Davida Russell is the newly elected Councilwoman for the city of Cleveland Heights. Elected November 2019 receiving the 2nd highest vote of all the candidates while making history for her 1st time running for an public office. Davida Russell is also the State President of the Coalition of labor Union Women, a Vice President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, State Executive Board Member and President of the Northeast Ohio District of the Ohio Association of Public-School Employees OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4/AFL-CIO), Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the North Coast Area Labor Federation, and Trustee of the Cleveland North Shore Federation of Labor AFL-CIO,  In these positions, Davida represents more than 180,000 members across Ohio and 11,000 just in Northeast Ohio.

 

Davida is a Commission Member of the Cuyahoga County Charter Review Commission appointed by Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Executive Board Member of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland one of two single appointment of Mayor Frank Jackson

 

Davida served as president of the Ohio Association of Public-School Employees OAPSE/AFSCME Local 744 for 20 consecutive years, representing Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) Transportation workers until her retirement. Davida was appointed by Governor, Ted Strickland to the Board of Commission of MR/DD to serve on the Futures Study Committee for the state of Ohio. Davida also served as the Vice Chair of the first historic Cuyahoga County Charter Review Commission appointed by Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald and served on the Cleveland Heights Reaching Heights Board. Davida served nationally on President Clinton’s Women’s Round Table of Greater Cleveland and has been invited to the White House on three separate occasions. Davida represented public employees in Sao Paulo Brazil where she received an award from the Ambassador of Italy; 

 

Davida also served as State Vice President of the Ohio Association of Public-School Employees (OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4/AFL-CIO) for over 10 years until her resignation in 2015 to focus more of her time in Northeast Ohio. 

 

Well known for her dedication to working people, she has been in the forefront of organizing, educating, training, increasing political awareness among workers, campaigning for pro-labor politicians and issues and operating and managing the largest canvassing operation in the state of Ohio since 2002. Every few months Davida continues to be featured on America’s Work Force Radio WERE 1490 the only daily labor-radio program in America. Davida been entered in several editions of Who’s Who including the 2019 edition as One of The Most Influential Black Women in Cleveland Celebrating African American Achievement. She has also been a co-host on a local television show located on cable public access station called “Another Look.” 

 

Davida has been featured in union sponsored radio commercials She have wrote, produced and directed a union play called “We May Be Getting Old… But We Ain’t Dead Yet”! The play was presented in Cleveland’s downtown Music Hall for the OAPSE/AFSCME Convention. 

 

She’s the author of the book “The Birth of a Union: The Legacy of Noridean McDonald” published in 2007. She is a graduate of Cleveland State Labor-Management Relations Center Program a graduate of Leadership Cleveland Class 2004.

 

Davida graduated from the George Meany National Labor College with a double major Bachelor’s in Labor Studies and in Union Leadership and Administration. 

 

Davida is also a Substitute Teacher and bus driver for South Euclid Lyndhurst City School Districts. Davida also holds an Ohio Department of Education Aide Permit HQ Paraprofessional, State of Ohio Commercial Driving License Class (A) endorsement and a First Aid and CPR Certificate 

 

Davida has been the wife of Carl Russell for 41 yrs. and the proud mother of two daughters Domonique Turner (Son-n-law Reuben) and Brittany Russell and a Grandmother to 10-year-old Dionna and 5-year-old Reuben II. 

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