Jason Stein to be appointed to empty CH City Council seat

Jason Stein will likely be appointed to fill the city council seat vacated by Mark Tumeo. According to Cleveland Heights Mayor Ed Kelley, the city received 18 applications from people seeking to fill the vacancy and interviewed six candidates for the position.

“All of the candidates interviewed very well and would have brought strong skills to council,” said Kelley. “Jason brings financial expertise. He is a homegrown product, has done a lot of work in the community, and he brings a younger perspective to council.”

Kelley also said that Stein will add the council’s diversity. “Just as Mark Tumeo was the first gay member of council, Jason may be the first Orthodox Jewish person on council.”

Stein had already announced his candidacy for city council in the Nov. 2, 2011 election when he applied for Tumeo’s position. He also ran in 2009 but was not elected.

“I am honored to receive this vote of confidence from Cleveland Heights City Council,” said Stein. “I grew up in Cleveland Heights, graduated from Heights High and am raising my family here. I have received so much from this community and I am honored to have this opportunity to craft policies that will make Cleveland Heights better.”

“I hope to be assigned to a great committee so that I can get to work on important issues like regional cooperation, collaborating with our schools, incorporating sustainability into our ordinance codes and attracting quality businesses.”

“There are budgetary challenges that will need to be addressed. But, I will work to ensure that the police department has all the resources it needs and that vital city services are maintained.”

The appointment lasts until Dec. 31, 2011. Stein will have to run in the November election in order to serve the remaining two years of the vacated term.

Stein is a proponent of regional cooperation, believing that working with neighboring cities will lead to improved services and cost savings. This issue was the centerpiece of his 2009 city council campaign and continues to be his theme in 2011.

Stein currently serves on the Cleveland Heights Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the CH-UH Schools Facilities Committee and the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board of Trustees. He will have to resign from the CAC and library board when he accepts the council position, according to Mayor Kelley.

Stein works as a technical expert with the Social Security Administration, where he reviews practices for efficiency and accuracy. He is a lifelong resident of Cleveland Heights and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1995.

Stein and his wife Shimona have five children and live in the Milikin Neighborhood, near South Taylor and Severance Circle.

Stein will be sworn in on Monday, June 6, at the beginning of the regularly scheduled city council meeting, at 7:30 p.m. at Cleveland Heights City Hall. He will then participate in the meeting as a full member of council.