Jane L. Campbell

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**Jane L. Campbell**

Office:	Mayor, Cleveland, Ohio
Political Party:	Democrat
Term of Office:	2002–2005
Predecessor:	Michael R. White
Successor:	Frank G. Jackson
Date of Birth:	May 19, 1953
Profession:	Politician

Jane L. Campbell, (born May 19, 1953) is an American politician of the Democratic party who served as the 56th and first female mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 2002 to 2005.

1 Personal details
2 Early career
3 Mayoralty
4 References

[edit] Personal details

Campbell, the daughter of former General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Joan Brown Campbell, was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She attended Shaker Heights High School and earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan and a master's degree at Cleveland State University. She married urban planner Hunter Morrison, who is currently redeveloping Youngstown, Ohio through its Youngstown 2010 renewal plan. They have two daughters, Jessica and Katie. The family lives in Cleveland's Ludlow neighborhood, near Shaker Square.

[edit] Early career

Campbell's political career began in 1984, when she was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives as a majority whip and later an assistant minority leader. In 1996 she was elected Cuyahoga County commissioner. Holding that position she presided over both the Welfare Reform: Next Step Task Force for the National Association of Counties and the Human and Youth Committee.

[edit] Mayoralty

In November 2001, Campbell won the Cleveland mayoral election with 54% of the vote, defeating fellow Democrat Raymond Pierce. Nonetheless, Pierce, an African American, received 46%. Campbell took office on January 7, 2002, and became the city's first female mayor. As mayor, she focused on economic development, budgetary discipline, administrative reform and reclamation of the city's Lake Erie waterfront.

Nevertheless, on October 4, 2005, Campbell came in second to Frank G. Jackson, president of Cleveland City Council, in a field of seven candidates in the Democratic mayoral primary. Only 16% of Cleveland's population participated in the primary, the lowest voter turnout in the city's history; the turnout levels were skewed to a degree by the high voter enrollment levels of the 2004 presidential election cycle. In the November 8, 2005 general election, Jackson defeated Campbell 55% to 45%. At 11:25 p.m. (EST), she conceded to Jackson, who became the city's mayor on January 2, 2006.

After leaving office, Campbell accepted a short-term position at Harvard University as part of a fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Her teaching covered issues in city governance and Ohio politics. She taught at the school during the spring of 2006.

[edit] References

^ The Plain Dealer, December 27, 2003. Recall Drive Against Campbell Dies As Clerk Denies Extension by Mike Tobin.
^ The Plain Dealer, September 25, 2005. Cleveland Mayor: After A Bumpy Start, Jane Campbell Has Grown In Office And, Given The Alternatives, Earned A 2nd Chance From Voters, editorial.