CLEVELAND — The City of Cleveland has a new mayor-elect: Justin Bibb.
The 34-year-old nonprofit leader received 62% of the votes with 99% of the precincts reporting, defeating his opponent Kevin Kelley. He made his victory speech Tuesday evening to his gathered family, friends, staff, faith leaders and supporters at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, where he is a member. He will be succeeding Frank Jackson, who has been mayor since 2006.
“Throughout this campaign, I’ve said that now was the time for bold, new, dynamic, visionary leadership and the voters of Cleveland said we have a mandate for change across this city,” Bibb said during his victory speech Tuesday evening.
He spoke to student involvement in his campaign and it activating young voters.
“Over 100 students across this city and county that built this movement, and I want to say this: Don’t tell me young people can’t roll up their sleeves and make change in this city. Do not tell me that,” Bibb said.
He said the work is just beginning, that tonight they will celebrate before they “roll up their sleeves” and get to work tomorrow.
“We all know the issues we have ahead of us,” he said. “Poorest big city in America. The worst city in this country for Black women. One out of two of our children living in poverty. But I want to say something very important, and I said this when I announced nearly 300 days ago, that not one mayor can solve these problems in isolation. It’s going to take a people-powered movement.”
During the campaign, Bibb — who has never held political office — said he would focus on creating an accessible and transparent City Hall along with increasing accountability for police misconduct while also improving relations between police and community members.
He also spoke to his goal of ensuring police accountability in the city during his victory speech Tuesday evening.
“We’re going to show the nation that in Cleveland, we can have good, smart law enforcement but also respect the rights of our residents across the city of Cleveland,” he said.
Kelley also addressed supporters during his concession speech Tuesday night at The Harp Irish Pub and Restaurant on Cleveland’s West Side. He was surrounded by supporters and family members and spoke about gratitude and unity. He congratulated his opponent and mayor-elect Bibb while asking for the people of Cleveland to come together.
“Whatever happened or didn’t happen in this campaign, I will put behind me. We will put behind us,” he said. “We are in this because we believe in a better Cleveland. And for those reasons, we are not going to hold grudges. We are not going to be thinking next election. We are going to be in the mindset that we are all part of the future of this city.”
