Michael D. Polensek
1978 - Present
2026
47
Michael Polensek is a member of the Cleveland City Council in Ohio, representing Ward 8. He assumed office in 1978. His current term ends on January 5, 2026.
Polensek ran for re-election to the Cleveland City Council to represent Ward 10 in Ohio. He won in the general election on November 4, 2025.
He served as council president from 1999 to 2002.
Biography
Polensek attended Collinwood High School. His professional experience includes working for White Motors Corp., where he got involved with Local 32 of the United Autoworkers Union.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2025)
General election
General election for Cleveland City Council Ward 10
Incumbent Michael Polensek defeated incumbent Anthony Hairston and Keith Hemphill in the general election for Cleveland City Council Ward 10 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael Polensek (Nonpartisan) | 67.8 | 2,787 |
 | Anthony Hairston (Nonpartisan) | 32.1 | 1,318 | |
| Keith Hemphill (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 6 | ||
| Total votes: 4,111 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Anthony Hairston and incumbent Michael Polensek advanced from the primary for Cleveland City Council Ward 10.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Polensek in this election.
2021
See also: City elections in Cleveland, Ohio (2021)
General election
General election for Cleveland City Council Ward 8
Incumbent Michael Polensek defeated Aisia Jones in the general election for Cleveland City Council Ward 8 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Polensek (Nonpartisan) | 77.4 | 2,892 |
 | Aisia Jones (Nonpartisan) | 22.6 | 844 | |
| Total votes: 3,736 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Cleveland City Council Ward 8
Incumbent Michael Polensek and Aisia Jones defeated Donald Boyd in the primary for Cleveland City Council Ward 8 on September 14, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Polensek (Nonpartisan) | 76.7 | 1,944 |
| ✔ | | Aisia Jones (Nonpartisan) | 17.1 | 433 |
 | Donald Boyd (Nonpartisan) | 6.2 | 157 | |
| Total votes: 2,534 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
The city of Cleveland, Ohio, held elections on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on September 12, 2017. The mayor and all 17 seats on the city council were up for election. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was June 29, 2017.[2]
Incumbent Michael D. Polensek defeated Donald Boyd in the general election for Ward 8 of the Cleveland City Council.[3]
| Cleveland City Council, Ward 8 General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Michael D. Polensek Incumbent |
86.95% | 3,517 |
| Donald Boyd | 13.05% | 528 |
| Total Votes | 4,045 | |
| Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "General Election Official Results," November 22, 2017 | ||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Polensek did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Michael Polensek did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Anthony Hairston |
Cleveland City Council Ward 10 2026 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Cleveland City Council Ward 8 1978-Present |
Succeeded by Stephanie Howse-Jones |
| |||||||||
