Courtney Scheff is a Navy veteran, attorney, prosecutor, and mom who believes local government should work for working families — because she’s lived that story herself.

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Courtney is the youngest of four children in a union family — her father was a railroad worker and her mother a part-time community college instructor.  Growing up in a working-family household, she started earning money at age 12 through her neighborhood snack shack and later worked as a lifeguard through her teen years.  Her family sometimes relied on unemployment insurance and other safety net programs, but a good union job kept them stable and moving forward.  Those early lessons shaped her belief that when we invest in working people, families and communities thrive.

A proud graduate of Columbus Public Schools, Courtney earned her degree in Politics & Government from Ohio Wesleyan University and her law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  She then served nearly five years on active duty as an officer in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, working as a defense attorney, prosecutor, and legal advisor to military commands while supervising fellow officers.

In 2012, Courtney and her husband moved to North Royalton to start and raise their family.  After completing her service in the Navy Reserves, she stepped back from her legal career to focus on her children and volunteer in the community, serving with the PTA, MOMS Club, AARP Tax-Aide, and other neighborhood organizations.  Following the events of January 6, 2021, Courtney felt a renewed call to serve and led the resurgence of the Democratic Party in North Royalton, refocusing the organization on core values: strong unions, strong public schools, affordable health care, and the protection of democratic freedoms. 

In recent years, Courtney returned to public service as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Cuyahoga County, working with law enforcement across the county to keep communities safe while upholding fairness and the rule of law.  That experience deepened her understanding of how county government impacts residents’ lives every day.

Courtney is running for County Council because she believes government should be a force for stability, opportunity, and fair treatment under the law.  With a lifetime of service, hands-on county experience, and working-family values, she will deliver change you can trust.