Pink Rose Society

Cuyahoga County Government

The government of Cuyahoga County — Cleveland's county, and Ohio's second-largest. Unlike most Ohio counties, it runs on a charter adopted in 2010: a directly elected County Executive and an 11-member County Council, replacing the old three-commissioner board after a corruption scandal.

Key facts

  • The County Executive is the chief administrator — the most powerful local office in Northeast Ohio. Under the charter, formerly elected row offices (Sheriff, fiscal officer, and others) are now appointed by the Executive; only the County Prosecutor remains separately elected countywide.
  • The County Council has 11 district seats on staggered 4-year terms — a legislative check the old commissioner model lacked.
  • On the 2026 ballot: the Executive (Chris Ronayne, D, effectively unopposed) and the six odd-numbered Council seats. The race to watch is District 5, where Democrat Courtney Scheff challenges Republican incumbent Michael Gallagher — the council's lone GOP seat. District 11 is open; Districts 3, 7, and 9 are unopposed Democrats. The Prosecutor is not up until 2028.

Connections

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