SCHLEPER’S TOP FIVE

I’ll get to work on day one to address these pressing needs:

Workforce and Economic Development

As a county, we have continued to deal with persistent economic stagnation. We continue to see income in equality in the region, and we know that good jobs have often been difficult to access. Are we paving the way for our most vulnerable citizens and doing our best to provide economic opportunities for all?

Educational Access

As an educator, the idea of access is something near and dear to my heart. We have ample educational opportunities, but are they accessible to everyone in the county? When we engage all stakeholders in the conversation, we broaden our perspective and open opportunities for our educational and technical organizations to collaborate.

Social Justice

We have seen multiple communities and groups disenfranchised by bad policy, antiquated legislation, and discriminatory practices. Women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community are just a few of the groups that have faced persistent discrimination. We have been behind many major urban counties in terms of protecting and lifting up our most vulnerable citizens. It is time for us to be accountable to all citizens of Cuyahoga County and create an environment that supports all members of our communities.

Brain Drain and Population Decline

Since the census in 2020, Cuyahoga County has lost close to 30,000 residents. The vast majority of those are leaving the region altogether. Younger professionals and young families are leaving at disproportionately high rates, higher than any other group. Our most talented and educated citizens are actively choosing to live in another region of the country, often because the social climate is better, and because the economic opportunities are stronger. We need to ask ourselves why so many younger residents choose to leave rather than stay and how we can turn this troubling trend around.

Health Equity

Cuyahoga County has one of the highest maternal mortality and infant mortality rates in the United States. With some of the best hospitals in the world here in our community, why do these inequities persist? Taking a close look at our health outcomes is critical to solving this problem. Removing the barriers to growth is central to addressing this growing concern.