CLEVELAND — With Council President Kevin Kelley leaving City Council at the end of the year, Councilman Blaine Griffin is slated to take over as the new president of the body. 

What You Need To Know

  • Blaine Griffin will become the next president of Cleveland City Council

  • Griffin was selected Friday unanimously by incumbent and incoming members elected Tuesday

  • The process of invoking the unit rule drew some questions as Friday’s vote was unofficial

  • Griffin has been on council since May 2017 and has served as Safety Committee chair and majority leader

Kelley, who opted to run for mayor instead of reelection, lost to Mayor-elect Justin Bibb in Tuesday’s election. 

Griffin was selected in an unanimous vote, which included members who will be seated on council in January. The vote is considered unofficial as members invoked the unit rule, which binds their unofficial votes to their party membership. 

Use of the rule this morning led some on the city council to question how quickly the decision on leadership was made. Members said use of the unit rule allows for a smooth transition. 

Griffin was reelected to a second full term on Tuesday, winning Ward 6 with 97% of the vote, according to figures from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Griffin was first appointed to council in May 2017 and was elected for a four-year term that November. 

Griffin is the chair of the council’s safety committee and also is the council’s majority leader. 

Spectrum News reporters Ryan Schmelz and Justin Boggs contributed to this report.