My name is Jim Petras. I am a member of the Cleveland Heights City Council, and I am running to become Mayor!

I am a project director for Case Western Reserve University’s IT division. In this role, I bring together groups of people to solve challenging and complex programs. I hold the industry-leading Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and I have earned professional development certificates in areas such as emotional intelligence and communication.

After graduating from business school, I saw that many small and medium-sized businesses have trouble getting the word out about their products and services. I started Bellflower Consulting to help these businesses to create and manage digital advertisements.

Since joining City Council, I have worked hard to be a positive and productive contributor. I have made it a priority to be visible and accessible, regularly attending events across the city and serving as an advocate for residents. And I have worked to build strong relationships with my council colleagues and city staff, grounded in mutual respect and a shared commitment to moving Cleveland Heights forward.

As chair of City Council's Housing and Building Committee, I have been an active and engaged leader. I led the drafting and passage of legislation requiring landlords to provide tenants with clear information about their rights and responsibilities, and I continue to advocate for other housing-related legislation, including a requirement that homeowners receive information about available assistance programs when cited for housing violations.

As a council member, I have been a strong advocate for community organizations. I urged the city administration and its consultants to accelerate the distribution of ARPA funds to organizations doing vital work in our city, such as feeding hungry families, renovating housing, and providing after-school programs for children. And I advocated for non-profit organizations located at the old Coventry school when they were faced with the need to re-locate.

Finally, when Council opted to move forward with a temporary budget rather than adopt the Mayor’s full-year proposal, I led the effort to draft a temporary budget. This ensured continuity of city services while allowing for deeper budget deliberation.

Over the 10 years I have lived in Cleveland Heights, I have spent a lot of time registering voters and knocking on doors for various candidates and causes. I am the Secretary and a board member for the Cleveland Heights Democrats. I am also an elected member of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party’s (CCDP) Central Committee for Cleveland Height’s 1C precinct and serve on the County Party’s Executive Committee. In addition to my local work, I’m a member of the Ohio Democratic Party’s (ODP) Executive Committee and serve on the steering committee of the ODP Pride Caucus.