PRESS RELEASE - Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 - Cleveland, OH –
Campbell served as the 56th Mayor and first female mayor in Cleveland’s history
Today, former Mayor Jane Campbell endorsed nonprofit and business executive Justin Bibb for Mayor at a meet and greet with West Park residents.
“I was our city’s 56th mayor. I know what it takes to lead our city, and Justin has the bold vision and energy to lead real change,” Campbell said.
“I know firsthand what it’s like to be doubted as a worthy opponent. In one of the debates in 2001 I was asked whether I was tough enough to be mayor – a question never posed to my male opponents. In 2002, I became the first woman Mayor of the City of Cleveland, defying the odds and injecting a new brand of leadership to the city,” she said. “Like Justin will do, I pulled together a leadership team. His vitality and understanding of how the private and non-profit sectors work give him the ability to bring people together and recruit talent to our city to bring real and lasting change.”
“Justin Bibb brings hope for Cleveland’s future. He will push the limits and break the status quo mentality that delays and denies progress. He’ll bring best practice programs and fresh ideas to a city government stuck in the past,” Campbell added.
“Mayor Campbell was a trailblazer for the city and I’m honored to have her endorsement and support,” Bibb said.
“She led the city after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and stabilized the budget in the face of an economic recession. Mayor Campbell confronted crisis after crisis with compassion and competence, and it’s those leadership qualities I will bring to the job,” Bibb added.
Justin Bibb was raised on the southeast side of the city by his mom, a social worker, and his dad, who served as both a police officer and firefighter. President Obama gave him his start in politics as a Senate Intern. Bibb later joined Cuyahoga County as the youngest member of the executive’s cabinet and served as Special Assistant on economic development and education policy. He later earned law and business degrees at Case Western Reserve University and served as vice president at Cleveland's KeyBank. He currently advises mayors and city leaders across the country on how to use data and technology in projects to improve cities. As Mayor, he’ll invest in all neighborhoods, reform policing, address violent crime and ensure high-quality education for our children.