Ward 11

A 29 year Cleveland City Council veteran, Councilman Michael D. Polensek has had the honor to serve eight terms as Ward 11’s representative and is the “Dean” of Cleveland City Council.  He has represented Cleveland’s Ward 11 since January 1982.

Councilman Polensek has a consistent record of progressive civic leadership and is instrumental in development of the Ward 11 community.  He served as President of City Council from 1999 to 2002.  In that position, he worked diligently for his community as well as to create a legislative body that provided strong leadership for all of Cleveland’s neighborhoods.  Through his leadership, Council created the Neighborhood Equity Fund, which targeted funds for neighborhood development projects.

As a Council Member, Councilman Polensek fulfills his obligation to the people of his community by working with the City’s Administration to ensure that the best services are provided to Ward 11.  He is proud to be able to serve the City where he was born and raised and is honored to be able to continue to make a difference in the neighborhood.

Councilman Polensek currently serves in many civic organizations including the Collinwood Village Homeowner’s Association, the Nottingham Civic Club, and the Waterloo Beach Association.  He is also the founder of the Collinwood Nottingham Villages and the Northeast Shores Development Corporations in Ward 11.

A proud product of the Cleveland Municipal School District, Councilman Polensek attended the old Nottingham and Hannah Gibbons Elementary Schools and graduated from Collinwood High School.  He studied Industrial Management at Cuyahoga Community College through the Cleveland Scholarship Program.  He worked in the area of youth development and then at the White Motor Company before being elected to Council. 

Councilman Polensek and his wife, Kathy, live on Brian Avenue in the North Shore Collinwood area and attend St. Mary's Church.  He is also the proud father of Lisa, Deana, Michael, Lauren and Andrew.