Cleveland Mayoral Candidate Forum

Biographies

Moderator: Dr. Roland V. Anglin - Dean, Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs

Roland V. Anglin's career spans more than twenty-five years of working in the public, educational, and philanthropic sectors. In all his professional positions, Anglin has focused on promoting economic and community development in and for low-income communities. Currently, he is Dean of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Immediately prior to this position, Anglin was the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor of Rutgers University-Newark and Director of the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, an applied research institute at the university. Dr. Anglin began his academic career at Rutgers University in the late 1980's. During this time, he published some of the seminal work on citizen attitudes toward sprawl development. In 1991 he was recruited to the Ford Foundation, where he spent eight years. He served first as the program officer responsible for community development. Subsequently, he was asked to become Deputy Director for Community and Resource Development, which is part of the Asset Building and Community Development Division. Anglin received his doctorate from the University of Chicago, a master's degree from Northwestern, and a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College (City University of New York).

Candidate: Justin Bibb

Justin Bibb can’t help but bring people together. Business and government. Technologists and activists. Emerging and established. It comes naturally because he’s navigated all these worlds himself.

Now the Chief Strategy Officer at a public-private partnership for smart cities (Urbanova), this Cleveland native has also held posts in finance (Vice President of Corporate Strategy at KeyBank), strategy consulting (Head of Global Cities at Gallup) and local politics (Special Assistant at Cuyahoga County). In every role, Justin brought more people into the fold to break through the status quo. To find solutions for a bank in a highly competitive industry, he opened executives up to unexpected strategic partnerships. To advance criminal justice reform efforts, he brought together policy makers and civic tech leaders. It doesn’t stop there. To spur new governing ideas, Justin brought young minds and experienced leaders into the same room by way of a fellowship program. What he’s learned is: The more minds, the more success. This collaboration-driven approach disrupts the notion of where power lies and it’s no accident. It’s one way to shape his hometown into a more equitable, more prosperous place for everyone who calls it home.

Justin received his J.D. and M.B.A from Case Western Reserve University and his B.A. in Urban Studies from American University. He also holds a General Course degree with an emphasis in Social Policy and Economics from the London School of Economics. Justin brings his education, expertise and innovation to the boards of public benefit corporations (Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority), nonprofits (Destination Cleveland; Teach for America) and equitable placemaking organizations (Land Studio Inc).

Candidate: Kevin Kelley

Council President Kevin Kelley was first elected in 2005 and continues to represent Ward 13 which includes Old Brooklyn and part of the Stockyard neighborhood. He was unanimously chosen to continue on as council president. He is chairman of council's Finance Committee and its Rules Committee. He also serves on two other committees – Operations and Mayor's Appointments.

Prior to holding public office, Council President Kelley was a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, helping people afflicted with poverty and mental illness. He later worked at Recovery Resources, Inc. assisting mentally ill adults.

As a legislator, Council President Kelley has worked to bring services, investments, and resources, including high-speed Internet, to Ward 13. His efforts have seen the renovations and major improvements of parks including the renovation of Loew Park and Goudreau Park, as well as significant investment at Estabrook Recreation Center.

He has championed an $8 million overhaul and resurfacing of Pearl Road from Interstate 480 to Interstate 71. Councilman Kelley has championed the new businesses that have moved into the ward bringing revitalization to Pearl Road and Memphis Avenue, as well as other areas.

As Council President, he has led city-wide initiatives, including working with county government, local health systems and foundations to reduce the region's troubling high rates of infant mortality. Council President Kelley has also worked to make it easier for contractors and residents to secure building permits, including applying for them on-line. He was instrumental in pushing a new way to assess which roads should be resurfaced as well as increasing the money for the projects.

Council President Kelley is a graduate of Marquette University where he earned a degree in economics. He holds a Master’s Degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He is of counsel with the law firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.

Council President Kelley lives with his wife and five children in Old Brooklyn where they are members of St. Thomas More Parish.