‘Tis the season for expressing thanks, and Jim Petras is definitely feeling the spirit.
“I’m just so grateful right now, and especially to the people of Cleveland Heights who put their trust in me,” said Petras, a project director for Case Western Reserve University’s IT division who has lived in Cleveland Heights for a decade.
On November 4, Petras was elected mayor of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, with 55% of the vote.
When he takes office on January 1, he will become possibly the only out LGBTQ+ elected mayor in Ohio. Out LGBTQ+ Yellow Springs Mayor Pam Conine’s term ends in December.
Being mayor was never part of Petras’ plan. Even when he successfully ran for and served on Cleveland Heights City Council, he didn’t have his sights set on the mayoral seat. That changed when Petras realized things just weren’t getting done in Cleveland Heights.
“City Council could pass laws all day long, but it’s the mayor who is responsible for getting things done,” Petras said. “So if you’re not getting enough done, you need a new mayor.”
It has been an intensely tumultuous year for the mayoral seat in Cleveland Heights. Khalil Seren – the municipality’s first elected mayor under Cleveland Height’s new governance structure in 2021 – was recalled as mayor in September by 82% of the voters and left office shortly thereafter. The recall vote followed months of controversy surrounding everything from toxic work environments to budget mismanagement to soap-opera-like allegations involving Seren’s wife that included criminal trespassing and homophobic and antisemitic remarks.
Petras is ready to turn the page for the Cleveland Heights community. And he said it starts with a ton of listening.
“Cleveland Heights is a city with so many civically minded people who care so much about the community and just want to offer their time and talents to help the city do well,” he said. “I look forward to listening and learning from them.”
With LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, a ban on mental-health practitioners performing conversion therapy on minors, and a parental leave policy using gender-neutral language, Cleveland Heights stands as one of the most LGBTQ-affirming cities in Ohio.
Still Petras believes there is more that can be done to support the LGBTQ+ community, including opposing harmful legislation coming from state legislators.
“I look forward to going down to the Statehouse as mayor and speaking out against any bill that threatens our public schools or our LGBTQ+ community,” he said.
As for the distinction of being Ohio’s only out elected mayor, Petras said he is grateful for the opportunity to represent and fight for the LGBTQ+ community. As a founding member of the Ohio Democratic Pride Caucus, he wants young LGBTQ+ Ohioans to know that they too can serve their community in public office.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not your time,” Petras said. “If there is something that you are interested in doing, stand up and go after it.”
Originally published by The Buckeye Flame. Republished here with permission.