List of Cleveland politicians
Notable politicians from the city of Cleveland, Ohio:
- John W. Willey was the first mayor of Cleveland from 1836 to 1837. Willey, an expert Jacksonian Democrat, was also a prominent jurist and a land developer who played a part in the early battles between Cleveland and Ohio City.
- Mark Hanna, industrialist, U.S. Senator from 1897 to 1904, and political kingmaker.
- Tom L. Johnson was mayor from 1899 to 1909. Johnson is best remembered for being one of Cleveland's greatest and most progressive mayors.
- Newton D. Baker was mayor from 1912 to 1915. Like Johnson, Baker was a progressive Democrat. Baker later served as Secretary of War under President Woodrow Wilson. Baker is also noteworthy for being considered as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 1924, 1928, and 1932 (he was backed in 1932 by then-democrat Wendell Willkie).
- Frank J. Lausche was Cleveland's first mayor of Eastern European descent. He later went on to become governor of Ohio twice and landed a seat in the Senate.
- Thomas A. Burke first served as law director then mayor of Cleveland for four terms (1946 to 1953). In his tenure, Burke began a large capital-improvement program that included the Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport.
- Anthony J. Celebrezze, Burke's mayoral successor, is best noted for developing the Cleveland Seaport Foundation to promote the city as a world trade center.
- Ralph S. Locher became mayor of the city after Celebrezze from 1962 to 1967. Although Locher made some progress such as expanding Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, his tenure was stained with the racial turmoil the city was facing at the time that eventually led to the Hough Riots of 1966.
- Carl B. Stokes, the first African American mayor of a major city, was mayor of Cleveland from 1968 to 1971.
- Louis Stokes, Carl's older brother, was a U.S. Congressman from 1968 to 1998, distinguished with 15 terms of service.
- Dennis J. Kucinich was mayor from 1977 to 1979. Kucinich's tenure is often viewed as one of the most turbulent in Cleveland's history. He barely survived a recall election and a battle with Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI) over the sale of the city's publicly owned electric company, Municipal Light. He was later elected a U.S. Congressman and ran for President in 2004 and 2008.
- George V. Voinovich was mayor from 1980 to 1989 and was subsequently elected as Governor of Ohio (1991-1999) and to the United States Senate (1999-present). Unusual in Cleveland politics, Voinovich is a Republican.
- George L. Forbes served as one of the most powerful presidents of Cleveland City Council from 1974 to 1989.
- Michael R. White was mayor from 1990 to 2001, and oversaw the construction of many large downtown projects, including Gateway, Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the addition to the Cleveland Public Library. White is currently under federal investigation for allegations of corruption and bribery.
- Jane L. Campbell was the city's first female mayor. She was elected in 2001, and defeated for re-election in 2005. She is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives and a former Cuyahoga County commissioner. After leaving the mayor's office, she became a lecturer at Harvard University.
- Frank G. Jackson is the current mayor of Cleveland. A former city council president, he was elected on November 8, 2005 and assumed office on January 2, 2006. Jackson is the first sitting member of council to become mayor since Stephen Buhrer in 1867.
See also