Cuyahoga County Voters Approve Most Levies, Re-elect Bibb

Cuyahoga County voters cast 221,670 ballots on November 4, representing a 26% turnout of registered voters. Mayor Justin Bibb secured a second term in Cleveland while voters across the county approved most renewal levies but rejected several school funding measures.

Cleveland Mayoral Race

Bibb won decisively with 73.85% of the vote, capturing 31,446 ballots compared to challenger Laverne Gore’s 25.10% at 10,686 votes.

Other Mayoral Results

Jim Petras claimed victory in Cleveland Heights with 55.02% over Davida Russell’s 44.98%. Sandra Morgan won the East Cleveland mayoral race with 84.16%, defeating incumbent Lateek Shabazz who received 15.84%.

Matt Burke won in Garfield Heights with 70.37% over James S. Feeney. Nicole Dailey Jones ran unopposed in North Olmsted, as did Matthew J. Castelli in Middleburg Heights.

Paul A. Koomar narrowly defeated Kathryn E. Kerber in Bay Village, earning 51.94% to her 48.06% in the closest mayoral contest.

Cleveland City Council

Mike Polensek won the newly drawn Ward 10 seat with 67.79%, defeating Anthony T. Hairston who received 32.06%.

In Ward 12, Tanmay Shah secured victory by just seven votes, earning 50.12% with 1,463 ballots compared to Danny Kelly’s 49.88% at 1,456 votes.

Joe Jones defeated Juanita O. Brent in Ward 1 with 63.01%. Kevin L. Bishop ran unopposed in Ward 2. Deborah A. Gray won Ward 3 with 80.36%. Kris Harsh took Ward 4 with 70.55%. Richard A. Starr won Ward 5 with 64.28%. Blaine A. Griffin ran unopposed in Ward 6. Austin N. Davis won Ward 7 with 58.87%. Stephanie Howse-Jones captured Ward 8 with 75.07%. Kevin Conwell won Ward 9 with 76.46%.

Judicial Races

Three Cleveland Municipal Court Judge races produced close results. Cheryl M. Wiltshire won the seat for the term starting January 2, 2026, with 51% over W. Moná Scott’s 49%. Khalilah Lawson won the term starting January 3, 2026, with 51.47% over TJ Dow’s 48.53%. In Son J. Loving won the term beginning January 1, 2026, with 61.59%.

Thomas J. Kelly won the Rocky River Municipal Court Judge seat with 61.51% over Brian F. Hagan’s 38.49%.

Council Tie

The North Royalton Ward 6 council race resulted in a tie, with Edward Cyngier and Michael R. Wos each receiving exactly 677 votes.

Tax Levies Pass

Most renewal levies for essential services passed comfortably. Fairview Park’s fire renewal passed with 80.25% approval. Olmsted Falls voters approved three renewals: police at 68.39%, fire at 74.42% and streets at 72.54%.

Warrensville Heights renewed police at 71.61%, municipal facilities at 68.30% and fire at 77.80%. Highland Heights passed an additional levy for safety services with 55.61%.

Gates Mills renewed its current expenses levy at 78.07%. Bentleyville approved a streets levy at 80.56% and current expenses at 76.88%. South Euclid renewed its streets levy at 66.24%.

School Funding

School levies produced mixed results. Shaker Heights approved an additional tax with 66.50% support. South Euclid-Lyndhurst passed its additional tax with 56.23%. Garfield Heights narrowly approved an additional tax at 54.46%.

However, Parma voters rejected their additional school tax with 57.59% voting against. Richmond Heights also defeated its additional levy, with 62.39% opposed.

Shaker Heights additionally passed a levy for its history museum with 63.22% approval.

Charter Amendments

Cleveland Heights approved its charter amendment with 72.30% support. North Olmsted passed its charter amendment with 88.86% approval.

In South Euclid, voters approved several charter amendments but rejected a measure to repeal the photo traffic law, with 58.06% voting no.

North Royalton voters rejected a charter amendment regarding public appointments, with 68.65% opposed, but approved amendments for police and fire chief at 74.68% and civil service at 70.12%.

Solon approved a zoning amendment creating a winery district with 73.39% support.

Liquor Options

Multiple liquor option measures passed. Cleveland Ward 7-I approved Sunday sales at 90.91%. Shaker Heights passed its liquor option at 84.12%. Westlake approved its measure at 78.48%.

School Boards

For the Educational Service Center governing board, Christine A. Krol led with 2,558 votes, followed by Anthony Miceli with 2,222 and George Klepacz with 2,206.

In Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Kathi Howard-Primes topped the school board race with 9,519 votes, followed by Dan Heintz with 8,780 and Tom Hodgkiss-Lilly with 8,036.

All 896 precincts reported results.