Cleveland City Council’s Mayor’s Appointment Committee Recommends Approval of Thirteen Nominees to Community Police Commission

Dec 02, 2022

Cleveland, OH (December 2) - Over the course of two days, Cleveland City Council’s Mayor’s Appointments Committee (MAC) interviewed Mayor Justin Bibb’s ten appointments to the Community Police Commission. The nominees interviewed were James M. Chura, Charles Donaldson Jr., Kyle Earley, Alana Garrett-Ferguson, Cait Kennedy, Gregory Reaves, Janice Ridgeway, Piet Van Lier, Teri Wang, and Sharena Zayed.

The Mayor’s Appointments Committee consists of Councilman Joseph T. Jones (Chairperson), Council President Blaine A. Griffin, Councilman Anthony T. Hairston, Councilman Kris Harsh, and Councilman Richard A. Starr. Although not a member of the MAC, Safety Chair Councilman Mike Polensek, and Councilman Kevin Conwell also sat in on the interviews.

Following the interviews, Chair Joseph T. Jones proposed that the Committee recommend that the full Council approve the ten nominees.

Chair Jones and Council President Griffin commended the nominees for their commitment to serving Cleveland. Councilmen Starr and Harsh opined that the categories recommended by the framers of the charter amendment are not entirely represented by the nominees put forward. Councilman Harsh shared he “was under the impression that all categories need to be filled and that they will all not be filled when the process is complete,” however he believes “the recommended nominees are highly qualified.”

Councilman Richard Starr expressed some concern about potential dishonesty from nominees during the interview process. His concern led members of the MAC to share they reserve the right to ask nominees to reappear before the Committee if inaccuracies or mistruths are discovered. In addressing Councilman Starr’s concern, Law Director Mark Griffin also shared that the Committee has the option to not recommend a nominee for approval.

Chair Jones is aware of the internal and external debate about the nominees. As he recommended the nominees for approval, he stated, “Part of our committee’s responsibility is to seat the members that the mayor has sent to the table. We will deal with legal interpretations at a later time, if they arise.” Chair Jones also thanked the community activists who worked to ensure “continued accountability and oversight of our police department,” and he pledged “to work together with all involved regardless of differences to improve the city of Cleveland.”

Cleveland City Council also has three nominations to the thirteen-member CPC. The council’s nominees are John Adams, Shandra Benito, and Audrianna Rodriguez. They were among the finalists chosen by Council who were interviewed by the Mayor’s Appointments Committee on September 6 and 7, 2022.

The MAC will recommend that the full Council approve nominees from Mayor Bibb along with Council’s three nominees. Council is expected to approve the appointments by resolution at its December 5, 2022 Council Meeting.

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