Michael Polensek Ward 8

During his long and productive tenure, Councilman Polensek has been at the forefront of numerous development projects and issues and has been vigilant in creating grassroots community groups and helping business develop and grow in the community. He served as President of City Council from 1999 to 2002 and was instrumental in creating the Neighborhood Equity Fund, which targeted $21 million into neighborhood and ward redevelopment projects and initiatives.

After working for decades, he was instrumental in bringing the new $11 million Collinwood Recreation Center located at 16500 Lakeshore Blvd. It opened in November 2011, becoming the first gold LEED certified building in Cleveland's history. Councilman Polensek championed the effort to transfer Cleveland's lakefront parks to the Cleveland Metroparks system. He was also instrumental in creating the Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District in the historic Waterloo neighborhood, helping small businesses and guiding a major streetscape project completed in 2014.

Councilman Polensek was instrumental in the founding of two non-profit neighborhood development groups -- Northeast Shores and Collinwood Nottingham Villages. Councilman Polensek serves on the advisory committee of the Hospice of the Western Reserve and is a member of the NAACP and the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.

Councilman Polensek was born in the Glenville neighborhood on East 120th Street and raised in Collinwood, graduating from Collinwood High School where he is an inductee in the school’s Hall of Fame.

As an employee of the former White Motors Corp. on St. Clair Avenue, Councilman Polensek became involved in Local 32 of the United Autoworkers Union, which led to his first run for Council.

Councilman Polensek lives in the North Shore Collinwood area and attends St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church in Collinwood. He has five grown children and two grandsons.