Ward 18 - Council President
Council President Martin J. Sweeney is honored to have opportunity to serve a fifth consecutive term as
representative of the Ward 18 community he loves and in which he was born and raised.
Councilman Sweeney’s top priority is to maintain and grow the stable residential and business areas of Ward 18. He is also focused on improving the City of Cleveland as City Council President. He continues to fight to improve neighborhoods with safer streets, increased police visibility, enhanced housing stock and a more responsive city government to its constituents.
In the nine years Councilman Sweeney has served on Council, more than $350 million worth of economic development has occurred in Ward 18, creating more than 1500 jobs.
Councilman Sweeney feels it is important to respond to constituents directly. With the help of the Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation, Councilman Sweeney is proud to handle issues that directly affect the residents of Ward 18.
Councilman Sweeney’s vision for the City of Cleveland was recognized by his colleagues when he was unanimously elected President of Cleveland City Council in December 2005 and again in November 2009. Councilman Sweeney also serves as Chair of the Finance Committee.
A graduate of St. Ignatius High School, Councilman Sweeney earned a bachelor's 
degree in political science from Cleveland State University and was a member of the 1986 Cleveland State basketball team that reached the "Sweet 16" in the NCAA tournaments.
Councilman Sweeney graduated from the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2004. This organization gathers community leaders from a variety of fields to improve the overall quality of life in this region.
Councilman Sweeney and his wife, Katherine, have four daughters and reside on West 133rd Street, across from Jefferson Park.