Michael R. White
Encyclopedia
Michael Reed White 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.
, 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 on Cleveland City Council
as an administrative assistant from 1976 to 1977 and later served as city councilman from the Glenville area from 1978 to 1984. During his time in 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.
), 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.
White ended up winning the race receiving 81% of the vote in predominantly white wards and 30% in the predominantly black wards. He was subsequently re-elected mayor in 1993 and again in 1997.
White is credited with continuing the work of his predecessor George Voinovich
in revitalizing the city. Some of his accomplishments include passing legislation making banks dispel lending policies that were restrictive to minorities, providing leadership for retaining a Cleveland Browns
team in the NFL (after then-Browns team owner Art Modell
moved to Baltimore with all former Browns players and personnel to form the Baltimore Ravens
) as well as building a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns, and construction of the Gateway stadium development
. He also declared October 30, 1994 "Bone Thugs~N~Harmony
Day" in the city of Cleveland to honor the hometown rappers.
White is also credited in saving Continental Airlines
Cleveland Hub. In 1999, Clevelanders and Northeast Ohioans celebrated direct access to London, England with a non-stop air service from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport CLE to London's Gatwick LGW. This flight is popular with Cleveland's business community and helps Clevelanders bypass the traditional Cleveland-NYC-London connections. Continental Airlines in 1997 opened a new Gate D at Hopkins Airport.
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).
White announced at an informal appearance at Miles Standish Elementary School on April 23, 2001 that he would not seek a fourth term. When White's successor, Jane L. Campbell
assumed office in January 2002, the former mayor retired to an alpaca
farm near Newcomerstown, Ohio
.
On the day of Sept 11th, 2001, an emergency landing of a Boeing 767 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport due to concerns of a bomb being on board, was reported by the WCPO Staff in Cincinnati. Then-mayor White said the plane had been moved to a secure area of the airport, and was evacuated. United reportedly identified the plane as Flight 93. http://web.archive.org/web/20021109040132/http://wcpo.com/specials/2001/americaattacked/news_local/story14.html The WCPO story was later found to be an erroneous report filed by the Associated Press and was corrected. A 2006 article that appeared in the Cleveland Free Times
revisits this conspiracy and proves that Flight 93 did not land at Hopkins International Airport and White never meant to imply that it had. http://www.freetimes.com/story/681
In July 2005, it was revealed by the FBI
that two of White's closest associates, Nate Gray and Ricardo Teamor admitted to bribery
of public officials. When asked by Cleveland news reporters about the incident White stated: "For public consumption, I have not made a comment and I’ve seen no reason to change my position. It’s a Nate Gray matter, not a Mike White matter."
However, it was revealed that White may have traded construction and parking contracts at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
for bribes that were paid through Gray. Federal prosecutors are reportedly investigating these corruption charges.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
encompassing three four-year terms, from 1990 to 2002. He was Cleveland's second African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
mayor as well as the city's second youngest mayor.
Early career
White, who grew up in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, began his political career early on during his college years at Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, 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
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1973 and a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
degree in 1974.
After college, White returned to Cleveland. He served on Cleveland City Council
Cleveland City Council
Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. Its members are elected from 19 wards to four-year terms. The number of council members has decreased over the years...
as an administrative assistant from 1976 to 1977 and later served as city councilman from the Glenville area from 1978 to 1984. During his time in city council, White became a prominent protégé of councilman George L. Forbes
George L. Forbes
George Lawrence Forbes is an American politician of the Democratic Party. From 1974 to 1989, Forbes served as one of the most powerful presidents of Cleveland City Council. He is the former President of the Cleveland NAACP and is semi-retired from practicing law.-Early and personal life:Forbes was...
. White then represented the area's 21st District in the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, serving as a Democratic assistant minority whip.
Mayoralty
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. PerkRalph J. Perk
Ralph Joseph Perk was an American politician of the Republican Party who served as the 52nd mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.-Political career:...
), Benny Bonanno
Benny Bonanno
Bononno was once a political power broker in this town, who helped many politicians in their quest for office, including the late Stepanie Tubbs Jones. He went to prison for it....
(Clerk of the Cleveland Municipal Court), and Tim Hagan
Tim Hagan
Timothy Hagan , a Democrat, is an American politician in Ohio.-Early life:Hagan was born and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, as one of fourteen siblings . Hagan's father, Bob, was a Trumbull County Commissioner and, later, a State Representative. After graduating from Ursuline High School...
(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.
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.
White ended up winning the race receiving 81% of the vote in predominantly white wards and 30% in the predominantly black wards. He was subsequently re-elected mayor in 1993 and again in 1997.
White is credited with continuing the work of his predecessor George Voinovich
George Voinovich
George Victor Voinovich is a former United States Senator from the state of Ohio, and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as the 65th Governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998, and as the 54th mayor of Cleveland from 1980 to 1989.-Personal life:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, his father was...
in revitalizing the city. Some of his accomplishments include passing legislation making banks dispel lending policies that were restrictive to minorities, providing leadership for retaining a Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
team in the NFL (after then-Browns team owner Art Modell
Art Modell
Arthur B. Modell is an American businessman, entrepreneur and former National Football League team owner. He owned the Cleveland Browns franchise from 1961–1995 and the Baltimore Ravens franchise from 1996–2004. Modell is the grandson of the late Morris Modell who founded the northeast...
moved to Baltimore with all former Browns players and personnel to form the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
) as well as building a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns, and construction of the Gateway stadium development
Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex
The Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex is a multipurpose campus located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It comprises two sports facilities, a transitional space known as Gateway Plaza, and two parking garages...
. He also declared October 30, 1994 "Bone Thugs~N~Harmony
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
Day" in the city of Cleveland to honor the hometown rappers.
White is also credited in saving Continental Airlines
Cleveland Hub. In 1999, Clevelanders and Northeast Ohioans celebrated direct access to London, England with a non-stop air service from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport CLE to London's Gatwick LGW. This flight is popular with Cleveland's business community and helps Clevelanders bypass the traditional Cleveland-NYC-London connections. Continental Airlines in 1997 opened a new Gate D at Hopkins Airport.
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).
White announced at an informal appearance at Miles Standish Elementary School on April 23, 2001 that he would not seek a fourth term. When White's successor, Jane L. Campbell
Jane L. Campbell
Jane Louise Campbell, is an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 56th and first female mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from January 1, 2002 to January 1, 2006.-Personal details:...
assumed office in January 2002, the former mayor retired to an alpaca
Alpaca
An alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile at an altitude of to above sea level, throughout the year...
farm near Newcomerstown, Ohio
Newcomerstown, Ohio
Newcomerstown is a village in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States, east-northeast of Columbus. In the late 1770s, this was the largest Lenape village on the Tuscarawas River, with 700 residents. Chief Newcomer was the leader of the western Lenape here, and they called the village...
.
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.On the day of Sept 11th, 2001, an emergency landing of a Boeing 767 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport due to concerns of a bomb being on board, was reported by the WCPO Staff in Cincinnati. Then-mayor White said the plane had been moved to a secure area of the airport, and was evacuated. United reportedly identified the plane as Flight 93. http://web.archive.org/web/20021109040132/http://wcpo.com/specials/2001/americaattacked/news_local/story14.html The WCPO story was later found to be an erroneous report filed by the Associated Press and was corrected. A 2006 article that appeared in the Cleveland Free Times
Free Times
The Cleveland Free Times was an alternative weekly newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio.The Free Times published its final issue on July 16, 2008. It merged with Cleveland Scene, a competing weekly paper....
revisits this conspiracy and proves that Flight 93 did not land at Hopkins International Airport and White never meant to imply that it had. http://www.freetimes.com/story/681
In July 2005, it was revealed by the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
that two of White's closest associates, Nate Gray and Ricardo Teamor admitted to bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
of public officials. When asked by Cleveland news reporters about the incident White stated: "For public consumption, I have not made a comment and I’ve seen no reason to change my position. It’s a Nate Gray matter, not a Mike White matter."
However, it was revealed that White may have traded construction and parking contracts at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The airport lies just within the city limits of Cleveland...
for bribes that were paid through Gray. Federal prosecutors are reportedly investigating these corruption charges.