CLEVELAND, Ohio – Members of Cleveland City Council selected Jenny Spencer, the managing director of nonprofit Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, to replace Councilman Matt Zone.
Zone, first elected to the council in 2001, is leaving to become a senior vice president of Western Reserve Land Conservancy and executive director of its Thriving Communities Institute.
The Democratic caucus of City Council, which includes all 17 members, accepted Zone’s recommendation of Spencer as his successor Wednesday in keeping with a longstanding, but controversial custom.
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Zone’s resignation was read during the council’s meeting Wednesday. Spencer was formally nominated and voted in as his replacement and given her oath of office.
She will hold the seat for the remainder of Zone’s term and face an election in 2021.
Spencer is just the second woman in Cleveland’s history to represent the area served by Zone’s ward – the neighborhoods of Detroit Shoreway, Edgewater and Cudell and parts of Ohio City and the Stockyard.
The first woman to hold the seat was Zone’s mother, Mary, who was appointed to the council seat in 1974 and subsequently elected to three terms.
Council’s tradition of allowing outgoing members to name their replacements is criticized by some because it deprives voters of the chance to fill an open council seat. Instead, the replacements enjoy the significant advantage of running as an incumbent to retain the seat.
But Zone said Spencer’s nomination was something he took seriously, consulting with leaders throughout his ward.
Spencer holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in public policy and urban planning from the Harvard Kennedy School. She served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer from 2005 to 2007 in Paraguay, where she met her husband, Mario.
As managing director of Detroit Shoreway, Spencer has been actively involved with one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the city.
Zone, during the caucus meeting, praised her leadership and her efforts to work with him as the councilman.
“She’s always been my go-to person,” Zone said. “She will challenge this council to be better and do better.”
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