Donald Boyd's answers running for Council in Ward 8

What do you believe the role of councilperson is in the City of Cleveland?

1. First and foremost, council members should devote their official time to the

problems of the ward through policy implementation and act as liaisons between the

city government and the residents of Ward 8. Council members should be

concerned, not only with conduct of daily affairs, but also attend to a strategic vision

for future developments within the ward and city.

What are the top three things you’d like to accomplish in this role?

2. Three main things that I would like to accomplish during my time serving Ward 8 are:

a. Bridge the increasingly apparent divides between residents of the ward. This

includes racial divides, socioeconomic divides and generational divides. We can

only move forward together.

b. Provide increased safety for the community by promoting Community Policing

Efforts that have been shown through research to create safe and inclusive

environments for both our safety forces and our residents.

c. Create a strong economic base through community development within the

ward.

What prior career or personal experience correlates to this position?

3. On October 7th of this year, my wife and I will celebrate 11 wonderful years of

marriage with two beautiful children that we have chosen to homeschool. I

graduated from culinary school in 2001. Over the past 16 years, I have been an

executive and personal chef for a number of high profile organizations, clients and

everyday people. This career path is so much more than what happens in the

kitchen and I believe that the conversations had over meals with one another are

often the most rich.

How long have you been a Cleveland resident and what is one thing you are proud of about our community?

4. I have lived on Cleveland’s East side my entire life. I am most proud of the diversity

of Ward 8. We have a great deal of diversity in race, age, religions, incomes, sexual

orientations and other identities that both makes our community unique but also

uniquely positions us for innovation and success.

Give an example of when you had to manage conflict?

5. A neighbor in Ward 8 purchased a basketball hoop for the children on her street

because she was concerned about the lack of resources for children in our

community. Unfortunately, the basketball hoop was stolen from her yard. I knocked

on doors and engaged with community residents to eventually locate the responsible

parties. I talked to the young adults and had them return the hoop to her yard. I

know that the young residents should not have stolen the hoop, but I understand

firsthand how challenging it is to want things that you don’t have the resources to

acquire.

If you were a Ward 8 tour guide, where would you show off?

6. Ward 8 has a full day of places to visit! With the challenge of taking them in one area,

I would walk down East 185th Street and finish with the best BBQ in Cleveland,

Holland’s Bar-B-Que!

If elected, to what topic do you think the residents would like you to give most of your attention?

7. With the unfortunate amount of crime permeating our community, the obvious

answer is safety. Yet, a major reason why things are not currently safe is because of

a lack of good paying career opportunities in our community. As councilman, I will

focus on both sides of this issue as a first order of business.

If you could have dinner and an evening of conversation with any person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

8. Collinwood’s own, former Mayor, Governor and US Senator George Voinovich. His

insight as to the historical perspectives of our ward can be examined in order to

chart a better way forward towards prosperity for all residents.

What book are you currently reading?

9. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene