Council meeting about Cleveland Heights mayor turns contentious, ends abruptly
[Editor's note: This report contains language that may be considered offensive. Discretion is advised.]
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) – A special city council meeting called Friday by council President Tony Cuda was to discuss allegations against Mayor Kahlil Seren.
As FOX 8 News previously reported, protesters attended the council meeting Monday night to call for Seren to resign after it became public that a complaint was filed with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission regarding the mayor's wife Natalie McDaniel.
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The complaint alleges McDaniel sent text messages with antisemitic speech targeting city employees and residents who are Jewish.
Seren addressed the accusations in a 15-minute video posted to Facebook days later. He claimed that the allegations are false.
Cleveland Heights City Council members said in Friday's meeting that Seren took too long to address the city, wasn't around city hall during the week, and had not responded to text messages asking if he was OK.
Cuda asked Assistant Law Director Chris Heltzel what kind of role the council would have if the mayor were unavailable or inaccessible.
Heltzel explained that there is an article in the city code that states the council president would be acting mayor if the mayor was not accessible, but made it clear that it's incredibly complicated to determine the definition of the mayor not being available and how a transfer of power would work.
Heltzel also noted a certain provision in the law carried over from when Cleveland Heights had a city manger rather than a mayor.
Heltzel later explained that council can approve a resolution calling for Seren's resignation, but does not have the legal power to force his resignation.
Not long after that, Seren asked for time to speak in the meeting. He referred to the meeting as 'an exercise in elector politics,' which he called disappointing, but not surprising.
Seren then explained why he didn't respond to Cuda's text message asking if he's OK.
Then, he used offensive language toward the council.
'I just want to say this council by no means is my overseer, and I am not your Negro,' Seren said.
Not long after, an exchange between Seren and Councilman Craig Cobb escalated and Cuda called to adjourn the meeting before reaching all of the items on the agenda.
At that moment, residents with signs calling for Seren's resignation began addressing the mayor to his face.
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Seren eventually stopped to speak to reporters. He didn't take any questions, but he called out the council by listing things they haven't accomplished and said they need to work on things that will help Cleveland Heights residents.
'There are substantive things that we should be looking at to improve the day-to-day experience of people in Cleveland heights,' Seren said. 'Now, that's the work that we're always doing, despite the slings and arrows here that I've been faced down with for the last 10 years of service to this city. I'm going to keep doing that work because I care about this city.'
Seren indicated he won't be going anywhere during the remaining seven months of his term as mayor, despite calls for his resignation.
Cleveland Heights resident James Bates, who was one of the residents shouting at Seren to resign, told FOX 8 News that the mayor isn't being upfront with the allegations and it would be better for the city if he moved on.
'He knows in his heart of hearts; he knows that he needs to resign, and the fact that he doesn't should tell you everything you need to know about Kahlil Seren. He is not a faithful person. He needs to go. Let me say that unequivocally: Khalil Seren, you need to go,' Bates said.
Council members Anthony Mattox Jr. and Jim Posch did not attend the meeting. Council Vice President Davida Russell listened in via Zoom.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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