North Olmsted Mayor Kennedy seeks unprecedented fourth term - cleveland.com

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NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- Finishing up his third term as mayor of North Olmsted, Kevin Kennedy announced last week to more than 100 supporters at the Springvale Golf Course Pavilion that he will be seeking re-election this fall.

“With what’s happening on council, there was no doubt I was going to run for re-election,” Kennedy said. “I’ve got to fight for the residents. Just with the Cleveland Water agreement, we’re losing millions of dollars. That piece of legislation has been held in committee for years.

“There’s the Clague Road repaving legislation held in committee involving safety funds from the county and NOACA (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency). These guys are talking about building a third lane at $8 million of our own expense. Cities go broke doing that.”

The other area of concern Kennedy mentioned has to do with the recent elimination of the city’s economic development consultant.

“Council is playing politics with our money, with our safety and with our future,” said Kennedy, who feels he’s up against an obstructionist agenda. “That’s exactly the feeling.

“They’re chaotic, they have no idea what they’re doing and they have lost millions of dollars and have stalled projects. I don’t know why. Things changed during this Cleveland Water Agreement. The decision seemed to be made before anyone heard anything. It was kind of disturbing to me.”

In addition to running for re-election, Kennedy is hoping to change the city leadership, running alongside a slate of political newcomers seeking City Council seats this fall.

The list includes candidates Jeff Haug (Ward 1), Mike Held (Ward 2), Cheron Kelly (Ward 3), Alejandro Chock (Ward 4) and Aaron Campbell (council president).

“I need to find smarter council people with more common sense and some business sense to make sure the residents get what they deserve,” Kennedy said.

First elected in 2009 when he defeated then-mayor Thomas O’Grady, Kennedy was re-elected in 2013 and 2017. He ran unopposed in 2017.

If re-elected in November, Kennedy -- currently tied with Ralph E. Christmas (1964-1977) -- will become the longest-serving mayor in North Olmsted history.

Over the last decade, Kennedy said his priorities have been focused on reducing flooding through stormwater management regulations for development and on redevelopment without raising taxes.

“I look at myself as a CEO, and this is business to me,” Kennedy said. “I look at our homeowners as stockholders and their most important stock is their housing value. And that’s gone way up.”

Looking ahead to the fall, Kennedy will be facing off against City Council President Nicole Dailey Jones, who recently announced her mayoral campaign.

“We’re going to focus on the issues that matter to North Olmsted people -- their wallets, their safety, their future and their home values,” Kennedy said.

“All we really expect people to do is get educated. If people get educated, we’re going to win the election.”

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North Olmsted Mayor Kennedy seeks unprecedented fourth term - cleveland.com
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