Members of the committee to recall Mayor Miesha Headen say that though the embattled Richmond Heights mayor’s intentions may have been good, her execution during her first 9 months in office has been so poor that a recall is justified.
Teri Drda served as the city’s recreation director for 15 years under former Mayor Daniel Ursu and is now a member of the recall committee. She said that in her interactions with Mayor Headen, she has seen two completely different people: an eloquent, charming leader; and a vindictive schemer who holds grudges and retaliates against perceived disloyalties.
“It’s like Jekyll and Hyde,” Drda said in a phone conversation Monday afternoon. “There are a lot of us [on the committee] who feel that she came in really hoping to make a difference, really wanting to find corruption in government. But she didn’t find what she was looking for. Now, if you walk into City Hall, the level of fear is higher than it’s ever been. I didn’t think it could get any worse [than under Ursu]. but it has.”
UPDATE: Writer’s Note: Teri Drda’s above comment is specifically with respect to Miesha Headen’s influence at City Hall. During the five years that Headen served as council member, she would frequently “storm in on” city departments “throwing temper tantrums” and demanding answers, Drda said. Her statement — “I didn’t think it could get any worse” etc. — is a comparison of Headen then and Headen now, not a condemnation of Mayor Ursu’s mayoralty.
Col. Carl J. Carter, a core committee member who has lived in Richmond Heights for 30 years, said that Headen is indeed an intelligent woman, but has stoked the fire of racial tension in Richmond Heights and has cultivated a bad habit of slinging unfounded accusations.
“I think she saw the election as a mandate,” Carter said in an interview Tuesday. “And now she wants to vest all power in the Mayor. She wants a dictatorship.”
Headen told Scene in an interview last week that when she served as a council member under Ursu, “the legislative body frequently encroached and superseded upon the powers and duties of the executive. The separation was nonexistent.” But her recent attempts to distance herself from council and act independently have been perceived, by some residents, as narcissism.
“She’s quick to claim successes of other people as her own,” said Carter (referencing the city’s upgraded bond rating), “but she refuses to take responsibility for her actions.”
Committee Chair Carl Harmon, a resident of Richmond Heights since 2002, said that Headen has been waging a negative campaign — yesterday, her supporters robo-called residents comparing City Council members to characters on House of Cards — and confirmed that the committee has had no contact with David Roche or members of council. They’ve gone out of their way, he said, to avoid allegations of impropriety.
(Col. Carter also said that the committee has had no contact with Brandye Mells or her attorney).
And it’s not like members of the Recall Committee are die-hard Roche supporters. In fact, Harmon said, Richmond Heights leadership has been so petty and ineffectual recently that they considered booting them all out.
“But we decided, ultimately,that that would be a detriment to the city,” he said. “It would be like showing up to a business and everyone had left. You need some historical perspective.”
Harmon added, though, that the real challenge for the community would come after the election.
“We want Headen out for reasons of stability, but this community has been divided,” Harmon said. “We’re in trouble. We need to rebuild trust, and Roche needs to reach out to the community to give them opportunities. We need to see younger people, people of different colors, different genders representing us.”
But not Headen, who is African-American and female, but who according to Harmon and Carter has “played the race card” at the expense of community unity — Richmond Heights is dominated by older whites and younger blacks — and has perpetuated the stereotype of an “Old Boys Network” on city council.
“We hear that a lot,” said Harmon. “Which is why Roche will need to reach out and make some changes. If he doesn’t, well, now he knows that we can recall him too.”
Carter agreed. “If Headen’s done one good thing, it’s that she woke this community up.”
This article appears in Sep 10-16, 2014.
Sam,
Way to put words into someone’s mouth: “I didn’t think it could get any worse [than under Ursu]. but it has.” I don’t think she said, “than under Ursu” nor would I bet that she mean that.
You are the worst kind of reporter. If someone doesn’t say what you want, just twist and manipulate it to fit your story. You should be fired and I will be sending a letter to your editors informing them of this.
Sam,
I am the Teri Drda you quoted. Mayor Ursu is a wonderful, honest, diplomatic man. It was my pleasure to work for him for 15 plus years! I told you that Miesha Headen caused a lot of unneeded stress on the directors while she was on council and I couldn’t believe how much worse it has gotten – with her now as Mayor. This is a critical distinction.
I’m sorry I tried to help you see the other half of the story. And…this is also the reason I directed you to talk to the Core Recall members.
Sam,
Although I am not surprised that the Scene would slant the truth (to support Mayor Headen), after reading this article several times, I just don’t understand where you came up with, Richmond Heights Recall Committee Doesn’t Like Roche Either……. I think the committee members were clear, when stated that if the Voters recall Mayor Headen and if Roche (as Mayor)were to behave as a tyrannical autocrat (like Miesha) we would consider recalling him too. Although our belief may not fit your political agenda, this is about the future of our City; it is not about Miesha Headen or Dave Roche.
Further, having spoken with our Chair, Carl K. Harmon, when he spoke about “WE” initially considered recalling council members. The ‘we’ were other residents’ discussions regarding Richmond Heights politics. Rest assured that the Recall Mayor Headen Committee’s mission has been consistent – our goal is to recall Mayor Headen because she has recklessly conducted herself as Mayor of our City and we, the citizens have endured the negative press and drama in City Hall for more than 8 months. We, the Recall Committee and our supporters have had enough – Mayor Headen has to go!
Carmela Carter, Recall Mayor Headen Committee Member
@TDRDA: Teri. That is a key distinction and I apologize. I will update accordingly. Please know that this wasn’t an attempt to twist quotes or slant the truth in the service of an agenda. In fact, the essential aim of this article was to provide the committee a venue to air their position after we featured an interview with the mayor last week. Carl Harmon was very clear that this is not about Headen or Roche; it’s about the future of Richmond Heights. The headline was meant to reflect that.
As an outsider. This whole thing is a hilarious. From what I am reading. citizens voted an incumbent out of office (this is hard to do unless you are horrible). The council, which has been around too long, is not happy that they actually have to work and listen to someone that is doing their job and is their boss. So in retaliation, they make allegations that cause a recall which will probably lead to the citizens to vote for her again. hmmm. Last time I looked the citizens are the ones that pay you. why not for once listen to them. After all that is why we vote. Everything that has been said “I’ve been here for 30 years”, “I’ve been here for 15 years”. That is a sure sign for change. Typical political bullshit. You probably were not supposed to make a career out of it and should let new, younger blood in that will actually move the city forward. Geez. Your city didn’t get it’s bond rating to junk for no reason.
@Thomas, it is hard to understand looking in from the outside just how strange it HAS been at City Hall. As a 20 year resident, you will simply have to take my word that this is not about City Council or, how long they have been in their positions.
Council did not assault a reporter. Council did not drop an “F” Bomb in a public meeting. Council did not get admonished by a Federal Judge and have the Marshalls called into the courtroom. Council does not get caught in a lie every day of their term.
The Mayor of Richmond Heights has literally be caught in 5 significant lies in the past 24 hours. I don’t know about where you live, but that’s gotta be some kind of record.
(1) She lied about Cyber Attacks on the city’s servers (2) She lied about $650K that was alleged to have been missing from the city’s books (3) She lied about our S&P Bond Rating being “junk rated” (4) She lied about the prior administration neglecting the emergency vehicles (5) She lied about the finance department having gotten caught up on the bills that were 5 months behind being paid. That’s a lot of lies for just one day.
Not to mention the fact that she has used public funds to campaign for her retention. This is not a person you want leading your city. Fortunately, we voters have the opportunity to correct a big, big mistake.
Thomas you are an outsider and should remain just that an outsider. You comments are baseless and scream your ignorance of our plight here in Richmond Heights. We in no manner think it is funny. This is the first time in the city’s history that something like this has happened. We KNOW what we are talking about and what we need to do. So you continue to sit on the side line and laugh and guess what may be happening in our city. Allegations don’t wind up in law suits which the city has to pay to defend her (the mayor) with additional ones waiting in the wings. This mayor has to go and your humorous observations with her.
Thank you @Thomas for hitting the nail on the head!! Trust me, not all Richmond Heights residents are like @Agrafixman and @Sad RH Resident or @Miss Ra Ra Roche Teri Drda.
Many Richmond Heights residents DO NOT want to see Headen out of office (and this is coming from a 25+ year white resident – shock of all shocks!)
Why do you think Headen was voted into office? – because change needed to be made. Voting for Headen out of office (can’t exactly call it a vote for Roche – after all, if he gets into office it will be because of a recall, not because anyone voted him into office). Has Headen been perfect – absolutely not! Has she been met with criticism and combativeness since she’s been in office – absolutely! Does she deserve a fair shot – a shot longer than 9 months? absolutely!
No one, including Scene magazine (shame on you Sam Allard for one sided reporting) has focused on the good that has been done in the city since Headen’s been in office:
She re-opened the pool this summer, which is a huge part of the community
She’s focused on communicating with the residents of the city about city-wide events, including a first time cookout for residents fathers day
She’s cleaned up the corner of Richmond and Wilson Mills – a HUGE eyesore in the community for the past few years and made it into a greenspace
She’s alerted citizens to the money pit that Greenwood Farms is – coincidence that its Roche’s little boys club pet project? I think not.
She helped in getting Richmond Height’s bond rating up to AA – stable – a all time high for the city
Everyone loved Dimora and Russo, they were in office for so many years. People would blindly re-elect them time after time due to party affiliation and the fact that they were the incumbent. That turned out well for everyone involved, their combined years of experience really served the taxpayers well.
If you’re not happy with the people you have in office, get rid of them by voting them out. If you vote one out, and you find you need to vote a whole bunch of others out too, then do that as soon as possible. Finally, if you find that someone you thought was great was but then lost their way, also vote them out of office.
Career politicians are the worst thing that ever happened to America. So many people and companies have their hands in the politician’s pockets its not even funny. Worst part is, when you try to do something about it and change the system, all the people that are benefiting from it get PISSED and fight it hardcore with everything they have. They don’t care if the city burns, as long as they get their pay day and live comfortably. Learn from DiMora and Russo.
@Renee77:
She re-opened the pool this summer, She opened it a week late and it closed in the middle of the summer for 11 days. It was such a success that the Rec Department is issuing pro-rated refunds. You should call to get yours.
She’s focused on communicating with the residents of the city about city-wide events, including a first time cookout for residents fathers day. A Father’s Day cookout that occurred WEEKS after Father’s Day. What happened to Richmond Heights Family Days? She campaigned on restarting that. Why aren’t you mentioning that?
She’s cleaned up the corner of Richmond and Wilson Mills – THE MAYOR didn’t clean up anything. The clean-up is the result of a lawsuit filed by the URSU administration last year. The Mayor continues to take credit for things she had nothing to do with.
She’s alerted citizens to the money pit that Greenwood Farms is – Where have you been? The Mayor (a) sits on the GWF board and (b) has come out saying that the land is “rapturously beautiful” and that is will remain, in it’s entirety owned by Richmond Heights. In fact, her Development Coordinator just reported they are looking to tie the property in with the Metroparks Trail System. Perhaps you should get your facts straight.
She helped in getting Richmond Height’s bond rating up to AA – stable – a all time high for the city. Again, the MAYOR had nothing to do with the rise in the rating. The rating increased because of the fiscal responsibility of the Ursu administration and the passing of the tax increase which allowed us to end the year with a surplus. Ask the Finance Director, because that’s what he reported at the last Town Hall Meeting.
Quit trying to obscure the facts. This Mayor has done nothing to improve the city in 10 months. You want to talk about her efforts to clean up “blight” in the city? How about the fact that she and her husband have been in court over 40 times in the last 7 years for violations for properties they own(ed) in Cleveland and South Euclid. She wants to talk about how she’s cleaning up the city? She’s a slumlord in her own right.
Why is it that a woman in government who seeks to reform appallingly bad practices is refewrred to, over and over, as “hard to get along with”.
Jesus attacking the money lenders in the temple was likewise, “hard to get along with”.
Mayor Headen has questioned the wisdom of carrying on at Greenwood Farm as the previous TWENTY YEAR mayor Dan Ursu did.
It is OBVIOUSLY bad — horrible, some might say terminally stupid — to allow city government to “buy” a booondogle like that farm, then require the taxpayers to fund the expewnses, and THEN to post “no trespassing” signs.
Greenwood Farm should have been purchased by a private charity or allowed to revert for failure pay taxes. It is just this sort of disasterous choice that Mayor Headen seeks to correct.
I think many Richmond Heights voters need to seriously check themselves.
Your irrational sexism is showing, dears.
Recall election will proceed as scheduled. Ohio Supreme Court denies efforts to stop election.
Madeline, what is “irrational” is holding the current administration, whoever that may be, accountable for the decisions made by people 20 years ago. You have no clue what the situation was then and what factored into those decisions. Have you ever heard the expression play the cards you’re dealt?
Greenwood Farms is owned by Richmond Heights. Good. Bad. Indifferent. It is a part of the city’s PORTFOLIO of properties. And, by all accounts, whoever ends up Mayor on Tuesday night is committed to keeping it that way. Even your girl, Miesha.
So, to make GWF the singular issue upon which you predicate your support for your girl is the irrationality here. Take GWF out of the mix and there is more than enough reason to recall Miesha Headen. You may not want to see it that way, but the Auditor of State, State Attorney General’s Office and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s offices are not looking into filing charges for nothing. Your friend has been a very naughty girl. She has to answer for her transgressions.
@Agrafixman
I was going to answer your silly response, but then I got to your last paragraph.
Obscure the facts?
Do you know what the definition of a fact is?
Go back to grade school, m’dear. Maybe then you’ll learn the definition.
The Jekyll and Hyde comparison was spot on!! In front of the cameras she appears stable and well spoken… turn the cameras off and she is a manipulative liar, pushy, obnoxious, unscrupulous and extremely arrogant!