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questions, particularly the unconventional strong mayor system in Lakewood and exploring <br />creative approaches to increase voter turnout. <br />Council commended Mr. Jackson for choosing to serve Lakewood after an extended period <br />outside the City. They sought his perspective on what he found appealing about the community. <br />Mr. Jackson highlighted the city's density, walkability, and the sense of community. He also <br />emphasized the importance of a city's commitment to helping those in need, noting Lakewood’s <br />elderly population. <br />Council questioned Mr. Jackson about his experience in Washington, DC, specifically how it <br />translates to grassroots levels in Lakewood. Mr. Jackson stressed the importance of people-to- <br />people connections and the need for effective listening and understanding abilities at all levels of <br />government. Drawing on his experience in DC, where he was involved in union contract <br />negotiations, Mr. Jackson emphasized his commitment to hearing diverse voices and using that <br />information to make fair and informed decisions. Council thanked Mr. Jackson for his <br />willingness to serve and appreciated his perspective from a political science angle. They <br />expressed eagerness to delve into the details of charter review discussions and explore ways to <br />engage a broader segment of the community, highlighting collaboration with the law department <br />as a key aspect of the process. <br />Donna Taylor-Kolis interview: <br />Ms. Kolis discussed her past participation in the last Charter Review as an engaged citizen and <br />shared her disappointment at seeing a lack of public interest in the process. She stated her <br />interest in serving on the committee this time around to help educate the public on the important <br />role the charter plays in the day-to-day lives of residents. Council asked about her familiarity <br />with the current charter and if she had changes in minds. Ms. Kolis responded that she recently <br />reviewed the charter, and nothing stood out to her as an immediate priority to address. She <br />expressed her belief that now more than ever it is important to preserve our status as a home rule <br />municipality to be able to run the City of Lakewood according to the values of itsresidents. <br />When asked about her legal background, Ms. Kolis went into detail about her relevant legal <br />experience working as a plaintiff attorney as well as working for the City of Cleveland as a <br />Claims Administrator. She then responded to a question about how to better engage the public in <br />the charter review process. She said she believes that it is up to Council to get people involved <br />and suggested that they hold an event to educate the public and get them excited and interested in <br />the charter. <br />In response to further questions from Council, she stated that she thinks the fact that the current <br />charter requires the Law Director to be a Lakewood resident should be seriously looked at. She <br />clarified that she does not have a strong opinion on what the alternative should be, but that <br />evaluating other options should be part of the Charter Review Commissions agenda because it is <br />such an important role. In closing, Ms. Kolis reaffirmed her interest in the roleand her <br />excitement for serving the city of Lakewood in this capacity. <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />