The Collective PAC Endorses Three Candidates for Election in Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Friday, August 27th, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC —  the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government — endorsed Khalil Seren, Allosious Snodgrass and Mario Clopton-Zymler for Mayor, Council at-large, and Board of Education, respectively, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. 

Ohio native Councilman Kahlil Seren, who made Cleveland Heights history for becoming the first Black man to serve as vice president of the city council, aims to leverage his background in economic development to become the city’s Mayor. First-generation graduate and Ohio native Allosious Snodgrass seeks to use his experience at the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC) for an at-large seat on Cleveland Heights City Council. If elected to the city’s Board of Education, Mario Clopton-Zymler, who currently serves as the Shaker Heights High School music teacher, would become the city’s first openly gay Black public official. 

Founders of The Collective PAC, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement: 

“In response to the need for equity in representation, The Collective PAC is proud to endorse three candidates in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who are dedicated to making the community more inclusive and prosperous for all residents: Councilman Kahlil Seren for Mayor of Cleveland Heights, Allosious Snodgrass for the Cleveland Heights City Council (At-Large) and Mario Clopton-Zymler for the Cleveland Heights Board of Education. These candidates are committed leaders within the community and are ready on day one to uphold real representation, integrity and implementation of innovative proposals. They will play an important role in moving progress forward in Cleveland Heights.” 

• Kahlil Seren (Candidate for Mayor) is an Ohio native who made history in Cleveland Heights by becoming the first Black man to serve as  vice president of the city council. Councilman Seren is a veteran public servant with a background in economic development, who brings personal experience and professional expertise that has advanced the community through the County Scholarship Program and Cuyahoga County Housing Program. He envisions Cleveland Heights becoming a community where the priorities, challenges, and values of his residents are consistently placed at the center of government. 

 

• Allosious Snodgrass (Candidate for Council At-large Seat) believes in propelling Cleveland Heights forward to greatness. Currently, Mr. Snodgrass serves as the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC), where he has been able to learn from the region’s most seasoned economic development professionals. By continuing to find bold new ways to retain current businesses, fill vacant storefronts and attract a new tax base to Cleveland Heights, Mr.Snodgrass plans to work with his colleagues and the incoming administration to develop and implement bold ideas for the city.

 

• Mario Clopton-Zymler (Board of Education) is an educator-activist and the vocal music teacher for Shaker Heights High School. Mr. Clopton-Zymler’s main goal once elected is to empower and support students with all the resources and structure they need to prosper in schools and in society. Having served on the Ohio Department of Education Music Curriculum Revision Working Group, he has created and participated in workshops and seminars focused on representation for LGBTQ+ students and the Black experience in music education. 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.