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2007 County Leader of the
Year, American City and County Magazine
NeighborWorks® America 2007
Government Service Award
U.S. EPA National Award
for Smart Growth Achievement
Jim
Rokakis - Dedicated
leadership
Growing up in Cleveland’s Archwood-Denison
neighborhood, Jim Rokakis learned the importance of family,
friends and community. He saw firsthand how neighbors
helping neighbors could strengthen an entire community. At
22 Jim was elected the youngest member of Cleveland City Council
(Ward 6, which became Ward 15), where he served for over 19 years
representing those same friends and neighbors. He
aggressively attacked neighborhood blight and problems that
affected his neighborhood’s reputation by closing down two “adult
entertainment theatres” and six bars that brought violence and
unrest to the area.
Jim worked tirelessly to improve
the region and is known for his leadership that helped redevelop
Cleveland’s downtown. He was instrumental in key projects
like the Gateway Sports Complex (home to the Cleveland Indians and
Cleveland Cavaliers) and crafted the compromise that allowed
construction of the internationally known Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame and Museum. Jim created the City’s Gun Buy-Back
Program, wrote the Chop-Shop Law that reduced car thefts, and
authored the In-Door Clean Air Act. He was also responsible
for the creation of Cleveland’s Housing Court. Jim’s
commitment was widely recognized by his peers and he was appointed
Chairman of the City’s influential Finance Committee for his last
seven years on Council.
In 1997, Jim took office as
Cuyahoga County Treasurer bringing his innovative skills and
passion for the community to a struggling county office. In
the decade that followed, Jim overhauled the entire office and
greatly enhanced the County’s existing tax collection system by
instituting state of the art billing and collection process and
made property taxes easier for residents through web-based
property information and payment options. Under his tight
oversight, the office was able to expand programs and services
while saving taxpayers dollars reducing staff levels.
Jim’s passion for what he does doesn’t stop
with the day-to-day activities of the Treasurer’s office, it’s
simply not enough. In cases where Jim was unable to
implement a program because it was beyond the scope provided by
state law, he worked with legislators and leaders to develop and
pass legislation that made them possible. His hands-on
leadership has served the County well and inspired the creation of
many innovative programs to improve neighborhoods, communities and
the entire region by thus improving our quality of
life.
Faced with Cuyahoga County’s mortgage
foreclosure crisis, Jim Rokakis helped to write and pass House
Bill 294 that streamlines the foreclosure process for abandoned
properties. Jim took the leadership role in creating the
County’s “Don’t Borrow Trouble” mortgage foreclosure prevention
program, which combats predatory lending and assists homeowners
facing foreclosure. Additionally, Jim has developed a
program that uses the investment portfolio to purchase bonds from
cities to help them deal with the costs associated with abandoned
properties resulting from foreclosures.
As one tool to address the issue of the
decline of older suburbs and the resulting out-migration, Jim
developed the Home Enhancement Loan Program (HELP). This
program, the first of its kind in the country, offers home
improvement loans at three percentage points less than the lowest
rate a bank would otherwise charge. HELP has received the
Community Impact Award from Dominion East Ohio/Inside Business
Magazine, an award from the National Association of the Remodeling
Industry (Greater Cleveland chapter) and won the 2003 EPA Smart
Growth Award. Rokakis, in partnership with the Cleveland
Restoration Society, also introduced the Heritage Home Loan
Program (HHLP) designed to preserve neighborhood
character..
Jim understands that the role of a public
official extends beyond merely performing the duties of office and
he is an advocate for the community and its citizens. He was
instrumental in the enactment of House Bill 293 which helps senior
citizens remain in their homes by allowing them to defer all or
part of their property taxes. Rokakis is also leading a
debate over payments in lieu of property taxes by non-profit
organizations to help lessen school funding problems created by a
shrinking tax base as well as exploring ways to college financial
assistance to encourage area students to remain in Greater
Cleveland upon graduation. Jim is currently spearheading the
creation of county land bank that would keep properties away from
speculators and facilitate economic and neighborhood
development.
Local and National organizations have
recognized Jim by for his efforts in strengthening neighborhoods
and communities. In 2007 he received the NeighborWorks
America Local Government Service Award, the Leadership in Social
Justice Award from Greater Cleveland Community Shares, and was
named the County Leader of the Year by American City and County
Magazine.
Jim earned his undergraduate degree at Oberlin
College and his Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland-Marshall
School of Law. He married Laurie Shafer, they have three
children Doug, Christina and Eleni.
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