Rather than deliver a speech, Jackson arranged for Key Bank CEO Beth Mooney to ask him questions. She's chair of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s chamber of commerce, and she has contributed to his campaign.
(Watch the entire address here.)
A large part of the conversation focused on education. The partnership backs Jackson’s schools plan, which the mayor said is making progress. He said his goal for the schools is not just to prepare children for the workforce, but to help them mature and take part in the rejuvenation of the city.
“How do they interpret their world, their environment, so that they can make good choices and be part of this movement in Cleveland because they’re included in that movement," he said.
On the subject of police, Jackson said negotiations with the Justice Department give the city a chance at bringing changes to the division that will long outlast his time in office. But he said he won’t be rushed into it.
“I am going to take my time," he said. "I am going to lock down on this. And we are going to have reform. We are going to have reform. And that reform when we reach an agreement with the Department of Justice will be substantive.”
He said the character of the city of Cleveland has been called into question, and that corporate and civic leaders have a stake in reform. And while he didn’t specify how the city would change its policing, he said he’s up for the challenge negotiations present.
“Someone asked me about, ‘Mayor, these are difficult times for you, you've got a lot of challenges,'" he said. "I said, ‘Hard times is what I do.’”
Asked after the speech if he'd be open to seeking a fourth term, Jackson didn't rule it out.
"For me, it's are you effective?" he said. "And I don't want to be ineffective, I don't want to be in the way of Cleveland's future. So if I believe that I'm effective, and that time still is a time that I can serve well, then I have no problem with that."
The comments come as activists in Cleveland are hoping to mount a recall campaign against the mayor. In response to questions about that, the mayor said, "More power to them."
