Cleveland, Ohio

:For the Cleveland area, see Greater Cleveland.

Cleveland government

See also: List of Mayors of Cleveland, Ohio

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Cleveland's politics have been decisively left-leaning since its inception. Cleveland was known for its political progressivism in the early 1900s, and this has long influenced the city's history. The city is also largely still a union town as a result of its manufacturing heritage, which breeds strong support for Democratic candidates and the Democratic party to a greater degree than areas of the state farther south. Historically, the party has had the support of both white and black ethnic voters, especially Catholics. During the 2004 Presidential election, although George W. Bush carried Ohio, John Kerry carried Cuyahoga County, which gave him the strongest support in the state.

Related Topics:
Political progressivism - 1900s - Democratic - Catholics - 2004 Presidential election - George W. Bush - John Kerry

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The city has a number of noted politicians, including:

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• 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).
• 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. It was under Burke that Cleveland emerged as the fourth largest city in the nation.
• Anthony J. Celebrezze Sr., Burke's mayoral successor, organized 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 helping expand Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, his tenure is stained with the racial turmoil the city was facing at the time and 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 Kucinich was mayor from 1977 to 1979, and was much embattled, barely surviving a recall campaign. He subsequently has been elected a U.S. Congressman and ran for President in 2004.
• George Voinovich was mayor from 1979 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.
• 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 widespread corruption and bribery.
• Jane L. Campbell is the current mayor of Cleveland, who was first elected in 2002. While noted for being the city's first female mayor, Campbell brought the city only lackluster leadership. Mayoral candidate, Frank G. Jackson is expected to defeat her in the upcoming November election.