Michael J. Gallagher

Michael J. Gallagher is honored to serve as the District 5 County Council Representative, and is committed to continuing Council’s efforts in restoring the full faith and trust of the public in Cuyahoga County government. During his initial term in office, Mr. Gallagher has been focused on public safety issues, local business promotion and the new county government building. Mr. Gallagher’s elected public service began in in 1999, when he was first voted on to Strongsville’s City Council, where he also was President of Council for three years. He has served as a Trustee on the Hospital Board of Southwest General Hospital and as city council’s representative to the Strongsville School Board. He is most proud of having founded the Strongsville Youth Commission, which promotes young adult leadership in the city. Mr. Gallagher retired from the State Court of Appeals, 8th District, as a Deputy Court Administrator in 2010. He was the recipient of the Franklin A. Polk Public Servants Award in 2007, awarded by the Cuyahoga County Bar Foundation. Born and raised in Lakewood, he is a graduate of Lakewood Saint Edward High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cleveland State University. Mr. Gallagher is married to Sandy (Sakellaris) and together they have raised two sons, Alex and Sam, while residing in Strongsville for 23 years. Mr. Gallagher is chair of the Public Safety & Justice Affairs Committee. In September 2018, Gallahger voted against an ordinance providing protections for LGBT+, despite having an openly gay son.