Michael R. White
| Michael R. White | |
|---|---|
| 55th Mayor of Cleveland | |
|
In office 1990 – January 1, 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | George V. 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 |
August 13, 1951 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
Michael White (born August 13, 1951) is an American politician of the Democratic party and was the 55th and longest-serving mayor of Cleveland, Ohio encompassing three four-year terms, from 1990 to 2002. He was Cleveland's second African American mayor as well as the city's second youngest mayor.
White, who grew up in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, began his political career early on during his college years at Ohio State University, when he protested against the discriminatory policies of the Columbus public bus system and was subsequently arrested. White then ran the following year for Student Union President and won, becoming the college's first black student body leader. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 and a Master of Public Administration degree in 1974.
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. 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.
In 1989, White entered the heavily-contested race for mayor of Cleveland, along with several other notable candidates including Forbes, Ralph J. Perk Jr. (the son of former Cleveland mayor Ralph J. Perk), Benny Bonanno (Clerk of the Cleveland Municipal Court), and Tim Hagan (Cuyahoga County commissioner). Out of all the candidates Forbes and White made it to the general election. It was the first time two Black candidates would emerge as the number one and two contenders in a primary election in Cleveland history.
...
Wikipedia