Organizer Alana Belle announces city council campaign in Glenville
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Glenville resident Alana Belle has announced her candidacy for Cleveland City Council in Ward 9.
Why it matters: Under the newly redrawn council map, two fewer seats will be up for grabs in 2025. Belle is one of the first challengers to formally launch her campaign.
- She will likely face incumbent Kevin Conwell, who in recent elections has won in a landslide or without opposition in the Glenville neighborhood.
Zoom in: Belle describes herself as an artist, activist and organizer. She was born and raised in Glenville and attended the Cleveland School of the Arts.
- She has worked as a community organizer for more than a decade, largely with racial and reproductive justice organizations like Preterm and the Ohio Women's Alliance.
One fun thing: She was named one of Cleveland's Most Interesting People in 2019.
What they're saying: "Glenville deserves a Councilmember who is both willing to stand in the streets with the people to protest police brutality and someone who can stand at podiums at the Ohio Statehouse, speaking to legislators about expanding our rights," Belle says on her campaign website.
- "Glenville residents deserve a City Council that will fight for our right to have a voice in the decisions that impact our daily lives."
State of play: The new Ward 9 includes a large portion of the existing Ward 9 (Conwell), plus pieces of the current Ward 8 (Mike Polensek) and Ward 10 (Anthony Hairston).
- In addition to Glenville, the new councilperson will represent University Circle and the western portion of Collinwood.
What's next: All 15 seats will be up for re-election this year, with the primaries in September and the general election in November.