EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series looking at what Cuyahoga County communities, agencies and school districts experienced in 2025 and what is facing them in 2026. For longtime Mayfield Heights City Council member Michael Ballistrea, paperwork is one reason why he won’t be returning to City C ouncil for a third term in January. Ballistrea will be leaving his post after he failed to get the 190 valid signatures required by the Cuyahoga County Elections Board for the May primary. Council Members King Miner, Michael J. Ballistrea, and Council President Diane M. Snider, give out DTE 26 tax relief forms, and answer questions from Mayfield Heights residents at an Sept. 9 City Council meeting. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald.) He said the reason why he didn’t get enough was because he initially used the wrong form to collect some of the signatures as he was considering a mayoral run and used that paperwork instead of the one for the general council election. “There was a clerical error on my part,” Ballistrea said after a recent council meeting. “My petition got disqualified so I withdrew, unfortunately. I’m hoping to continue to serve in the very near future in any capacity I can with council.” Mayfield Heights residents gather at a Sept. 9 City Council meeting. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald.) Ballistrea was first appointed to council in 1998, then went on to win three elections serving until 2011. After taking a sabbatical, he was re-elected in 2017 and 2021. Currently, he is the chair on the Planning Commission for the city and council’s Public Works and Services Committee and a member of council’s Safety and Transportation Committee. He plans on staying active in the community and hopes to be re-elected or appointed back to council soon. “I did have one term remaining but, unfortunately, things didn’t work out,” Ballistrea said. “But I’m still willing to work. I’ll stay active on commissions, on boards, and hopefully can even get back on council. (By either) running in the next election or seek an appointment.” The outside of Mayfield Heights City Hall on Sept. 9. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald.) There will be some new faces on council next year along with a new mayor, former council president Diane Snider. City Council had four candidates, three of them new to council, running for the four positions with newcomer Jessica Finney Brown receiving 1,809 votes, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Finney Brown is the daughter of former councilmember and council president Donna Finney who died in 2021 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. Candidate Joseph Brunello received 1,582 votes with Michael Buffa garnering 1,475 votes. Brunello is the brother of Chuck Brunello Jr. who is currently the assistant public works director of Mayfield Heights and the mayor of Highland Heights. Current Councilmember Matthew Metyk received 1,141 votes, keeping him in the position. Councilmembers Susan A. Sabetta and Donald Manno, both elected in 2022 will be vacating their positions.   ...read more read less