CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — It’s official and history has been made. Former Vice President of City Council Kahlil Seren is now the first elected mayor of Cleveland Heights.
By his side when taking the oath of office were his moms, Mary and Leslie.
Seren said his top priorities include environmental sustainability and equitable investment into the neighborhoods.
He told Spectrum News that some of the key challenges facing the city include staffing and budgetary issues, crime and of course the ongoing pandemic.
He said he hopes to evoke an entrepreneurial spirit in the community so everyone feels empowered to be part of the change and growth to come in Cleveland Heights.
For the last century, the city was run with a city manager government style. City council members were also sworn in on Jan. 3, 2022.
Seren said he feels energized, encouraged and inspired to hit the ground running as mayor right away.
“I think the most important thing for me and a legacy that I want to leave is a series of systems and ways of doing business that we’re here to do for people that last beyond me," he said. "I want to institute a culture of continuous improvement of always focusing on how we can do better and how we can do this work better for the people of Cleveland Heights.”
Being such a historic moment, the initial plan was a grand inauguration at the community center which would have been open to the public.
Instead the event was small and streamed virtually. Only friends and family of the person taking office were allowed in the room during the ceremony due to COVID-19.
The "mayor" title was previously given to the City Council's president.