In the November 1997 general election, running as a non-partisan, he defeated incumbent mayor Wallace D. Davis with 62.56% of the vote.[1] He was sworn in on January 1, 1998[1] becoming the first African-born Black mayor in the United States.[2] In the November 2001 general election, running as a Republican, he was re-elected with 71.19% of the vote defeating Democrat Eric J. Brewer (who would later win election as mayor in 2005).[1] After being convicted for racketeering, extortion, mail fraud, and tax evasion,[3] he resigned on September 1, 2004.[1] He was succeeded by the East Cleveland City Council President, Democrat Saratha Goggins, the first female mayor of East Cleveland.[1][4]
In September 2005, he was sentenced by U.S. District Court judge James S. Gwin to nine years in prison.[5][6] At sentencing, Onunwor stated: "I apologize to my family, my friends and the citizens...I did wrong. I deserve to be punished.[6]
Personal life
In 2009, his son, Clifton Onunwor, was sentenced to life in prison for killing his mother, Diane Onunwor.[7]