![Cleveland City Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland at a September 2017 event in support of Ohio Ballot Issue 2. [Jason Miller / AP Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c977c9a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1688+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F4%2F30%2FPhyllis%20Cleveland%20AP17265122954596%20cropped.jpg)
Cleveland City Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland announced Friday she is stepping down for health reasons, effective May 3.
Cleveland has served as the council member for Ward 5, covering the Central, Kinsman and Midtown neighborhoods, since January 2006. In her more than 15 years on the council, she has served as majority leader, vice chairwoman of the Finance Committee, and chairwoman of Transportation Committee.
“We are losing one of the smartest and hardest-working members of this legislative body,” Council President Kevin Kelley said a press release. “Phyllis will truly be missed and all of us here in City Hall wish her the best.”
Prior to joining city council, Cleveland served as an assistant prosecutor for Cuyahoga County and a judicial staff attorney. She also worked as a magistrate in the Foreclosure Department of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.