implement rent control and enhance protections to prevent unfair evictions.
4. Inclusionary Zoning: Require new developments to include a percentage of affordable units.
5. Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate with private developers and nonprofits to finance affordable housing.
6. Targeted Assistance Programs!
Boosting civic and voter participation in historically underrepresented areas is crucial for a more equitable democracy. Here are some of my key strategies:
1. Voter Education: Implement targeted voter education programs focusing on registration and voting options to engage underrepresented communities.
2. Accessibility: Improve voting accessibility by increasing polling locations, extending hours, and offering transportation. Consider automatic and same-day registration as well as online options.
3. Community Organizing: Partner with local leaders to organize voter registration drives and get-out-the-vote campaigns in these areas.
4. Cultural Competency: Ensure voting materials and poll workers are culturally competent!
To boost economic opportunities for younger residents in Cleveland's Ward 5, I plan to do the following:
1. Workforce Development: Partner with local businesses and schools to create job training programs, apprenticeships, and internships.
2. Entrepreneurship Support: Offer resources for young entrepreneurs, including business incubators and access to microloans and grants.
3. Infrastructure Investment: Enhance transportation and broadband access to attract businesses and create jobs.
4. Education and Skills Training:!Strengthen local schools and support career and technical education, adult education, and retraining programs.
5. Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate with local entities to fund economic development initiatives!
Cleveland's Ward 5 exemplifies resilience in the face of significant challenges. Residents are united in their efforts to tackle escalating gun violence and reclaim safety in their lives. Faced with food deserts, they seek innovative solutions for accessing fresh, nutritious food, understanding its importance for well-being. Despite a low median income reflecting broader economic hurdles, the community's determination to achieve financial stability shines through. These intertwined challenges reveal the vibrant spirit of Ward 5, where residents are committed to creating a safer, healthier, and more prosperous community. Compassionate engagement with these issues is essential for developing practical solutions and fostering a brighter future
