03-06-2025
Cleveland Heights council approves ‘no confidence' resolution amid allegations against mayor's wife
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) – Cleveland Heights City Council is taking action after Mayor Kahlil Seren's wife, Natalie McDaniel, allegedly sent and made anti-Semitic remarks and texts.
The FOX 8 I-Team has been fighting for public records related to the alleged behavior to be released, but so far the city has been dragging its feet.
The mayor has adamantly denied the anti-Semitic behavior, but at a special meeting on May 27, Councilman Jim Petras introduced a 'no confidence' resolution calling for accountability and transparency.
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It was standing room only inside council chambers on Monday night for the first public reading of the resolution.
Several were carrying signs calling for the mayor to resign.
'RESIGN Seren it's you, you're the problem,' one sign said.
Councilman Anthony Mattox, Jr. said he thought the issue should be left to voters and he expressed concerns because other members of council supporting the resolution are running for mayor.
He also said that the controversy is breeding division.
'It is affecting my family, many families up here and many of your families too,' he said.
Councilman Craig Cobb said the controversies are making Cleveland Heights, 'the laughing stock of Northeast Ohio.'
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In the end, council voted 6 to 1 in favor of the 'no confidence' resolution.
Although it's largely symbolic, the calls for the mayor to resign are expected to intensify.
Seren responded, saying, 'Even as you have lost confidence, we will still get the work of the city done just as we have this evening and all of you will continue working with me and I will continue to work to move the city forward and I am appreciate to the residents and all the city workers who have shown me care and support through this.'
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