Beachwood, Ohio, has elected a new member to its City Council, further strengthening the female majority that began in 2023. On November 4, 2023, voters chose Alexandra Jacobs to join the council, which will now consist of five women out of seven total members. This election also saw the re-election of Council President Alec Isaacson, who has served on the council for 12 years, and Peter Smith, who was appointed earlier this year.
The election results from the unofficial counts by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections revealed that Isaacson received the most votes, totaling 1,904, which accounts for 29.6 percent of the ballots. Jacobs followed closely with 1,785 votes, translating to 27.7 percent, while Smith garnered 1,677 votes, or 26 percent. The fourth candidate, Matthew Hildebrand, received 1,075 votes, making up 16.7 percent of the total.
Jacobs’ Vision for Beachwood
Jacobs, who expressed her dissatisfaction with national politics, stated, “I’m not happy with national politics. I don’t like the direction our country is going, and I feel helpless to do a lot about it on the national level.” She emphasized her belief in the importance of local governance, saying, “Everything I’ve read is, what you do when your country is going through something like this is to look to your local community.”
Having applied for the council vacancy that Smith filled earlier this year, Jacobs was encouraged by other council members to run for office. “If other people think I can do this, I think I can do this,” she remarked. Jacobs ran as part of a slate with Isaacson and Smith, aiming to present a unified vision to the voters.
In her upcoming role, Jacobs has outlined her goals, which include enhancing the city’s finances and continuing the solar streetlight program already in progress on Beachwood Boulevard. “I’d like to see that continue,” she stated, adding that she is open to exploring other options for improving street lighting, particularly in areas lacking sidewalks to enhance pedestrian safety.
Experience and Community Involvement
Jacobs holds a law degree but is not currently practicing. She has significant experience in community management, having co-founded a company that manages condominium and homeowner associations in various upscale neighborhoods. “I have a lot of experience in kind of a scaled-down version of communities and management, a lot of experience with bidding with infrastructure, with budgeting and safeguarding funds,” Jacobs explained.
Her involvement in the local community extends beyond her professional background. Jacobs serves as the treasurer for the Parent-Teacher Organization and co-chairs the Beachwood Schools Fundraising Committee. She is also engaged in local youth activities, including being a Girl Scout leader and coaching her daughter’s fourth-grade team in Destination Imagination.
With the departure of Councilman Joshua Mintz, Jacobs will take over his vacated seat. The recent elections also saw the addition of Jillian DeLong and Ali Stern to the council, complementing the existing female members Danielle Shoykhett and June Taylor.
As for Isaacson, he will continue to serve as council president until the end of December 2023, after which the council will elect a new president at its first meeting in January. Reflecting on his tenure, Isaacson highlighted the collaborative nature of the council, citing achievements like the reduction of stormwater flooding, the solar streetlight pilot project, and the revision of zoning and building regulations.
Isaacson remarked that running as a slate with Jacobs and Smith was a strategic choice, stating, “The three of us felt that we had a good story to tell Beachwood about ourselves, that our skill sets interlock and support each other.” He expressed optimism about the council’s future initiatives, including continued investment in community infrastructure and financial sustainability.
The recent election not only reinforces the growing female representation in Beachwood’s governance but also sets the stage for collaborative efforts to address local issues effectively.
