Annette Blackwell has served as the Mayor of Maple Heights since 2016. Annette’s election marked a historic event; she is the first woman of color to serve as Mayor of Maple Heights. Annette is committed to continuing to tackle difficult issues such as Infant Mortality. In her role, she is able to ensure the perspective of women is presented and represented. Annette is dedicated to half of her directors being women.

In 2020 Annette will continue her work as Mayor of Maple Heights.

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Meet the Candidate

Can you tell our members a little bit about your journey to filing as a candidate?

I had always been quite active in the city, serving as the 4-year Parent Coordinator for a parent-skill building program for the city’s school system. Also while working with the schools, I served as the Chairperson for a successful school levy.  In 2011, I was a Mayor Appointee to the City’s Charter Review Commission. After my service on this Commission, the previous Mayor suggested that I run for City Council in 2013 which I lost, but later advised me to run for Mayor in 2015 and I was successful winning as Mayor, Maple Heights in 2016.

Tell our members about a friend or family member who inspired you to become a leader.

My dad is the person who inspired me to become a leader. He had a very difficult life growing up in the very segregated South in the late 50s and early 60s in a very poor family of sharecroppers. After he got a job at the Ford Motor Company here in the North, it changed our lives because of the money he was making. He became a very active union member and ran for the office of a Committeeman in the Union. He ran many times and eventually won the seat of an Alternate Committeeman. During these runs, I helped to create all of his campaign literature as a very young girl.  

Some of you are military veterans, some small business owners, some professionals, some mothers and grandmothers, some homemakers. How did one of these experiences shape who you are as a person and leader?

I spent 12 years working for the President and Chief Medical Officer of a physician management services organization at University Hospitals of Cleveland as an Administrative Coordinator. This physician was responsible for recruiting private primary physician practices to join the hospital’s health system. I left his employ to take a job with Deloitte as a Senior Commercial Property Tax Analyst and spent 16 years as a property tax professional.

These executive positions and corporate experience were transferable skills that helped me to address the business of the city, economic development, fiscal recovery and personnel management while shaping me into a very competent, capable and effective leader. 

The Matriots PAC has a goal to see 50% of all elected offices in Ohio held by women by 2028. What is your vision for Ohio in 2028?

Achieving diversity in residents in ethnicity and age groups; raising the median income for families for a better quality of life, successful and sustainable economic development. 

Tip O’Neill famously said that “all politics is local.” What are the top-two issues your community or our state face today?

Affordable housing for families and senior housing; decreasing infant mortality.

Tell us something personal about yourself.

I love antiques; collecting vases and decorating a very homey home with lace, crystal and art.