Kristopher Harsh

Council Member - Ward 13

City of Cleveland

Kristopher Harsh represents Ward 13, which includes Old Brooklyn and part of the Stockyard neighborhoods.

Prior to holding public office, Councilman Harsh worked as a housing specialist and community organizer for non-profit agencies, including Metro West Community Development Organization, where he was housing director since 2014.

He worked as an organizer for Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and was director of community organizing for Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP), which focuses on giving residents, especially seniors, the education and tools to have financial wellness and housing stability.

Councilman Harsh is Council's representative on the Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services Advisory Board.

Councilman Harsh served as representative for and testified on behalf of the community at City of Cleveland Housing Court, Board of Zoning, and Board of Building Standards. He also worked closely with the Cleveland Land Bank, CCLRC, Cleveland Housing Network, City Council members, Cleveland Housing Court specialists, and MetroHealth and Environmental Health Watch to address and resolve various issues pertaining to the city's housing stock.

He successfully advocated for and ushered in the demolition of dozens of blighted properties in the community, and assisted residents in side lot expansion applications, as well as piloted a lead abatement program to explore and test methods to reduce lead poisoning in owner occupied and rental units.

He attended the University of Akron and Kent State University and had been part of the local music scene, formerly hosting a show on WRUW called “Pure Denizen.”