Councilman Terrell Pruitt was elected to his second term as representative of the Ward 1 community, which includes the Lee-Harvard and Miles neighborhoods on the Southeast side of Cleveland, in November 2009.
Councilman Pruitt has quickly moved into a leadership role on Cleveland City Council. During the 2006-2010 term, he began serving as the Chair of the Employment, Affirmative Action and Training Committee. He has focused the Committee’s efforts on a through review of the Fannie M. Lewis Employment Law (Chapter 188 of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances), which mandates that Cleveland residents, minorities and females be hired for projects that receive more than $100,000 in City funding. The Councilman’s goal is to strengthen and add transparency to the law so that resident participation in projects increases.
In the 2006-2010 term, Councilman Pruitt also began to serve as the Vice Chair of the Public Service Committee and as a member of the Community & Economic Development; Parks, Recreation & Properties; and Public Safety Committees of Cleveland City Council.
Councilman Pruitt is a strong proponent of education, speaking on the value of obtaining schooling and improving oneself through education at every opportunity. As Councilman, he has developed a relationship with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and is working to encourage policies and procedures that will result in an increase in the quality of a CSMD education. The Councilman has also taken advantage of his Employment Committee Chairmanship to look into increasing job training and continuing education opportunities that can increase job capacity for Clevelanders.
The Councilman’s vision for the Ward 1 community includes the redevelopment of the Lee and Miles intersection and the continuing development of Kerruish Park and the fulfillment of the Ward 1 commercial district masterplan. He also hopes to redevelop vacant and abandoned homes in the community and preserve Ward 1’s prime housing stock. Above all, Councilman Pruitt plans to maintain a safe and clean community while providing Ward 1 residents with the highest level of constituent services.
Before serving on Cleveland City Council, Councilman Pruitt gained experience in public service as the Executive Assistant to former Ward 1 Councilwoman Nina Turner. For nearly three years, he focused his attention and energy on the priorities and concerns of the Ward 1 community. In addition to this experience, Councilman Pruitt helped found the Ward 1 Community Health Initiative and volunteers for the Governor’s Close the Gap Campaign, which helps young men at John F. Kennedy High School become better students and citizens.
Councilman Pruitt earned a bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University and is currently working on his MBA at Case Weatherhead School of Management. In addition to his studies and commitments to Council, Councilman Pruitt is a Captain in the Ohio Army National Guard and served tours in Afghanistan and led hurricane relief missions in Louisiana. Councilman Pruitt has the integrity, work ethic, education, knowledge and vision to serve Ward 1 and he is pleased to have the privilege and opportunity to serve this thriving community.