Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren showed up at an emergency City Council meeting last week after Council—and the whole city—had questioned his whereabouts. His critics are beginning a recall campaign this weekend, in an attempt to try and oust him before the November election. Credit: Mark Oprea
Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren’s tenure as the city’s first-ever mayor could come to an end sooner than his term limit dictates.

That is, if enough of his city’s residents decide so.

This weekend, a week after Cleveland Heights City Council posed the possibility of Seren resigning, a coalition of the mayor’s staunchest critics will be going around town collecting signatures to, if enough voters decide, oust him from City Hall in September. Or force him to resign mid-June.

Roughly 30 dissenters will be guiding petition-signing events at seven parks, restaurants and cultural centers to once again remind Cleveland Heights of its leader’s apparent failures: from causing “extremely high staff turnover,” risking a state audit, and allowing his wife, Natalie McDaniel, to incite a hostile work environment at City Hall.

“The undersigned have no confidence in Mayor Seren’s ability or willingness to conduct city business, lead City Hall, and execute the Mayor’s duties in accordance with the City Charter,” the petition reads.

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“Each day he holds office,” it adds, “the City of Cleveland Heights continues to be put at risk and harmed.”

Josie Moore, a 2021 mayoral candidate who helped wrangle the recall campaigners—unofficially dubbed the Cleveland Heights Citizens Organized For Our City—told Scene that the coalition’s 30 circulators have collected “several hundred signatures” as of Friday afternoon.

Even from those who are unaware of Seren’s goings on. Of asking the county prosecutor’s office to possibly press felony charges against the officer who reported his wife’s December tirade. Or about him sneaking into the Law Department in the wee hours of the work day.

“People would simply like to trust who they elect,” Moore said. “Sure, they have jobs. Have to take care of their kids.”

“But a lot of them just want the drama to end,” she added.

And it’s possible that it may not. Even if the coalition gathers the 2,900 signatures needed—a quarter of the 2021 election voters—there’s no certainty they’ll get enough come September to oust Seren from office. “Or,” Moore said, “we vote in November.”

Which has itself no guarantee. Along with the six residents who’ve pulled petitions thus far to run, so too has Seren, as of Thursday. Voters could elect him to a second term if they so choose.

Melody Hart, a supporter of Seren who served on Council from 2019 to 2023, believes that a lot of the hubbub around the mayor and his wife have clouded actual city accomplishments.

She was quick to rattle them off. Seren was the first leader to equip staff with electric vehicles or create a climate action plan. He’s been a boon to development, with five major housing projects and a potential walkability makeover of the dusty Severance Town Center across the street from City Hall.

“I think [the recall] is just a waste of time,” Hart said. “I think everyone’s just jumping on the bandwagon because they want to pounce on someone.”

But what about the claims of antisemitism! And the three city managers who quit! About Seren telling Council, in the meeting last Friday, that he’s “not [their] negro!”

“Apologies are needed. But you also have to give people grace when they do, and handle things where you can also make a difference,” Hart said. “I don’t think this recall is going to do that.”

Petition signing events will take place at the following times and locations:

  • Friday, May 30, 5–7 p.m.: the mini park between Cedar Lee Theater and Boss Dog Brewery
  • Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.: Noble Roanoke Park
  • Saturday, May 31, 1–4 p.m.: CLE Urban Winery
  • Sunday, June 1, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.: Millikin Playground at Severn and Maple
  • Sunday, June 1, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.: In front of Gigi’s on Fairmount
  • Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.: Coventry Kids Day at Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Park
  • Sunday, June 1, 1–4 p.m.: Caledonia Cultural Center

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This article appears in May 22 – Jun 4, 2025.

Mark Oprea is a staff writer at Scene. He's covered Cleveland for the past decade, and has contributed to TIME, NPR, Narratively, the Pacific Standard and the Cleveland Magazine. He's the winner of two Press Club awards.