CLEVELAND — After 19 years in office, Councilman Matt Zone announced he plans to resign from Cleveland City Council. Zone says he will transition away from the job in November.
He will become the Executive Director of the Thriving Communities Institute and will also serve as Senior Vice President of Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
"It has been my privilege and honor to serve you as a member of council. It’s the job of a lifetime and I’m thankful every day I was able to do it. I have always approached the work with full dedication and truly believe that my time on council will be the toughest, most rewarding job I will ever have. During my tenure, I’ve advocated for a more thoughtful, creative and responsible approach for city government. To accomplish this locally, I have always engaged our city’s residents with an inspiring plan and made informed decisions that are based on evidence, community consultation and the merits of arguments - rather than a particular ideology," Zone said in a statement.
Zone said he will be recommending Jenny Spencer to take his seat on the council. Spencer is the Managing Director of Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization.
City Council President Kevin Kelley said he will miss Zone's passion and wishes him the best of luck. He released the following statement.
"I wish all the best to my colleague and friend Matt Zone as he is about to step down from City Council after serving nearly two decades as the representative of Ward 15 on Cleveland’s West Side.
I truly will miss Matt and his passion for the city in which he was raised, but as he is moving on to important organizations - to become executive director of the Thriving Communities Institute as well as vice president of Western Reserve Land Conservancy. It's comforting that we will still be working with him on various issues related to Cleveland.
Matt's commitment to Ward 15 is visible in the transformation of the community - including the restoration of the Capital Theatre, renovations at Cleveland Public Theatre, the streetscape improvements, new construction at Battery Park and with the redesign of the West Shoreway, a new restored and improved connection for pedestrian and bike riders to Edgewater Park and beach.
Matt is leaving his elected position with a host of accomplishments, boosting not only Ward 15 but the entire city. Matt is still a son of Cleveland and he is not leaving home. He is just directing his tireless passion in a different way. I applaud his decision and I share his excitement as he ventures into a new order of public service."
