Dew Diligence

Adam DewCleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren.falseDew Diligence - Episode 21 - Mayor Kahlil Seren

Adam DewCleveland Heights City Council Candidate Janine Boydfalse220Dew Diligence - Episode 20 - Janine Boydfull

Adam DewCleveland Heights City Council Candidate Melody Joy Hartfalse219Dew Diligence - Episode 19 - Melody Joy Hartfull

Adam DewCleveland Heights City Council Candidate Jim Petrasfalse218Dew Diligence Episode 18 - Jim Petrasfull

Adam DewCleveland Heights City Council Candidate Jon Benedictfalse217Dew Diligence - Episode 17 - Jon Benedictfull

Adam DewCleveland Heights City Council Candidate Gail Larsonfalse216Dew Diligence - Episode 16 - Gail Larsonfull

Adam DewCleveland Heights City Council Candidate Jeanne Gordonfalse215Dew Diligence - Episode 15 - Jeanne Gordonfull

Dew Diligence returns with former Cleveland Heights City Councilperson Josie Moore. We are less than a month from an important election in Ohio (abortion rights and legal weed are on the ballot). And right here in Cleveland Heights we have six candidates running for three seats on city council. Incumbents Melody Joy Hart, Janine Boy and Gail Larson are joined on the ballot by Jim Petras, Jon Benedict and Jeanne Gordon. I chose Josie Moore to kick things off because no one in our city is more equipped to assess the current state of city council better than her. After winning election in 2021, she resigned after a little more than a year as she saw her mental health and family relationships suffering. She talks about the issues she had in adjusting to life on council, what drove her to resign and who she is backing in 2023.

Cheryl Stephens is the President and CEO of East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation. She is also our representative on County Council (District 10). She also served as the appointed mayor of Cleveland Heights during her many years on Cleveland Heights City Council. She offers her perspective on this momentous week in Cleveland Heights and on the part she played in getting us here. She also walks us through some of the many developing projects on tap in the area.

Dustin Russell is a rare thing in Cleveland Heights. He's a republican. He is on the GOP central committee and ran against Rep Janine Boyd in 2020. We talk about the crazy state of politics in Cleveland Heights and the strange bedfellows that have emerged around monumental local races.

Adam DewKahlil Seren is running for mayor in Cleveland Heights. falseEpisode 11 - Kahlil Seren

Adam DewBarbara Danforth is running for mayor in Cleveland Heights.falseEpisode 10 - Barbara Danforth

Adam DewMelody Joy Hart is one of three candidates running to be Cleveland Heights' first mayor.falseEpisode 9 - Melody Joy Hart

Nina Turner joins us we head towards the August 3 Democratic primary that will likely decide the District 11 race. We talk about how negative campaigning has overtaken the race in addition to how our new mayor will be able to work with her to get things done for the Heights area.

You may have seen more and more yard signs supporting Will Knight starting to pop up in the Heights. Will Knight is one of the candidates in the crowded District 11 field vying to replace Marcia Fudge. The former Ohio State walk-on wrestler relishes the underdog role. He's fighting to take a seat alongside his old wrestling coach Jim Jordan. The same Jim Jordan who abandoned Will and his Ohio State teammates as they fight to expose a decades-long sex abuse scandal.

Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell continues to break new ground in Maple Heights. She talks about the partnership that led to leasing Dunham Park to Metroparks and their potentially groundbreaking lawsuit against Hulu and Netflix. She thinks we should be looking for someone with a CEO mentality as we elect our first mayor. We also talk about her additional duties as safety director and the challenge of guiding Maple Heights out of fiscal emergency.

The Cedar-Lee Theatre has been around nearly as long as Cleveland Heights has been incorporated, 96 years. Its future and survival are critical as the city looks to add massive development at Cedar/Lee. Eric Silverman also joins us to talk about the history of the Lee/Meadowbrook site and outlines the current proposals for development.

Craig Cobb was recently appointed to city council for a second time. The seat sat empty for a year and appeared it would not be filled before November. In a move that surprised everyone Davida Russell, who had defeated Cobb head to head, made a motion to push Cobb across the finish line to be seated for a second time.

We spoke with University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan at Walter Stinson Park. Topics included his impression of the field of mayoral candidates in Cleveland Heights, his experience level (or lack thereof) when he was elected three years ago, the future of the Wiley campus, the possibility of joint CH-UH pool passes and much more.

27-year East Cleveland City Councilman Nathaniel Martin talks about the possibility of Forest Hill becoming a Metropark, new policies on police chases, the future of the ARCO dump property and much more. The video version includes a lot of drone footage of the Forest Hill park and neighborhood.

If you'd like more information on some of the interpersonal dynamics and conspiracy theories at play in getting Issue 26 on the ballot, take a look at Hannah Lebovits' excellent recap in Scene. https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/the-vote-on-issue-26-in-cleveland-heights-brings-a-contentious-battle-to-a-close/Content?oid=31624637