CLEVELAND HEIGHTS – Cleveland Heights Mayor Khalil Seren faces intensifying pressure to resign after exclusive video obtained by Fox 8 I-Team shows him accessing the city’s law department during closed hours, contradicting his own statements to city council about restricted access.
Security footage shows Seren entering the law department office on April 3 for about four minutes in the early morning, then returning April 5 for about two minutes in the afternoon when city hall was closed both times. The mayor appeared to let himself into the office both times, even though he had said during an April 2 Cleveland Heights Council meeting that he does not have access to get inside the law department.
During that April meeting, Seren stated “There are a few specific areas of the city and city government that are restricted. My key card does not open those areas. That would include the courts, the law department.”
The video revelation adds another layer to mounting controversies surrounding the first-term mayor and his wife, Natalie McDaniel, who has been accused of creating a hostile work environment at city hall despite holding no official position.
Civil Rights Complaint and Antisemitism Allegations
The current crisis erupted May 14 when Patrick Costigan, former special assistant to Seren until March, filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, including screenshots of group text messages McDaniel sent in April 2024 to him and Seren, in which she referred to planning commission chair Jessica Cohen, who is an Orthodox Jew, in derogatory and antisemitic terms.
The alleged text from McDaniel calling Cohen a “broodmare” has been taken out of context, according to Seren. Seren defended the remarks, claiming “For those of you who are unaware, mandingo and broodmare are terms that come from American slavery. Plantation owners dehumanized black people through sexual exploitation and by forcing them to bear children, erasing their value as full and complete” people.
Mass Exodus of City Leadership
The mayor’s administration has been plagued by unprecedented turnover. Horrigan is the third city administrator to resign in the last three years and, according to Council President Tony Cuda, is the 12th director-level employee to leave the city administration in that same period.
Former Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan resigned as city administrator in March after less than three months, citing McDaniel’s role in creating a “hostile and untenable” work environment. Horrigan wrote to Seren: “Your wife’s presence here at City Hall has led a number of employees to feel uncomfortable and on at least one occasion, unsafe.”
As did three finance directors, two Parks & Recreation directors, a communications director, a payroll administrator and the general manager of Cain Park.
Wife’s Unofficial Role at City Hall
Despite holding no official position, McDaniel has operated as an unofficial “first lady” with significant influence over city operations. City council members report “She sits in hirings and firings. She has a keycard to get in and out of offices.”
On December 6, 2024, surveillance footage captured an incident at City Hall involving McDaniel and a Cleveland Heights police officer stationed outside the mayor’s office. According to a written report by the officer, McDaniel pounded on the glass wall and shouted profanities loud enough to be heard in the lobby.
Council Demands Answers
City leadership has been asking where the mayor has been since protesters packed a Monday night meeting over allegations of antisemitism. During a heated council meeting Friday, Seren responded defiantly: “This council, by no means, is my overseer, and I am not your negro and knowing where I am…” before Council President Tony Cuda cut him off.
Councilmember Gail Larson said “The mayor’s apparent lack of concern for city staff and residents disqualifies him as our mayor.”
Cleveland Heights City Council announced plans for a “loss of confidence” resolution against the Mayor as residents continue demanding his resignation.
Mayor’s Background
Seren took office as Cleveland Heights’ first directly elected strong mayor on January 1, 2022, after serving ten years as a Policy Advisor for Cuyahoga County Council and six years as a Cleveland Heights City Council member. He won the November 2021 election with 60.51% of the vote.
The ongoing controversies have created unprecedented turmoil in the suburban Cleveland community, with residents questioning the stability of city government and demanding accountability from their elected leadership.
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