CSU Law Professor Matthew Ahn officially announces run for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor – The Cauldron

Matthew Ahn, a North Royalton native and visiting law professor at Cleveland State University, officially announced that he’s running for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor in 2024 on Thursday, July 27.

“I’ve spent six months listening to neighbors, leaders, advocates, and friends across the county, and it’s clear that our community wants a fair and more effective criminal justice system—one that promotes both public safety and Justice, For All. We can do both.” Ahn said in a tweet. “When I began exploring a run for this office, I listened: to community leaders who understand the complexities of public safety, to families impacted by crime and their need for healing, to service providers who see the demand for mental health and addiction recovery services.”

If elected in 2024, Ahn plans to put a moratorium on all transfers of children to adult court, never seek the death penalty, and implement policies to reduce the population at the Cuyahoga County jail by moving cases along, which will also help the county save money on a new jail.

Ahn also wants to restore the Conviction Integrity Unit and start a Public Integrity Unit and a Labor Justice Unit.

“Public Integrity, so our elected officials are held to the same standards as you or me, and Labor Justice, so employers that steal from their workers are held accountable just as we enforce the reverse,” Ahn said in a statement.

With his proposed policies, Ahn believes that a better path is forward for Cuyahoga County — a path he thinks the current Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, Michael O’Malley, has stood in the way of in his time in office.

“It’s clear that Cuyahoga County has faced many challenges over time, and it’s also clear that our incumbent county prosecutor has, at times, stood in the way of solutions,” Ahn said in a tweet.

O’Malley took office in 2016, and in 2020 he ran unopposed. Ahn announced he has raised  $182,461 to campaign against O’Malley.

“We can build a better path forward if we are serious about good policy,” Ahn tweeted in January.

Ahn’s campaign launch is delayed until after the August 8 special election because he wants Ohioans to focus on defeating Issue 1. His official campaign launch will take place on August 10 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Rockefeller Park Pavilion.