CH voters approve tax increase; elect Roe to city council

In the Nov. 3 general election, Cleveland Heights voters approved an additional .25 percent income tax (Issue 53), with 59.59 percent (7,573) voting in favor of the increase, and 40.41 percent (5,135) voting against it. The increase raises the city income tax rate from 2 percent to 2.25 percent.

Cleveland Heights voters elected three council members, out of a field of six candidates. They re-elected Mary Dunbar to CH City Council, and elected Kahlil Seren and Carol Roe. Seren, who had previously been appointed to council (in February 2015), to serve out the unexpired term vacated by former council member Janine Boyd, was elected with 5,080 votes. Dunbar received 6,827 votes, and Roe garnered 5,943.

In University Heights, where three candidates were running for four open council seats, the results were: Michele Weiss, 1,332 votes; Pamela T. Cameron, 1,138 votes; and  Steven Sims, 1,093 votes. Both Cameron and Sims currently serve on UH City Council. According to UH City Charter, UH City Council will have 30 days to fill the council vacancy, after Jan. 1, 2016. If it does not, the mayor is responsible for the appointment. Council will accept letters of interest and resumes to fill the council vacancy beginning Nov. 5, through 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Heights voters also elected two candidates—James Posch, and Beverly R. Wright—to serve on the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education, out of a field of three. Posch received 7,339 votes (41.34 percent), and Wright received 5,397 (30.40 percent), narrowly edging out candidate Katura Simmons, who received 5,015 (28.25 percent) votes.

Cuyahoga County voters overwhelmingly approved renewal of Issue 8, the county tax on cigarettes which provides arts funding to county arts programs and organizations, including many based here in the Heights. Issue 8 passed with 75.26 percent of the vote.

Election results for Heights candidates and issues are as follows:

Issue 53: 7,573 (59.59 percent) for / 5,135 (40.41 percent) opposed

CH City Council (* three elected):

*Mary Dunbar - 6,827 (26.17 percent)
*Carol Roe - 5,943 (22.78 percent)
*Kahlil Seren - 5,080 (19.47 percent)
Julie Love - 3,532 (13.54 percent)
T. Nadas - 2,380 (9.12 percent)
Keba Sylla - 2,330 (8.93 percent)

UH City Council (* three elected; four open seats)

*Michele Weiss - 1,332 (37.38 percent)
*Pamela T. Cameron - 1,138 (31.94 percent)
*Steven Sims - 1,093 (30.68 percent)

CH-UH BOE (* two elected):

*James Posch - 7,339 (41.34 percent)
*Beverly R. Wright - 5,397 (30.40 percent)
Katura Simmons - 5,015 (28.25 percent)

To view a complete list of election results, visit the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website.

Kim Sergio Inglis

Kim Sergio Inglis is editor-in-chief of the Heights Observer. She lives in the Shaker Farm Historic District in Cleveland Heights.

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Volume 8, Issue 12, Posted 11:01 AM, 11.04.2015