CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — The people of Cleveland Heights have decided which two candidates will square off to see who becomes the first mayor in the city's history.
Barbara Danforth, former CEO of the YWCA of Greater Cleveland, and Kahlil Seren, current council vice president, took home the most votes Tuesday evening in the primary for the November Election.
Danforth took just over 46 percent of the vote, while Seren brought in just under 38 percent. The two beat out retired finance executive Melody Joy Hart. Hart received 14 percent of the vote.
In 2019, Cleveland Heights residents voted to change the city's power structure, opting to move from an appoint manager-run system to a mayoral body.
“The city is 100 years old and we’ve never directly elected our mayor,” said Deanna Bremer Fisher, Executive Director of FutureHeights, a nonprofit community development corporation.
3News' Sara Shookman spoke with several residents of Cleveland Heights in regard to the change of power structure.
“I’m not sure it was the right move to go to a mayor, but we have,” said resident Dottie Klemm. “So I’m excited about that, and I’m excited to see who the two finalists are today.”
The mayor elected on November 2 will serve a four-year term.
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