In a dramatic conclusion to his term, recalled Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren dismissed Law Director Bill Hanna just hours before leaving office. This decision, announced late on March 5, 2024, marks a significant moment in Seren’s controversial tenure, which was cut short by a recall vote earlier in the month. The announcement came from the city’s communications office and was reported by local outlets including Cleveland News.
The termination letter, details of which were shared by WKYC, cited “for cause” reasons. It accused Hanna of a pattern of “poor representation” for both the city council and its members, along with the new interim mayor and the next elected mayor. Seren claimed that Hanna prioritized personal interests over his professional obligations, undermining the standards expected from a law director in Cleveland Heights.
Following Seren’s departure, the city council acted quickly to reinstate Hanna and Communications Director Jessica Schantz, according to an update by Cleveland19. Council President Tony Cuda had stepped in as interim mayor after the recall, which highlighted the instability in the city’s governance.
Allegations from Seren included claims that Hanna and City Council Clerk Addie Balester utilized a fake email address to investigate potential violations of open meetings laws among council members. In a lengthy five-page letter addressed to Hanna, Seren expressed his concerns, stating, “Your behavior relative to the new dynamics and interaction between the executive and legislative branches in this new municipal government has been destructive to our forward progress.”
The timing of Hanna’s dismissal suggests Seren aimed to establish precedents for future governance, even as he faced the abrupt end of his own leadership. The ongoing political upheaval in Cleveland Heights sets the stage for an important mayoral election scheduled for November 2024, where the community will choose its next leader.
The swift reinstatement of Hanna and Schantz indicates the council’s desire to stabilize the administration after a period marked by controversy. As Cleveland Heights navigates this tumultuous chapter, the potential for change looms large with the upcoming election, which will shape the future of this Cleveland suburb.
