Ward 18

Councilman Jay Westbrook was sworn in as a Cleveland City Council Member in 1980 to represent Ward 18.  In addition to representing this west side Cleveland community, the Councilman served as Council President for nine years. 

As a Council Member, Councilman Westbrook has consistently acted as the citizens’ voice for change and has worked to implement community improvement projects. His active partnership with community groups results in funding for community safety programs and rehabilitation of neighborhood housing and local commercial areas. 

Councilman Westbrook started an innovative neighborhood loan program for residents who need small amounts to do home repairs but do not qualify for bank loans. He also helped form The Midwest Housing Partnership, an organization that assists residents with housing issues. Councilman Westbrook was the prime sponsor of the "Bank of Cleveland" legislation and he founded the landmark "Right-to-Know" law to protect workers and neighborhoods against exposure to hazardous and toxic substances. Councilman Westbrook also helped start an innovative organization called WIRE-Net, which helps small and medium sized neighborhood industrial firms to expand and stay in Cleveland. 

Councilman Westbrook has undertaken several initiatives to create policy and program reform by opening the doors of government to increased citizen involvement. His areas of concentration include youth and violence, solid waste management and recycling, community policing, and coordinated serves to homeless residents.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Councilman Westbrook received a bachelor's degree in philosophy with an emphasis on music and education. He worked in community organizing and citizen advocacy, as a veterans' affairs counselor with the American Friends Service Committee and as a community outreach worker for the Legal Aid Society. In addition, Councilman Westbrook was a founder of the Ohio Public Interest Campaign (now called Ohio Citizen Action), a statewide citizens organization with more than 350,000 members.

Councilman Westbrook currently serves as Vice Chair of the Aviation and Transportation and City Planning Committees. He also serves on the Finance, Community and Economic Development, Health and Human Services and Public Utilities Committees.  He lives in Ward 18 on West 103rd Street with his wife and two daughters.