CH residents invited to municipal court judge candidates forum

A public forum with the three candidates for Cleveland Heights municipal court judge will be held on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m., at Disciples Christian Church, located at the corner of Mayfield and Yellowstone roads.

The Cleveland Heights Housing Committee of Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC) is hosting the forum, which offers Cleveland Heights residents the opportunity to meet and hear from the candidates.

The committee planned the forum as an outcome of a listening campaign about the concerns of Cleveland Heights residents, in which housing issues were identified as a top priority in the city. Specific issues include housing values that fell during the recession and have only recently begun to rebound, and the impact on neighborhoods of vacant, blighted and tax-delinquent houses.

While the GCC Cleveland Heights Housing Committee has developed relationships with city and county officials to support change, the municipal court plays an important role in housing issues.

At the forum, candidates James Costello, Nadeen Hayden and DeAngelo Little will respond to specific questions developed by the committee that focus on the court’s impact on housing issues.

Forum topics will include how to effectively enforce housing standards, how to implement timely follow-up and enforcement of violation corrections, and how to collaborate with other city divisions and outside entities.

Questions will also address court responsibilities that may not relate directly to housing. Audience members will have an opportunity to submit questions after the structured portion of the forum, and candidates have been invited to display campaign materials and talk with attendees after the meeting is adjourned.

Greater Cleveland Congregations is a non-partisan coalition of faith communities and partner organizations in Cuyahoga County, working together for social justice and as a catalyst for systematic change. Nine faith communities and partner organizations from Cleveland Heights are members of GCC.