Cleveland Heights Mayor Faces Uproar Over Wife’s Disturbing Antisemitic Texts

Mayor Kahlil Seren of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, is facing intense scrutiny following allegations that his wife, Natalie McDaniel, made antisemitic remarks about city employees and residents.

The accusations, outlined in a civil rights complaint filed on May 14 with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, have ignited public outrage, calls for Seren’s resignation, and a planned protest in the community.

The complaint, lodged by former Special Assistant to the Mayor Patrick Costigan, who identifies as ethnically Jewish, alleges McDaniel used offensive language in text messages, including referring to Planning Commission Chair Jessica Cohen, an Orthodox Jew, as a “broodmare” who is “destined for the glue factory.”

The complaint describes “broodmare” as a coded slur referencing the size of Orthodox Jewish families. Other texts allegedly show McDaniel calling a councilmember and a resident a “Jewish b***h” and accusing Cohen of serving on the Planning Commission to benefit Orthodox Jewish residents. The complaint further claims McDaniel mocked Orthodox Jewish traditions and attire and mimicked an Orthodox resident’s accent.

Costigan, a transgender man raised Catholic but with Jewish heritage, asserts that McDaniel’s behavior created a hostile work environment, leading to his medical leave and subsequent termination. The complaint also alleges that Seren directed Costigan to follow McDaniel’s instructions, effectively positioning her as his supervisor.

This claim is backed up by a photo circulating online showing McDaniel with a City Hall access badge, contradicting Seren’s prior denials of her influence over city staff.

After nearly a week of silence, Seren responded yesterday (Wednesday) with a 15-minute video posted to his official Facebook page. “One area where my wife and I are in very clear alignment is in our shared belief that anti-Jewish hatred and antisemitism, as described in the IHRA working definition, has no place in our community or any other,” Seren stated.

He highlighted personal connections to Jewish individuals, noting that his godmother is Jewish and that McDaniel grew up in Cleveland Heights’ Taylor neighborhood, forming lifelong friendships with Jewish people. “Any accusation of either of us hating the Jewish people is false,” he insisted.

Seren accused Costigan of perjury, alleging the text messages included in the complaint were altered.

He specifically addressed the “broodmare” comment, arguing it was taken out of context and unrelated to Judaism. “For those of you who are unaware, mandingo and broodmare are terms that come from American slavery,” Seren said. “This has never been a term aimed at Jewish people and was never understood or expressed as relating to anything about Orthodox Judaism.”

He claimed the remark was a private response to Cohen’s behavior, which he said invoked a racist trope, and was not intended to be public.

Seren further alleged that Costigan had threatened a lawsuit unless provided with a job reference and $300,000, an offer Seren rejected. He claimed Costigan’s complaint followed this rejection and included a message expressing hope for future friendship.

Seren also acknowledged receiving threats, including a man who threatened to visit his home, prompting police intervention. “We live in a time of heightened emotion and reduced empathy,” he said, apologizing for his delayed response and admitting the toll the allegations have taken on his family. “Natalie and I love the Jewish people in our lives and we love the Jewish people in pretty much the same way we love our own people,” he added.

Costigan, through his attorney Sean Sobel, refuted Seren’s accusations and criticized the mayor for publicly disclosing his transgender identity. “As a proud transgender man, I have no issue with my identity being public,” Costigan said. “What I take issue with is that my identity is up to me to disclose… Weaponizing both of these identities to distract from hateful conduct is unacceptable.”

The controversy has deepened divisions in Cleveland Heights. At a heated City Council meeting on May 19, dozens of residents demanded Seren’s resignation, which he did not address in his video.

A councilmember reported Seren has been largely absent from City Hall since, prompting a special meeting with the city’s Law Director on May 22 at noon to discuss next steps. McDaniel has not issued a statement.