Cleveland – Councilman Brian Mooney has named Danny Kelly as his replacement to represent Ward 11 on Cleveland’s West Side.
Mr. Kelly is very familiar with Cleveland, having grown up in Collinwood before moving to the west side more than 20 years ago. A proud 45-year member of Laborers’ Local 310, Kelly worked as a laborer on jobsites for years. Like many Clevelanders, Kelly knows first-hand what it is like to put in a hard day of work.
A life-long champion of equity and fairness, he has spent his entire adult life standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with his fellow champions of working people. Kelly has strong ties to the labor movement, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, and the City of Cleveland.
He most recently worked for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District as a student-family recruiter. He served in that role with distinction, receiving an accolade for his exemplary treatment of students, parents, community members, partners, visitors and fellow staff as one of the initial H.E.A.R.T. Award (Hear, Empathize, Apologize, Respond and Thank) recipients for CMSD.
“I am honored that Councilman Mooney has nominated me as his successor,” said Mr. Kelly. “I raised four kids with a union book in my back pocket and will work hard for the residents in the ward.”
Mr. Kelly was introduced during a council caucus Monday (Jan. 9th) where a preliminary vote on his appointment was taken.
Tonight, during City Council’s regular Monday meeting, Council Clerk Patricia Britt will officially read Councilman Mooney’s resignation into the record as effective January 11. Councilman Mooney is resigning because he was elected by Cuyahoga County voters in November 2022 to serve as a Common Pleas Judge. Councilman Mooney’s term as a judge begins on January 12.
Then the council will vote on whether to appoint Mr. Kelly as his successor. Traditionally, council votes for whoever the resigning council member chooses. If passed, Mr. Kelly officially takes office Jan. 12th.
Because Councilman Mooney’s resignation occurs more than two years before the next regular municipal election, Mr. Kelly will have to run in a special municipal election in November. A special primary election to nominate candidates for the Ward 11 council seat will be held on the 8th Tuesday prior to the general election.