I am running for re-election for the Cleveland Heights City Council because we need council members who will:
advocate for the citizens of our city
work toward our city’s goals collaboratively with Council and the Mayor
find solutions to the challenges we face.
City Council needs independent thinkers who offer different perspectives and ask challenging questions. The best policies and solutions don’t come out of ideological silos or single-minded group-think. They are the result of welcoming various viewpoints and navigating complex conversations to find solutions that are better and stronger because we truly include our community’s diversity. We need leadership that can guide Council members through hard conversations in an orderly manner to achieve real collaboration.
While I am not someone to grandstand or demand the spotlight, I am not afraid to ask the hard questions and stand my ground for what is right. I also work to foster a culture of respect among my colleagues, which is necessary if we are to work across differences to achieve resolution.
City Council needs members who are diligent and committed—dedicated to reading every piece of legislation and accompanying materials; conducting our own research; reaching out to the community to truly understand residents’ experiences, concerns, and ideas; and coming prepared to every meeting with questions, ideas, and suggestions to make our policies, programs, and legislation better.
I take seriously my responsibilities to understand, review, and scrutinize everything that comes before Council, and to do my best to ensure that what Council passes is good for everyone in our city.
City Council needs people who are proud to be community representatives and advocates. It is not enough to listen to residents’ comments when you come to speak to us at Council meetings. We need to actively and continually reach out to you and make ourselves available for anyone who wants to talk to us. And our job doesn’t stop at listening. We need to respond, and we need to do whatever we can to try to help.
During my time on council, I have responded to every email from residents. When you reach out to me, I will do whatever I can to try to address your concerns. Whether it’s referring you to someone who can help or trying to figure out what Council can do, I will not ignore you.
All Council members need transparent communication and equal access to information so we can make thoughtful, informed decisions. This is vital not just so we can vote responsibly on legislation, but also so we can help residents understand what our government is doing and why.
I have and will continue to demand the information I need to cast my vote with the assurance that I understand the background and result of what is being passed. I am also committed to obtaining regular financial reports to Council from our City’s Finance Director to ensure that our municipal finances are being executed in accordance to our approved budget and goals.
I want a City Council that:
works collaboratively with each other and our City’s executive branch
fosters a culture of communication, trust, and goodwill among council and between the two branches
is an independent body that is responsive to our citizens and ensures that everything our City does is done with thoughtfulness and transparency.
A vote for Gail is a vote for:
Citizen Advocacy
Respectful & Responsive Government
Effective Problem Solving
