Ward 15

About Charles J. Slife

Councilman Charles Slife represents Ward 15, located in Cleveland’s far west side and encompassing the West Park and Kamm’s Corners neighborhoods.  

Ward 15 is known for its strong civic pride and vibrant local economy—qualities reflected in Councilman Slife’s commitment to thoughtful development, responsive constituent service, and sustainable, community-centered growth. 

He serves as Council’s representative on the City Planning Commission, is chair of the Transportation and Mobility Committee, and sits on numerous committees including, Finance, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Development, Planning & Sustainability; and Safety. He also serves as the Majority Whip.

Councilman Slife’s work is informed by a combination of public service and private-sector experience. Before joining Council, he worked as a site selection and economic development consultant with The Austin Company, a Cleveland-based engineering and construction firm with global operations. 

From 2012 to 2017, he served the City of Cleveland—first as an intern in the Department of Economic Development and later as a Special Assistant to the Mayor for Regional Development. These roles provided him with extensive experience in workforce and business development, zoning, brownfield remediation, urban planning, and project design review.

Earlier in his career, he worked in government relations in Washington, D.C., broadening his understanding of federal policy and national governance.

Councilman Slife holds a Master of Public Administration in Urban Economic Development from Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

A resident of West Park, he lives in Ward 15 with his wife, son, and two daughters. He is a former board member of Kamm’s Corners Development Corporation (now West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development) and continues to be deeply engaged with the neighborhoods he serves. He has been a member of Cleveland City Council since 2019.