CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Mayor-elect Jim Petras will have a lot working in his favor when he takes office in January.

For starters, he has extensive city charter amendments that were overwhelmingly passed by voters last week that align with the elected-mayor form of government, which is going into its fifth year.

From there, Petras can sit down with his colleagues and go through an 85-page budget book for 2026 as he finishes out his second year on City Council.

In addition to a recalibrated Finance Department led by interim director Rachun Caldwell, credit goes to Acting Mayor Tony Cuda, the former council president who took over after voters recalled former mayor Kahlil Seren in September.

Along the way, Cuda won re-election to council for a second term as part of the overall

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