RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In announcing his candidacy for a City Council seat, Alex Harper said he wants to be fully transparent about his troubled past and wants all to know about the positive things he is now doing.
That past includes two incarcerations for unarmed bank robbery, for which he pled guilty in 2005 and 2011.
Harper’s candidacy, however, is in question, as Mayor David Roche has filed a protest with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections as to whether Harper should be listed on the Nov. 2 ballot because of the two federal felonies.
The board will hear that protest on the morning of Sept. 13.
“As mayor, I’m supposed to uphold the integrity of the city’s charter,” Roche said. “It’s a complex issue. People have told him that he shouldn’t be doing this (running for office). I don’t want to say too much before the hearing.”
Harper, however, doesn’t think his past should derail his campaign.
“As a servant of the people, I want to be as transparent with not only my future plans, but also my past mistakes,” the 37-year-old council-at-large candidate stated in an email to cleveland.com announcing his candidacy.
“Before one vote is cast, I want to fully disclose those mistakes, and what I have done since to show my growth, maturity and change of mindset.
“In 2005, at the age of 21, while a student at Akron University, I engaged in a pattern of behavior that resulted in my incarnation for the period of four years. Unfortunately, due to my immaturity at the time, I repeated this behavior and was again incarcerated in 2011.
“Since that time, I’ve taken substantial strides to not only better myself, but to positively impact every person I come in contact with, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life,” Harper said.
Harper listed a number of things he is now doing to improve himself and help others, including engaging in re-entry counseling to help others avoid the same mistakes he made and to better adjust to society; volunteering as a suicide prevention specialist during the COVID-19 pandemic; becoming a member of the Alzheimer’s Association; performing event logistics for the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center; working with multiple nonprofit organizations to provide free gas, children books and food to those in need; and participating in multiple small business roundtables with government officials to learn how to better assist businesses that are struggling.
Harper also said he has helped author state-recognized apprenticeship programs and has partnered with Cuyahoga Community College to offer condensed versions of those programs as a workforce development program.
In addition, he said he facilitated an Aug. 27 career fair to help connect employers who are desperate to hire with people in need of employment.
“These actions were taken without any ulterior motives or self-promotion,” Harper stated in his email. “I’m only mentioning these few things now to better illustrate how far I’ve come since my younger days.”
Harper is a lifelong Richmond Heights resident and a graduate of Richmond Heights High School.
“I’m saddened by the disconnect between those placed in position to lead and those residents that placed them there,” he stated.
“I fully understand that my past will bring a certain level of scrutiny, but I was a (Richmond Heights High) Spartan before I was anything else, and the community that I love should be a community for all. To include those that have made mistakes, the elderly, minorities, families in low-income housing and those in million-dollar homes. I will continue to work to gain and maintain (residents’) trust.”
Harper will be seeking election Nov. 2 to one of two at-large council seats. His election opponents include Councilwoman Juanita Lewis, Councilman Daniel Ursu and fellow first-time candidate Sheena Levy.
When asked why he wants to serve on City Council, Harper responded, “The city of Richmond Heights is a socioeconomically diverse community full of unique life experiences and needs. City Council should represent and reflect all of these different perspectives equally, and I feel that I can be that representation.”
Harper, who did not graduate from the University of Akron but said he takes classes as often as possible at Tri-C, was also asked what goals he has, if elected.
“I want to increase city-sponsored youth programming and minority engagement,” he answered.
Harper said he would also like to “focus on increasing economic development to help ease the tax burden of residents for future community improvements.”
Read more from the Sun Messenger.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
