Julian Rogers – Councilor for District 10, Cuyahoga County Council

Dear Colleagues:

In 2009, the voters of Cuyahoga County endorsed a major restructuring of its government. As of January 1, 2011, the three-member County Commission was replaced by an elected county-wide Executive and an 11-member Council, with each member elected from a geographic district rather than at-large.

The reform campaign was aided by voter disgust over scandals in the old system. But its advocates claimed it would also lead to more responsive and efficient government, with strong executive leadership, that would help revitalize the county. Skeptics suggested that shuffling the political cards would not change deep socioeconomic trends. Neither side, however, had much to say about how the parts of the new government would relate to each other, particularly what the County Council would do.

So we are glad to welcome Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations graduate, Cleveland Heights resident, and Councilman Julian Rogers to talk about his job. What decisions does the Council influence, and how? Or, what is it reasonable for us to ask him for? What do he and his fellow council-members hope to accomplish if they do their jobs well?

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies

About Our Guest…

Born and raised in District 10, Julian Rogers now resides in the Cleveland Heights home where he spent his childhood. As a member of the Cuyahoga County Council, he calls for immediate progress toward prosperity and jobs, transparency and accountability, and better services at less cost.

Julian Rogers’ previous positions include Executive Director of Education Voters of Ohio, Senior Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Board Trustee with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Program Associate for Public Policy and Research for the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, and Regional Director for America Coming Together.

He held leadership positions in several Cleveland school levies and was Field Director for the Cuyahoga County Arts and Culture levy (Issue 18), which provides over $16 million per year to support arts and culture organizations.

A graduate of Cleveland Heights High School, Julian Rogers has a degree in Political Science from Ohio University and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University.

Julian Rogers is committed to sound economic development policy for Cuyahoga County, ethical leadership, and inclusion of all voices in governance.

He is married to Meran Rogers and they have one child.

Julian Rogers is chair of the Cuyahoga County Council Education, Environment & Sustainability Committee.

Parking Possibilities

We regret that there are not easy, close parking options for the Mandel Center. The Mandel Center is on the south side of Bellflower, in between Ford Road and 115th Street, across the street from the Denny’s and L’Albatros. Unfortunately, the parking lot for the restaurants is only for the restaurants at lunchtime.

Usually, people with conferences at the Mandel building park at:

The Ford Road garage on Ford Road, just north of the Mayfield/Ford/Euclid intersection. This garage has now been opened up to public parking. It is on the left as you drive from Euclid towards Bellflower. There is a booth at the entry, and you will get a ticket. You use the ticket to go through the gates and up the ramp, and will also need the ticket (and probably a credit card) to exit. The garage has elevators, and handicapped spaces next to the elevators. If you come down the elevator, you exit the elevator, go around to your right, and you will be on Ford. Walk left on Ford, then at the corner go to your right across Ford. Then just walk down Bellflower.

Another possibility is more obscure, but probably slightly closer.

This is the parking lot behind the new development on Euclid, so behind Constantino’s market. This can be entered from 115th street; if you turned onto 115th from Euclid, heading north, you would turn left into the parking area when you got to the end of the building. This is one of those lots where you go to the machine and pay for an amount of time, then put the ticket inside your car on the windshield. To get to the Mandel building from this parking: walk out the way you drove in; turn left onto 115th Street and then left on Bellflower. The Mandel building will be on your left.

Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

April 19: Mass Murder for the Media: The Breivik Case in Norway. Mark Turner, Institute Professor and Professor of Cognitive Science
***Special Location: Inamori Center, Crawford Hall Room 9***

April 26: Advocacy for Children, Who Don’t Vote. Doug Imig, Professor of Political Science, University of Memphis
***Special Location: Spartan Room, Thwing Student Center**