BAC hires Community Leader Michael J. Houser as new Executive Director

Michael J. Houser Sr.'s career has been dedicated to the families and children of Cuyahoga County, advocating for them on issues such as human rights, racial equality and quality education.

Houser currently serves as Executive Director of the Bond Accountability Commission. During his early days in public service, Houser fought for union workers as a Field Organizer for the We Are Ohio campaign, blocking the proposed controversial Senate Bill 5. Later, as a Special Assistant to the County Executive, Houser led Cuyahoga County's faith-based infant mortality reduction initiative and created a countywide civic engagement initiative that included the County's first annual "Your Voice Matters Youth Voting Summit."

As a Senior Leadership Team member for Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Houser fought for quality education for all Cleveland scholars through policy advocacy, government relations and community engagement. He assisted with CMSD's COVID relief efforts, which helped bring high-speed internet access to over 5,000 families in Northeast Ohio. He was also instrumental in CMSD's school renaming process. These names included the Stephanie Tubbs Jones School, Mary Church Terrell Elementary and Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy, which brought racially equitable names to the communities they serve.

As one of the youngest members to ever serve on the Cuyahoga County Council, Houser has consistently advocated for residents in under-resourced communities. As a Human Rights advocate, Houser helped pass an ordinance making Cuyahoga County the first county in Ohio to ban discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Houser's educational background is a testament to his commitment to learning and his dedication to public service. As a proud CMSD graduate, he earned a Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University, Levin College of Urban Affairs and Education. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in Political Science from Kent State University, further solidifying his qualifications and expertise in his field.