Michael R. White (politician)
Michael R. White | |
---|---|
55th Mayor of Cleveland | |
In office January 1, 1990 – January 1, 2002 | |
Preceded by | George Voinovich |
Succeeded by | Jane L. Campbell |
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 21st district | |
In office May 17, 1984 – December 31, 1989 | |
Preceded by | Morris Jackson |
Succeeded by | Jeff Johnson |
Personal details | |
Born | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | August 13, 1951
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | Ohio State University |
Michael White (born August 13, 1951) is an
Early career
White, who grew up in Cleveland's
After college, White returned to Cleveland. He served from 1976 to 1977 as an administrative assistant to the Cleveland City Council and then served as city councilman from the Glenville area from 1978 to 1984[citation needed] During his time on the City Council, White became a prominent protégé of Councilman George L. Forbes. White then represented the area's 21st District in the Ohio Senate, serving as a Democratic assistant minority whip.
Mayoralty
In Cleveland, incumbent Mike White won re-election against council president George Forbes, who ran as the candidate of black power and the public sector unions. Angering the unions by eliminating some of the city's exotic work rules, White presented himself as pro-business, pro-police and an effective manager above all, arguing that "jobs were the cure for the 'addiction to the mailbox,'" referring to welfare checks.[1]
White ended up winning the race, securing "81% of the vote in predominantly white wards and 30% in the predominantly black wards where his opponent, George Forbes, was the strongest." He was subsequently re-elected mayor in 1993 and 1997.[2]
Some of White's accomplishments in office include passing legislation making banks dispel lending policies that were restrictive to minorities, providing leadership for retaining a
White is also credited in saving the Continental Airlines Cleveland Hub. In 1999, Clevelanders and Northeast Ohioans celebrated direct access to London, England with a nonstop air service from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport CLE to London's Gatwick LGW. This flight was popular with Cleveland's business community and helped Clevelanders bypass the traditional Cleveland-NYC-London connections. Continental ended nonstop London flights in 2009.[4] Continental Airlines in 1997 opened a new Gate D at Hopkins Airport.[citation needed]
Under Mayor White's tenure, Cleveland became a tourist spot with the openings of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995) and the Great Lakes Science Center (1996).[citation needed]
White announced at an informal appearance at Miles Standish Elementary School on April 23, 2001 that he would not seek a fourth term as mayor.[2] When White's successor, Jane L. Campbell, assumed office in January 2002, and the former mayor retired to an alpaca farm near Newcomerstown, Ohio. In 2012, he was also running the Yellow Butterfly Winery near the same town.[5]
Controversy
The White administration was criticized for ignoring or at least underachieving in its aid to residents of the predominantly black neighborhoods. For instance, there was lackluster job training efforts, and it directed none of the enterprise zone development projects to the Hough neighborhood.[6]
Two of White's closest associates, Nate Gray and Ricardo Teamor, were convicted and sentenced to prison in connection with bribery scandals. Gray was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for racketeering and extortion; an FBI affidavit depicted Gray as a "
References
- ^ Siegel, Fred (2005). The Prince of the City. San Francisco: Encounter Books.
- ^ a b "Mayoral Administration of Michael R. White". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ "October 30th: Bone Thugs~N~Harmony Day".
- ^ Grant, Allison (December 4, 2009). "Continental Airlines cancels non-stop seasonal flights from Cleveland to London". Cleveland.com.
- ^ Smith, Robert L. (August 20, 2012). "Former Cleveland Mayor Michael White Chases, and Catches, a New Dream in the Country". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ^ Jordan, George E. Two cities offer a blueprint in image-building The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), July 20, 1997 (accessed July 25, 2010)
- ^ a b Frank Kuznik, The Imperial Retiree, Cleveland Scene (August 29, 2012).
- ^ Mike Tobin, Ex-mayor, co-felons sentenced in bribe case, Plain Dealer (July 28, 2009).
- ^ Tobin, Mike (July 21, 2005). "White Was Target Of Investigation: White Was Target Of Federal Probe; FBI Affidavit Says Bribes Secured City Contracts". The Plain Dealer.