City of Cleveland Announces Former Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer as Senior Advisor for Lead Accountability

March 10, 2026 - Cleveland - The City of Cleveland today announced that Rebecca Maurer, a longtime advocate for lead-safe housing and former Cleveland City Councilmember, will join the Mayor's Office as Senior Advisor for Lead Accountability effective March 16.

Maurer brings more than a decade of experience working on lead poisoning prevention and housing policy in Cleveland.

"Protecting Cleveland's children from lead exposure is one of the most urgent public health challenges we face," said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. "Rebecca has spent her career advancing lead-safe housing and working alongside families, advocates, and policymakers to reduce harm. In this role, she will lead a cross-departmental team to strengthen coordination, increase accountability, and accelerate our progress toward safer homes for Cleveland families."

Maurer began her work on lead-safe housing as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, where she drafted an early version of what ultimately became Cleveland's 2019 lead-safe housing legislation. She later served as policy counsel for Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH), helping to advance the legislation through years of advocacy and coalition building.

From 2022 to 2025, Maurer served on Cleveland City Council representing Ward 12, where she focused on workers' rights, tenants' rights, and equitable access to city services. She served as Vice Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Lead Safe Advisory Board, helping oversee implementation of Cleveland's lead-safe housing strategy.

Maurer is also an Ohio licensed Lead Risk Assessor, certified in Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) practices, and holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.S. from the University of Chicago.
In her new role, Maurer will help coordinate the City's lead-safe housing strategy across departments, working closely with Cleveland's Department of Public Health, Department of Community Development, Department of Building and Housing, and community partners to strengthen prevention, improve accountability, and ensure Cleveland families live in safe housing.

"We can and must decrease the number of children being poisoned by lead here in Cleveland. But doing so requires coordination," Maurer said. "I'm excited to work with the City's talented teams and community partners to continue building a Cleveland where every child can grow up in a safe and healthy home."

The City of Cleveland has expanded its lead prevention efforts in recent years through the implementation of the Lead Safe Certification program, investments in home remediation, and partnerships with community organizations focused on protecting children from lead exposure.