Candidate Endorsements: Spring 2025

Rebecca Gorski
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Delegates of the North Shore Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO present at the June Delegate Meeting voted on endorsements for candidates running in municipal, judicial, and school board races. This slate of thirty-six candidates demonstrates a commitment to the values and principles of our 80,000 members.

Amongst the endorsed candidates are twelve union members, many holding leadership positions with their local union or with labor organizations. Davida Russell has been a leader in labor for more than thirty years, holding leadership positions with OAPSE/AFSCME Local 744, North Shore AFL-CIO, Ohio AFL-CIO, and CLUW. Andy Schofield is a Board Member of SAG-AFTRA Ohio-Pittsburgh and the Finance Board of IATSE Local 209. Chris Anagnostopoulos serves as the NALC food drive coordinator for Ohio. Brian Higgins serves on the SEIU District 1199 Lutheran Hospital Executive Board and as Delegate to North Shore AFL-CIO. Michael Kan is a Delegate to the North Shore AFL-CIO.

Union members receiving endorsement:

  • Brooklyn City Council at Large: Kevin Tanski (AFT Local 268)
  • Cleveland City Council, Ward 12: Danny Kelly (LIUNA Local 310)
  • Cleveland Heights Mayor: Davida Russell (OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4)
  • Lakewood City Council at Large: Brian Higgins (SEIU District 1199)
  • Olmsted Falls Mayor: Chad Gluss (IAFF Local 2373)
  • Olmsted Township Trustee: Chris Anagnostopoulos (NALC Branch 40)
  • Parma City Council, Ward 3: John Soeder (LIUNA Local 310)
  • Parma City Council, Ward 9: Andy Schofield (IBEW Local 38, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE Local 209)
  • Parma Heights City Council, Ward 1: Lisa Maruschak (AFT Local 279)
  • Rocky River Clerk of Courts: Mary Ellen Hemann (SEIU District 1199)
  • Solon City Council, Ward 4: Michael Kan (AFSCME Local 3631)
  • Westlake City Council, Ward 4: Todd LeVeck (AFT Local 279)

Candidates Robert Haag, Mentor School Board and Tom Rounds, Parma Heights City Council, Ward 3, are proud members of OEA.

Additional candidates receiving endorsement:

  • Cleveland Mayor: Justin Bibb
  • Cleveland City Council, Ward 4: Kris Harsh
  • Cleveland City Council, Ward 5: Rebecca Maurer
  • Cleveland City Council, Ward 8: Stephanie Howse-Jones
  • Cleveland Municipal Court Judge: Khalilah Lawson
  • Cleveland Municipal Court Judge: In Son J. Loving
  • Cleveland Heights City Council at Large: Craig Cobb
  • Lakewood City Council at Large: Angelina Hamilton Steiner
  • Lakewood City Council at Large: Sarah Kepple
  • Mentor School Board: Robert Haag
  • North Olmsted City Council, Ward 2: Matthew Marrie
  • North Olmsted Director of Finance: Keegan Radeff
  • North Royalton City Council, Ward 1: Matt Coleman
  • North Royalton City Council, Ward 4: Mary Gorjanc
  • North Royalton City Council, Ward 6: Edward Cyngier
  • Oakwood Village Council, Ward 2: Yvonne Evans-Warren
  • Olmsted Falls City Council at Large: Megan Coy
  • Olmsted Township Trustee: Riley Alton
  • Parma Heights Mayor: Marie Gallo
  • Parma Heights City Council, Ward 2: Lesley DeSouza
  • Parma Heights City Council, Ward 3: Tom Rounds
  • Parma Heights School Board: Tammie Sebastian
  • University Heights Council at Large: Brian King

All non-judicial candidates seeking North Shore AFL-CIO’s endorsement participate in a candidate briefing to ensure understanding of the history and structure of the labor council, the political work of the Federation, and ways to support union members. Candidates also submit a detailed questionnaire before being considered for endorsement.

The North Shore AFL-CIO’s member-to-member political program focuses on educating and mobilizing union members and their families to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Labor’s role in electing strong pro-worker candidates is more important than ever.

The endorsement process remains open. Additional endorsements will be announced in the coming months.