Just days before the deadline, petitioners have suspended their campaign to recall Mayor Justin Bibb, citing what they call targeted intimidation from the mayor's staff and supporters.
Juan Collado Diaz of Accountable Cleveland Era, a coalition of about 25 local residents and business owners, said the group's efforts were thwarted by "intimidation tactics" and "false accusations" from the mayor's allies, including local clergy.
"Throughout the process, we encountered significant obstacles, including threats to personal safety, intimidation tactics, and false accusations, particularly from members of Cleveland鈥檚 Black clergy and community leaders," Diaz said in a written statement. "These actions created an environment of fear and hostility that severely limited our ability to conduct outreach and gather signatures effectively."
Diaz's petition would've required at least 8,500 valid signatures 鈥� equivalent to 20% of the number of voters in the last municipal election 鈥� to move forward with a recall election. He said his group had collected 4,000, less than half of what they would've needed ahead of the May 8 deadline.
He said the alleged threats made it difficult to rally more volunteers to follow up with thousands of other households.
"Our team is deeply disappointed by the manner in which Mayor Bibb and his administration have responded to this grassroots effort," Diaz wrote.
Last month, Diaz announced his coalition鈥檚 petition to recall the mayor, citing a number of concerns over Bibb's priorities and spending. At the group's press conference, three local pastors, one of whom received more than $7,500 in payments from Bibb鈥檚 re-election campaign last year, began yelling over Diaz鈥檚 remarks, sparking a verbal altercation, abruptly ending the event.
"We want to emphasize that while our recall effort did not reach its goal, it was far from futile," Diaz said in the written release. "It served as a vital reminder of the community鈥檚 desire for accountability and integrity in leadership. Looking ahead, we are preparing to support alternative candidates in upcoming elections who align with our vision for a fairer, more transparent Cleveland."
Last November, Bibb handily secured a second term, winning nearly three-quarters of the vote. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
