Cleveland’s Ward 12 extends from Edgewater south to West Boulevard.

Council Member Danny Kelly faces Tanmay Shah in the Nov. 4 general election.

Share a bit about your previous experience in elected office, government or community work.

Before Council I served on the ADAMHS Board, where we directed funding for mental health and addiction programs. Difficult job, because [of] so much need. I was also a trustee for North Shore AFL-CIO and had to oversee the endorsements, the business of the union. We represented 100,000 people in Cuyahoga County.

As a laborer out of Local 310, I have been very active in the union movement to help get the best wage and benefits so we can support our families. I was a single dad of four kids, so I was everywhere — all the sports, multiple schools.

I worked for CMSD for 10 years as a family recruiter. I enjoyed working there to help families and their children find the best place for their kids to help them stick around here and give back to the community some day.

And then this opportunity on Council came around. It’s not for the faint of heart. I’m [out at] 11:30 at night on a woman’s porch. You have to be able to pick the phone up and reach back. Most of the time it turns out pretty good! You always advocate for your residents. 

What are the three most important issues facing the ward you want to represent?

Safety: Residents complain about traffic safety and speeding and want more traffic enforcement.

Good jobs: We don’t have big box factories like U.S. Steel, so we need to be clever and do what we can do and create whatever job we can in the city.

Affordable housing: We can’t allow housing costs to get out of control – but it’s also affordable only if people have good-paying jobs to be able to pay the mortgage and make the rent. 

Council members have money set aside from casino taxes and other sources to spend on neighborhood projects. How would you spend your share?

Casino money is flexible so I use it mostly for kids’ programs – like the Cudell Rec center. I’ve used it to take CMSD students to Ideastream and for the Dolly Parton program. I’ve also used it for the 6th-8th grade Disney Program at Playhouse Square. I want to give the kids in my ward the opportunity to experience new things, and the casino money helps me do that. 

As a council member, how would you gather input and feedback from residents you represent?

I am on call 24/7. I go out into the community to talk to people. I speak to folks wherever I see them. I am constantly available. I have two people who staff my office, and they are excellent at being responsive. 

Affordable housing is a critical issue for Clevelanders. How do you define affordable? And what specific plans or ideas do you have to create more housing that working class Clevelanders can afford to rent or buy?

When I was a single dad, I was behind several house payments many times. I understand how hard it can be to make ends meet. Affordable housing to me is after you pay your rent or mortgage you can still make all your bills, take care of your family, and you have enough left over to enjoy yourself a little bit and treat your kids to the ball game or Cedar Point once in a while.

Some things I’ve done to bring more affordable housing to the ward is work with Habitat for Humanity to build modular houses in the neighborhood. I’ve supported Mayor Bibb’s Residents First package to hold shady landlords accountable.

I’m also doing a lot of work to make sure we have better-paying jobs through Project Labor Agreements and raising wages for city workers. I also sit on the Fair Wage Board to hold shady employers accountable if they short workers. 

Clevelanders list public safety among their top concerns. The city has taken many approaches to prevent and respond to violence and make neighborhoods safer. How would you tackle this issue? Where should Cleveland City Council push for more investment?

I have pushed for more officers on the street and for them to get better pay. As well as upgrades to technology, vehicles and equipment. But I also understand we have to tackle the root causes of crime, like making sure kids have outlets. So I sit on the Advisory Committee for the Safety Fund. I think that’s a really good thing. Making sure young people are taken care of and have options in life is very important to me. 

​​Should there be term limits for Cleveland City Council members?

No.

Council members act as resident service representatives, legislators and guardians of city spending. Which of these roles matter to you most and why?

This job is helping where you can. It’s about engaging with residents. I knock on a lot of doors. I try to be clear with people if I can’t meet their expectations and explain why. 

Please share any other information you think is important for us to know about you and your campaign.

On term limits: I would probably say no. I would have to react to a proposal that’s put in front of me. 

Share a bit about your previous experience in elected office, government or community work.

I am an immigrant from India who is a product of public schools. I studied political science and economics as an undergrad. My passion for social justice led me to CWRU Law School. I was a leader involved in student government and multiple student organizations. During the BLM movement, I organized to help address racial inequities in our hometown school district. My experience working in the private sector, and state and federal government, have equipped me with the skills to navigate these systems and make me the best candidate for Ward 12. Before working as a housing attorney, I represented discriminated employees against their bosses. As an attorney at Legal Aid, I represented hundreds of tenants against landlords and helped unionize our workplace. For the past year, I’ve worked as a driver for a local composting co-op.

What are the three most important issues facing the ward you want to represent?

Affordable housing, affordable groceries, and reliable city services

Council members have money set aside money from casino taxes and other sources to spend on neighborhood projects. How would you spend your share?

I would pilot a participatory budgeting model during my first year and allow residents to determine how to spend their own taxes. I would also be interested in using that money to improve city services such as park upgrades and consistent pool hours, something our current council has refused to prioritize.

As a council member, how would you gather input and feedback from residents you represent?

I would bring city hall to the people and host regular community meetings and office hours across libraries and parks.

Affordable housing is a critical issue for Clevelanders. How do you define affordable? And what specific plans or ideas do you have to create more housing that working class Clevelanders can afford to rent or buy?

Generally, housing advocates have defined affordable as 30% or less of your income going towards housing. I believe this is a helpful metric and would like to push for housing costs that remain below 30% of median income for the neighborhood. I support increasing public housing, late-fee cap, and supporting tenants organizing for a city-wide tenants union as a good start. I would also support giving senior citizens a tax-break on their property valuations in order to make sure they do not face foreclosure. Other cities like Detroit have done this successfully to ensure senior citizens can remain in their homes, and we should as well.

Clevelanders list public safety among their top concerns. The city has taken many approaches to prevent and respond to violence and make neighborhoods safer. How would you tackle this issue? Where should Cleveland City Council push for more investment?

I am supportive of passing Tanisha’s Law in order to properly fund and provide for alternative responses, fully fund the Community Police Commission, and dramatically increase youth programming.

​​Should there be term limits for Cleveland City Council members?

No. 

Council members act as resident service representatives, legislators and guardians of city spending. Which of these roles matter to you most and why?

I believe all three of these are critical roles. The legislative portion of council has not been prioritized enough. Our city is facing historic challenges, and we must provide comprehensive laws that reflect the city of today while building the city of tomorrow.

Candidate answers were edited for clarity. We took out responses that were off topic or included comments about opponents.

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Andrew DeFratis did not advance past the September primary.

Share a bit about your previous experience in elected office, government or community work.

This is my first time running for office, but I studied to be a high school social studies teacher and have worked on numerous campaigns, including as an organizer for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s 2012 reelection. I participated in coalition-driven community solutions at the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADM) Board; managed awareness, volunteer advocacy, and public policy across a 17-county service area for the Alzheimer’s Association; and, after getting my master of public administration, now serve as senior director of public affairs for Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, working with all levels of government as one of the only program-level rape crisis center public policy directors in the country – advocating for the needs of survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking. In that space, I’m active in the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition and the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking.

I love nonprofits and try to support a variety of causes – I’ve been a volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign of Cleveland for about 15 years, I’ve been elected treasurer of the (current) Ward 15 Democratic Club twice, and I served as parliamentarian of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party from 2023-2025.

What are the three most important issues facing the ward you want to represent?

Public safety, health, and responsive government. The maps were redrawn because Cleveland is losing people, and I believe the solution – that helps all Clevelanders – comes back to the basics: we all want to live somewhere we feel safe, somewhere that allows us to live healthy, and government services function the way they’re supposed to.

I’m running for a safer Cleveland—one that ensures transparency, accountability, and modern support in public safety, while taking meaningful steps to ensure LGBTQ+ residents feel safe and supported.

I’m running for a healthier Cleveland—where we prioritize addressing the disproportionate workplace and healthcare inequities faced by Black women in Cleveland, emphasize transit-oriented development, and restore Cleveland’s tree canopy. And I believe responsive government means empowering community voices, respecting public input, and ensuring that city decisions reflect the needs and concerns of the people we serve.

Council members have money set aside money from casino taxes and other sources to spend on neighborhood projects. How would you spend your share?

A portion of these funds traditionally supports community programming through our CDCs, and I envision that continuing. I’m especially interested in initiatives that put practical tools directly in residents’ hands to promote safety and well-being, such as motion-activated exterior lights, steering-wheel locks to deter auto theft, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and gun locks.

As a council member, how would you gather input and feedback from residents you represent?

I think this starts with an active presence at community events, clubs, and block clubs: being intentionally visible and accessible, and regularly communicating progress on city initiatives. When it comes to specific issues, I want residents to feel empowered through the public comment process – at Monday night City Council meetings and committee meetings – and I would actively promote upcoming topics so people have the information they need in advance to provide prepared input. The same goes for any major community project, whether it’s filling a vacant storefront or developing a community solution. Responsive government that works directly with residents is core to my belief system. I also recognize that the new ward lines don’t perfectly match neighborhood boundaries, and that some of Cleveland’s biggest challenges won’t be solved within arbitrary borders. If there are expert solutions from anywhere, I want to hear them.

Affordable housing is a critical issue for Clevelanders. How do you define affordable? And what specific plans or ideas do you have to create more housing that working class Clevelanders can afford to rent or buy?

The first priority is effectively enforcing Residents First and holding landlords accountable. Much of Ward 12 is already built out, so new housing often comes from individual projects. I support the ongoing effort to attract a modular home builder to the city, as having construction nearby can help lower costs. I also plan to work with nonprofit housing organizations and review zoning to give residents more flexibility to build on their own property. And when it comes to new multi-family development, I’m committed to prioritizing affordable housing at the center of the conversation.

Clevelanders list public safety among their top concerns. The city has taken many approaches to prevent and respond to violence and make neighborhoods safer. How would you tackle this issue? Where should Cleveland City Council push for more investment?

Public safety is my top priority. I’d like to see more administrative and technical support within the department while we continue hiring more officers – helping with reporting and paperwork so they aren’t stretched thin, which reduces burnout and turnover. Mental health professional responders will also have reporting needs, so building that support early matters. I’m prioritizing a more transparent Police Department by advocating for the Civilian Police Commission, ensuring crime data meets the latest public standards, and making sure LGBTQ+ voices are included in decision-making. I would also use a portion of ward funds to support neighborhood safety projects.

​​Should there be term limits for Cleveland City Council members?

Yes.

Council members act as resident service representatives, legislators and guardians of city spending. Which of these roles matter to you most and why?

All of these roles are important, and the lens I would perform all of them through is as a legislator. Ensuring constituent needs are met and holding 311 accountable is a top priority, and I believe responsible governance means working ahead to make policy so you never have to call in the first place. My background is in policy, and I want to set the city up for success today and long after I’m gone. That means gathering community input, learning from the best cities in the world, and making it work for Cleveland. Good legislators are also clear-eyed about what is and isn’t working and use Council’s role in the budget process to make sure the administration’s spending reflects residents’ priorities.

Please share any other information you think is important for us to know about you and your campaign.

I often lead with I grew up in Garfield Heights because I think the new Ward 12 is a combination of two (or more!) neighborhoods, and I grew up in a community that felt a lot like the Westown area, and Edgewater has been my chosen home for the last 10 years. I would like to see policy solutions that elevate our whole ward, and our whole city.

It’s also a fact that I chose my neighborhood because it is an exceptional LGBTQ+ area: we’re framed by Studio West 117th, Twist, the LGBT Center, and Vibe. Pride flags fly all year long here, and with the changing make up of council, I want to ensure there is someone fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and voices on Council.