In an online post, Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan of University Heights, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb, ignited controversy after appearing to single out members of the Orthodox Jewish community and two Jewish council members for their voting patterns in a local election. Although Matzav.com learned that the post was later taken down, screenshots circulated widely, drawing sharp criticism and accusations of antisemitism from community members and beyond.
In his post, obtained by Matzav.com, Mayor Brennan highlighted that one precinct in University Heights, precinct H, showed a strong preference for Republican candidates Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, with over 70% of the vote going their way. He named two Orthodox Jewish council members, Michele Weiss and Sheri Sax, whom he associated with the precinct and described as “MAGA council members.” He further alleged that they, along with others in the local government, were responsible for a “dysfunctional and strident tone” in city affairs, blaming their opposition for what he described as the city’s challenges.

The mayor’s post implied that the voting patterns in certain precincts aligned with broader national divides, lamenting what he saw as a concerning trend. However, his direct mention of the two Jewish council members and the precinct largely populated by Orthodox Jewish residents struck many as an attempt to target a specific community for their political choices.
Community leaders and residents reacted strongly, accusing Mayor Brennan of using divisive language and of targeting Jewish residents for exercising their right to vote. Critics argued that the mayor’s comments were not only inappropriate but also carried undertones of antisemitism.
In the post, Brennan called on his supporters to “pay close attention to who the Trumpies are in city government,” a phrase that some felt disparaged those who hold conservative views or supported the Republican ticket. “It’s more important than ever that we clean up local government and have at least one level of government that represents our values,” he wrote, prompting further outrage from those who felt he was attempting to marginalize individuals based on their political beliefs.
The post was deleted within hours, but not before it was widely shared. Many community members are now calling for an apology or even his resignation, arguing that the mayor’s comments undermine trust in local government and threaten to deepen divides within the city.
Mayor Brennan later issued a statement addressing the criticism, stating that the post was “misinterpreted and I have taken it down.”
{Matzav.com}