
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}
I would rarely give a Democrat the benefit of the doubt when accused of anti-semitism but in this case he seems to be simply pointing out the reality of voter demographics. He seems to be full of hate in general for “Trumpies” and those who aren’t his fellow liberals but does not have a clear animus for Jews in particular.
Agreed. There does not seem to be any relevance to their being Jewish.
The actual anti-Semitic implications are rather obvious for statements such as
> Brennan called on his supporters to “pay close attention to who the Trumpies are in city government,”
When the Dems are caught being racist, anti-semitic, etc., their go-to line is that they are being misinterpreted. That is viciously false. That defensive line itself is good reason that they should be ousted from public office. I do hope that this issue is pursued, and that this man of hate is relegated to the trash heaps of politicians who were forced into retirement by the restoration of a moral conscience.
Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan. Er zol takeh Brennan. No name is an accident.
If it was misinterpreted you should not have taken it down. (You should of explained to us clearly how it was misinterpreted)
You took it down because its implications were clear and you were not misinterpreted.
You are a coward for not standing behind what you said and for lying that it was misinterpreted
You are an anti semite
Really? If you say something that’s perfectly innocuous but is anyways misinterpreted then it would be better to leave it there for it to be continually misinterpreted?
This is precisely why HaRav Elya Brudny stated publicly that rather than put up Jewish candidates who need the non-Jewish vote to win, it would be far better to support the non-Jewish candidates who need our votes to win.
https://torahanytime.com/lectures/320345
How did Brennan get elected to Mayor in the first place? Who voted for him? Jews?
what was so bad about this post , he was acknowledging that the frumme got their act together and cross party lines for local benefits , whats wrong with the truth
frustration is not hate , politics is a dirty business
question , how many votes is the whole frumme in clevland ?
I was under the belief in this country we have the freedom to vote for who we think is best for our country. But apparently the mayor a socialist democrat thinks otherwise. This borders on anti semitism since he only pu led on Jews As trump would say you are fired. Time to resign
university heights is a fast growing orthodox community and the mayor is threatened by that fact which could affect future politics
He is a disgrace and should not be allowed in government.