The 2021 Cleveland Mayoral election is fast approaching and may have already happened by the time you are reading this article. And a key theme that has been noticed is that many do not seem to care. But it is these local elections that are arguably more important to the voter than a general election. Many key issues that directly impact the daily lives of residents are at stake, including fighting crime, infrastructure improvements, managing city schools, and many others. All these issues are at the forefront of the competition between Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley, two Democratic candidates. But before we get in to one of the hotly debated issues, let’s first go over who these candidates are and how they got here.  

Who is Justin Bibb? 

Justin Bibb is a Cleveland native. Born and raised on the southeast side of Cleveland. He worked on several local boards and commissions, such as the RTA, Destination Cleveland, and Cuyahoga Community College. He worked for Barack Obama in the United States Senate when he was still a senator. He co-founded Hack Cleveland and Cleveland Can’t Wait, both nonprofits that “focus on racial equity and economic opportunity in underserved neighborhoods across the city.” According to Bibb’s campaign website, Bibb believes that “Cleveland can’t wait for change.” Bibb also mentions how he “will bring a new sense of urgency and fresh ideas to the challenges we face.” 

Who is Kevin Kelley? 

Kevin Kelly is also a Clevelander. He grew up and went to school in Cleveland. Kelley started his career as a social worker, then later served on the Cleveland City Council, representing Ward 13 (Brooklyn and part of the Stockyards neighborhoods). In 2014, he was promoted to President of the Council. Kelley worked to improve infrastructure, by investing in free high-speed internet in the city, as well as major improvements to local parks. According to Kelley’s campaign website, he believes that “Anyone who thinks Cleveland is going to give up just doesn’t understand Cleveland.” Kelley also mentions how “Together, we will forge a new path forward, so that every person, every family, every neighborhood in Cleveland can thrive.” 

Debate Highlights: Link to Debate (YouTube) 

Even from the opening arguments of the October 11th mayoral debate, two similar issues are clear priorities for both candidates: gun violence and police reform. The average annual number of crimes total at around 23,000 in Cleveland, with about 25% of those being violent. That is about 6,000 violent crimes committed each year. This creates a 15.22 crimes per 1,000 residents. Compared to the Ohio average of 2.93, and the United States average of around 4.0, Cleveland is statistically a violent city (Neighborhood Scout). On the other side of crime is police reform. The main incident that comes to mind for Cleveland voters is the Tamir Rice case. He was 12 years old in 2014 when he was shot and killed by a police officer while he held a toy gun. Issue 24, if passed, would give the Community Police Commission more flexibility to investigate police officers. This issue is opposed by the Police Chief and the Safety Director of Cleveland. Here’s what the candidates had to say about Issue 24:  

Bibb: “A positive step in the right direction to make sure we have more community voices around the table. Trust between residents and the police is critical to ensure every community is safe and secure.” 

Kelley: “Issue 24 would make our neighborhoods less safe. Issue 24 would result in hundreds of officers leaving the job. Issue 24 would result in slower response times.” 

Issue 24 is an amendment that divides two seemingly similar seeming Democratic candidates. Voters view this as one of the most important, if not the most important, issue in this election. Referring to the importance of Issue 24, Kelley mentioned that this election is “the most critical election of our lifetimes.” Similarly, Bibb agreed and said that this election is “the most important in Cleveland’s history.” 

What is the correct answer on Issue 24? Well, that’s for the voter to decide. And we do have some data on that. From the Baldwin Wallace University Community Research Institute’s poll, Justin Bibb in the lead, 34% to 25%, with a whopping 40% still undecided, so the results are hard to predict. Keeping in mind that both candidates are Democrats, and they remain similar on many issues, Issue 24 is likely to sway many voters.  

Why should someone who lives in the suburbs care about the Cleveland mayoral election? 

The city limits of Cleveland are just lines. Sure, some of the small issues won’t affect someone in the suburbs, but problems in the city don’t typically stay in the city. On the flip side, positive changes in Cleveland can help the suburbs. For example, if larger companies decide to headquarter in Cleveland, they can bring revenue and new residents to the city itself, as well as surrounding areas.  

In addition to city growth spreading outward to the suburbs, many people spend lots of time in downtown, even if they don’t have a permanent residence there. For example, many residents from all around the area attend Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians/Guardians games.  Many suburban residents also attend musicals, plays, or concerts at Playhouse Square or other nearby venues. Others enjoy visiting restaurants or parks near Lake Erie or the Cuyahoga River  

All in all, the election is important no matter where you live. Nearly everyone in Cleveland and the surrounding areas are tied to Cleveland in one way or another. It is in the best interest of everyone who cares about a thriving city, to have strong leadership in the mayor’s office.