HEIGHTS CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRACY RECALL CAMPAIGN

May–September 2025

THE CHALLENGE

Cleveland Heights residents faced a mayor whose leadership had destabilized city government, eroded trust, and jeopardized financial and organizational stability. To restore accountability, the only option was a citywide recall — a steep challenge requiring thousands of validated signatures on a tight timeline, followed by a rapid campaign to secure overwhelming voter approval.

MY ROLE & APPROACH

  • Petition Drive Leadership: Organized and led 50+ petition circulators, setting a clear goal of 4,350 signatures to ensure the 2,900 validated signatures required by the city charter. Ultimately submitted 4,425 signatures, with 3,845 validated — nearly 1,000 more than required.

  • Legal & Procedural Oversight: Coordinated closely with an election attorney and experienced ballot-initiative organizers to ensure compliance with the city charter, Ohio Revised Code, and county Board of Elections requirements.

  • Volunteer Management: Kept volunteers motivated and focused by setting achievable daily/weekly goals, providing real-time updates, and celebrating successes. Prioritized volunteer morale, self-care, and persistence throughout an intense 27-day collection window.

  • Communications & Messaging:

    • Wrote, designed, and managed all campaign materials — yard signs, flyers, mailers, print ads, social graphics, videos, blog posts, and Meta ads.

    • Directed online volunteer team, crafting talking points and guidance on what messages to amplify or avoid.

    • Liaised with media outlets, securing positive coverage that boosted credibility and public awareness.

  • Digital & Advertising Strategy: Launched and managed targeted Meta ad campaigns, continuously monitoring and optimizing performance for reach and engagement.

  • Election Day Coordination: Organized volunteers across all city polling sites to maximize visibility and voter engagement at the ballot box.

RESULTS

The campaign not only qualified for the ballot but passed with a resounding 82.21% voter approval rate, with 24% turnout — extraordinary for a municipal primary. This outcome restored stability to city government and demonstrated the power of disciplined strategy, strong communications, and grassroots volunteer energy.