County Executive Threatens to Remove Cleveland Port Authority Chair

Dispute over city appointment sparks conflict between county and port board leadership

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has given Dave Wondolowski, the chair of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, until 5 p.m. on Friday to either reject a planned city appointment to the port board or resign his county-appointed seat. If Wondolowski refuses, Ronayne says he will move to remove him from the port board.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the political tensions and competing interests between the city and county governments in Cleveland when it comes to appointments and oversight of key regional authorities like the port. It also raises questions about the independence and accountability of port board members, who are meant to represent the broader public interest.

The details

Wondolowski, who also serves as the executive secretary and business manager of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, was initially appointed to the port board by former Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson in 2018. After making controversial statements about "kick(ing) the sh— out of" current Mayor Justin Bibb during his first mayoral campaign, Bibb did not reappoint Wondolowski when his term ended in 2022. However, Wondolowski remained on the board after being appointed to a county seat by former County Executive Armond Budish and then kept on by Ronayne in 2024.

  • Wondolowski's county-appointed term on the port board is set to expire in September 2028.
  • Mayor Bibb nominated Wondolowski to one of the city's six seats on the nine-member port board on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • Ronayne has given Wondolowski until 5 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2026 to either reject the city's appointment or resign his county-appointed seat.

The players

Chris Ronayne

The Cuyahoga County Executive who appointed Wondolowski to the port board and is now threatening to remove him.

Dave Wondolowski

The chair of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority who was nominated by Mayor Bibb for a city-appointed seat on the port board, despite already serving a county-appointed term.

Justin Bibb

The Mayor of Cleveland who nominated Wondolowski for a city-appointed seat on the port board.

Stephanie Howse-Jones

The Cleveland City Councilwoman who chairs the mayor's appointment committee and will oversee Wondolowski's potential appointment.

Mike Polensek

A Cleveland City Councilman who serves on the mayor's appointment committee and says he will not vote for Wondolowski's appointment.

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What they’re saying

“I know there aren't any grounds to remove me...and I have no plan of resigning. I'm doing a good job down there and I don't want my reputation smeared here.”

— Dave Wondolowski, Port Authority Board Chair (cleveland.com)

“We are giving him the opportunity to clear up the matter, a matter which I think hatched from a back-room deal, and if he does not respond to our request, the next step is we are seeking removal.”

— Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive (cleveland.com)

“I am not supporting Wondolowski. I don't believe he's pro-Cleveland and we need to have people on the board who look out for Cleveland.”

— Mike Polensek, Cleveland City Councilman (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Cleveland City Council will need to approve Mayor Bibb's nomination of Wondolowski to the port board, which could further escalate the conflict with the county executive.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the political tensions and competing interests between the city and county governments in Cleveland when it comes to appointments and oversight of key regional authorities. It raises questions about the independence and accountability of port board members, who are meant to represent the broader public interest rather than the narrow interests of any one appointing authority.