According to Summers' 2015 pre-general campaign finance report, his campaign paid $1,000 to a Great Lakes Strategies based out of 1269 Overlook Road for advertising. I found it interesting that Overlook Road is a residential area. The house at this address is owned by Ed Fitzgerald.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State, Great Lakes Strategies was filed as a business on June 12th, 2015. Interestingly, the agent/registrant for this company is a Kevin M. Butler, with an address of 2401 Superior Viaduct in Cleveland (this is the address for Butler's law offices). See the below attachments for documentation.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State, Fitzgerald apparently had nothing to do with the starting of this so-called "business". Furthermore, I also believe that the address listed on the campaign finance report should have been Superior Viaduct, not Overlook Road. Isn't this an election law and ethics law violation?
The question is, who did the $1,000 go to? Where did it go? This smells. Also notice how dedicated our city administration and Fitzgerald were to Claussen's mayoral campaign in Brooklyn.
http://topics.cleveland.com/tag/ed-fitz ... ewspapers/
Notice that $1,000 was paid to Great Lakes Strategies for an advertisement. I thought the mayor's campaign said this was not an advertisement, but a community newspaper. Hmmm.
Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Moderator: Jim O'Bryan
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Lori Allen _
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Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
- Attachments
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- Great Lakes Strategies.pdf
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- GLS Ohio SOS Filing.pdf
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Kate McCarthy
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
I recall Summers saying his campaign paid for an ad in the Neighborhood News. But a payment for an ad sent to Great Lake Strategies at Fitzgerald's address for an LLC where Kevin Butler is the statutory agent is very fishy to me. And Butler is now the law director for Brooklyn.
I am not terribly familiar with campaign finance law. Does anyone know if it is legal for a appointee of the mayor to accept money from that mayor's reelection campaign?
I am not terribly familiar with campaign finance law. Does anyone know if it is legal for a appointee of the mayor to accept money from that mayor's reelection campaign?
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Brian Essi
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
These documents show that Mr. Butler incorporated this entity, served as it agent and served as its attorney.
Note that Butler incorporated that entity on June 15, 2015 immediately after Skindell entered the mayoral race.
As I recall, Summers said he did not know anything about the fake newspaper.
So did the Mayor's lawyer mislead and withhold information from the Mayor too?
Or has Summers spun another yarn?
Summers and Butler orchestrated the City to hire Thompson Hine law firm in April, 2015.
See the attachment to the tabloid article below that shows that Thompson Hine incorporated another Fitzgerald corporation in April, 2015.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf ... to_fo.html
Is there a connection between Fitzgerald and Thompson Hime being hired by the City on the hospital matter?
Huh?
Hmmmm
Note that Butler incorporated that entity on June 15, 2015 immediately after Skindell entered the mayoral race.
As I recall, Summers said he did not know anything about the fake newspaper.
So did the Mayor's lawyer mislead and withhold information from the Mayor too?
Or has Summers spun another yarn?
Summers and Butler orchestrated the City to hire Thompson Hine law firm in April, 2015.
See the attachment to the tabloid article below that shows that Thompson Hine incorporated another Fitzgerald corporation in April, 2015.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf ... to_fo.html
Is there a connection between Fitzgerald and Thompson Hime being hired by the City on the hospital matter?
Huh?
Hmmmm
David Anderson has no legitimate answers
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Kate McCarthy
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Great Lakes Exposition Inc and Great Lakes Strategies? Not much imagination or arrogance that no one would ever connect the dots.
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Good points, all. My question is:
In all documents associated with Great Lakes Strategies, Superior Viaduct is listed as the address. Why on Summers' campaign finance report is the address listed as Fitz's house on Overlook Rd.? If the business is conducted mainly out of Superior Viaduct and that is where the business is listed with the Secretary of State, should the address not have been listed as Superior Viaduct and not Overlook Rd.? Was this intentionally done to be misleading or was it an oversight? Could it have been done intentionally to cover-up Butler's involvement? I believe the latter.
Another question: where were these papers actually printed? Does Fitz or Butler have a huge printing press in his house/office? The only expenditure listed after the paper came out appears to be Paypal fees. However, there are printing expenses listed prior to the date of the newspaper expenditure. Do any of these relate to the newspaper?
Kate,
I am also interested in whether or not this is legal for Butler to do this, as he is a public official that serves at the pleasure of the mayor. It would be great if someone knowledgeable could weigh in on this. That is above my pay grade.
In all documents associated with Great Lakes Strategies, Superior Viaduct is listed as the address. Why on Summers' campaign finance report is the address listed as Fitz's house on Overlook Rd.? If the business is conducted mainly out of Superior Viaduct and that is where the business is listed with the Secretary of State, should the address not have been listed as Superior Viaduct and not Overlook Rd.? Was this intentionally done to be misleading or was it an oversight? Could it have been done intentionally to cover-up Butler's involvement? I believe the latter.
Another question: where were these papers actually printed? Does Fitz or Butler have a huge printing press in his house/office? The only expenditure listed after the paper came out appears to be Paypal fees. However, there are printing expenses listed prior to the date of the newspaper expenditure. Do any of these relate to the newspaper?
Kate,
I am also interested in whether or not this is legal for Butler to do this, as he is a public official that serves at the pleasure of the mayor. It would be great if someone knowledgeable could weigh in on this. That is above my pay grade.
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Jim O'Bryan
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
AS mentioned when we broke this story...
Three of the advertisers made checks out to Summers for Mayor Campaign, not for anything to do with the paper.
It was a total, illegal campaign piece. But as was noted, Ed Fitzgerald had other campaign issues, but they just fine them way after the election.
What bothers me most about all of this it would show what we have said for ten+ years. A small group of people have hijacked and stolen City Government.
They lie, cheat, steal and try to shut you down if you oppose them.
This is the most corrupt and dirtiest administration EVER!
More coming this week, as some of the Mayor's and Dru Siley'd personal thugs get thrown under the bus.
.
Three of the advertisers made checks out to Summers for Mayor Campaign, not for anything to do with the paper.
It was a total, illegal campaign piece. But as was noted, Ed Fitzgerald had other campaign issues, but they just fine them way after the election.
What bothers me most about all of this it would show what we have said for ten+ years. A small group of people have hijacked and stolen City Government.
They lie, cheat, steal and try to shut you down if you oppose them.
This is the most corrupt and dirtiest administration EVER!
More coming this week, as some of the Mayor's and Dru Siley'd personal thugs get thrown under the bus.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Another question, a $125 filing fee is listed on the Secretary of State Document above. I am assuming Kevin Butler paid it, since his name is all over the company. If this company was started for the sole purpose of furthering Summers' campaign, shouldn't that have gone down as an in-kind contribution on Summers' expenditure report? Did Butler list it as an office expenditure?
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
There are also many advertisements in this paper. One was LHA and another was Laskey and Costello (Laskey is the mayor's treasurer).
Did the advertisers pay? If so, whom did they pay? Did the check go to Butler's law office or Fitz!'s house?
Also, the majority of the articles in this paper have no author. Who wrote them? City employees? On whose time?
As a side note, I am still waiting to hear back from the Board of Elections as to the status of their investigation into this,.as if anything will ever happen.
Did the advertisers pay? If so, whom did they pay? Did the check go to Butler's law office or Fitz!'s house?
Also, the majority of the articles in this paper have no author. Who wrote them? City employees? On whose time?
As a side note, I am still waiting to hear back from the Board of Elections as to the status of their investigation into this,.as if anything will ever happen.
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
According to the United States Postal Service, the permit number used on Fitz's fake paper does not exist!
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Through checks and balances, it has now come to my attention that both the Ohio Elections and Ethics Commission are independent bodies that answer to nobody.
In addition, a lot of people involved in the hospital deal have been accused of violations and have had to go before the Elections Commission. You can scroll through the cases here:
http://elc.ohio.gov/casesummarysheets/CaseSummary.stm
In most cases, no fines or penalties were assessed for these individuals.
Since these are independent bodies, I suppose that could mean it is even easier to have "friends in low places".
In addition, a lot of people involved in the hospital deal have been accused of violations and have had to go before the Elections Commission. You can scroll through the cases here:
http://elc.ohio.gov/casesummarysheets/CaseSummary.stm
In most cases, no fines or penalties were assessed for these individuals.
Since these are independent bodies, I suppose that could mean it is even easier to have "friends in low places".
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Considering the recent revelations regarding City Hall and namely Law Director Kevin M. Butler ignoring a court order, I felt it was appropriate to resurrect this thread, as new information has surfaced regarding “Great Lakes Strategies LLC or A.K.A. Butler/Fitzgerald Gazette”. As you may recall, Great Lakes Strategies LLC, from what has been gathered, paid for and circulated campaign material promoting Mr. Summers disguised as a community newspaper. The registered agent for Great Lakes Strategies LLC was (and still is) Kevin M. Butler.
However, there is also new information. See the bullet points below:
- The address for Great Lakes Strategies' registered agent (Kevin M. Butler) has changed. Mr. Butler's address is now listed as 14516 Detroit, which apparently is also the business address of several other lawyers. I am unsure if it is one big law firm or if each lawyer operates independently at one address.
- Great Lakes Strategies LLC also registered a trade name for themselves. Their trade name is now Democracy Advisors instead of Great Lakes Strategies. Kevin Butler is still the registered agent, however, and Edward Fitzgerald is listed as an authorized representative.
- Great Lakes Strategies LLC, or Democracy Advisors now has a new address. Instead of being operated out of Mr. Butler's law firm, it now has an address of 1621 Euclid Avenue #1700 Cleveland, Ohio 44115, an office building situated near Playhouse Square and CSU's Urban Affairs College. The last known tenant for this office suite is a law firm. Calls to this law firm's phone numbers always go to an answering machine. The firm is either simply not answering the phone or the firm is in the process of moving and Democracy Advisors will soon be occupying the suite.
All of these changes with Great Lakes Strategies occurred very recently in 2017.
However, there is also new information. See the bullet points below:
- The address for Great Lakes Strategies' registered agent (Kevin M. Butler) has changed. Mr. Butler's address is now listed as 14516 Detroit, which apparently is also the business address of several other lawyers. I am unsure if it is one big law firm or if each lawyer operates independently at one address.
- Great Lakes Strategies LLC also registered a trade name for themselves. Their trade name is now Democracy Advisors instead of Great Lakes Strategies. Kevin Butler is still the registered agent, however, and Edward Fitzgerald is listed as an authorized representative.
- Great Lakes Strategies LLC, or Democracy Advisors now has a new address. Instead of being operated out of Mr. Butler's law firm, it now has an address of 1621 Euclid Avenue #1700 Cleveland, Ohio 44115, an office building situated near Playhouse Square and CSU's Urban Affairs College. The last known tenant for this office suite is a law firm. Calls to this law firm's phone numbers always go to an answering machine. The firm is either simply not answering the phone or the firm is in the process of moving and Democracy Advisors will soon be occupying the suite.
All of these changes with Great Lakes Strategies occurred very recently in 2017.
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Bridget Conant
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
DEMOCRACY ADVISORS
Isn't that precious?
Isn't that precious?
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Kate McCarthy
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
They are bringing the laughs! First, Summer's ridiculous blog post and now this. Fake news, lies, and now Orwellian LLCs. I'm starting to think Lakewood is just a pilot project for what is happening in our country writ large.Bridget Conant wrote:DEMOCRACY ADVISORS
Isn't that precious?
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Attached at the bottom is the paperwork that was filed regarding these changes. I think the most likely scenario is that the law firm at 1621 Euclid #1700 is probably moving out of the suite, and their phones are still connected until they are completely moved out. As I said before, I attempted to call the law office several times today to ask for Democracy Advisors and always got an answering machine.
Why would Law Director Kevin M. Butler and Edward Fitzgerald move their “business” to 1621 Euclid #1700? I checked on the owners of the building and found no connections. My guess is that they want to make it appear as a legitimate business. Unfortunately for them, it is two years too late. To this day, I cannot find any website, social media, or even a telephone number for Great Lakes Strategies or Democracy Advisors. I could be wrong, but I would think a legitimate business would have a way to contact them, besides a mailing address found by digging around on the Ohio Secretary of State website.
At the risk of thread-drifting, this whole charade sounds similar to the “Project Govern” telephone robo-survey that went out to Lakewood residents a few months ago. The survey asked Lakewood residents their opinions about people like Tom Bullock, Michael Summers, Mark Schneider, and the like. It turned out that Project Govern is supposedly a “consulting agency” run by Armond Budish's campaign manager. I suspect that Armond Budish probably asked his campaign manager to do a survey under this disguise as a favor for Mr. Summers. To this day, Project Govern does not have any kind of functioning website or method of contact, only a mailing address found by digging around on the Ohio Secretary of State website. For more on Project Govern, see this thread:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23934
These similarities are interesting, and only add to the theory that Mr. Budish and some county officials have their hands in Lakewood city government.
Why would Law Director Kevin M. Butler and Edward Fitzgerald move their “business” to 1621 Euclid #1700? I checked on the owners of the building and found no connections. My guess is that they want to make it appear as a legitimate business. Unfortunately for them, it is two years too late. To this day, I cannot find any website, social media, or even a telephone number for Great Lakes Strategies or Democracy Advisors. I could be wrong, but I would think a legitimate business would have a way to contact them, besides a mailing address found by digging around on the Ohio Secretary of State website.
At the risk of thread-drifting, this whole charade sounds similar to the “Project Govern” telephone robo-survey that went out to Lakewood residents a few months ago. The survey asked Lakewood residents their opinions about people like Tom Bullock, Michael Summers, Mark Schneider, and the like. It turned out that Project Govern is supposedly a “consulting agency” run by Armond Budish's campaign manager. I suspect that Armond Budish probably asked his campaign manager to do a survey under this disguise as a favor for Mr. Summers. To this day, Project Govern does not have any kind of functioning website or method of contact, only a mailing address found by digging around on the Ohio Secretary of State website. For more on Project Govern, see this thread:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23934
These similarities are interesting, and only add to the theory that Mr. Budish and some county officials have their hands in Lakewood city government.
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Lori Allen _
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Re: Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper
Edward O. Fitzgerald's Linkedin page was mentioned in another thread, and there is a mention of Ed currently being the principal of Great Lakes Stratgeies. There are several interesting things to note about the excerpt about Great Lakes Strategies from that Linkedin page:
2. Great Lakes Strategies says they provide advice for corporations, developers, etc. regarding partnerships and site selection. Really? That is quite a change, as I could have sworn Great Lakes Strategies was doing campaign work for Lakewood Mayor Michael P. Summers in 2015. Also, a trade name was just added for Great Lakes Strategies on 5/15/2017.. That trade name is "Democracy Advisors". What is wrong with this picture? Basically, Edward O. Fitzgerald and Kevin M. Butler's supposed "business" suddenly shifted from dong political work to advising fortune 500 companies on matters such as site selection, and now back to advising democracy? I don't believe it. This seems fishy.
Come on Ed, you appear to have been using Lakewood's Law Director Kevin M. Butler as a front man for Great Lakes Strategies for almost two years, and now you expect us to believe you are suddenly advising Fortune 500 companies on site selection?
Again, very fishy. There appears to be more to Great Lakes Strategies than meets the eye. By the way, I still cannot find a telephone number, website, or e-mail address for Great Lakes Strategies. Why?
1. Great Lakes Strategies was filed with the Secretary of State 6/12/2015. Ed's Linkedin page says he only became principal in November 2016, over a year after the supposed "business" was started. Was Kevin M. Butler or another person the Principal of Great Lakes Strategies prior to this time, or was the date on the Linkedin page changed in an attempt to distance himself from the "newspaper" saga?Great Lakes Strategies, LLC
Nov 2016 - Present
Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area
We provide strategic advice for major corporations, developers, contractors, and other parts of the construction supply chain. We have particular expertise regarding public-private projects and partnerships, with a particular focus on the site selection process.
We are currently under contract to manage site selection processes for Fortune 500 corporations who are expanding their stateside operations.
Our primary client on the contractor side is Thomarios Construction, a respected Akron-based firm which is now opening a downtown Cleveland office and expanding their operations in the Cleveland area.
Thomarios is a diverse corporation, with comprehensive services in Construction Management, Design Build, General Construction, Commercial and Industrial Painting and Coatings, Powder Coatings, Historic Spacecraft, Aircraft, & Building Preservations / Restorations, and Specialty Fabrications. It is ranked as one of the premier specialty contractors in the United States.
2. Great Lakes Strategies says they provide advice for corporations, developers, etc. regarding partnerships and site selection. Really? That is quite a change, as I could have sworn Great Lakes Strategies was doing campaign work for Lakewood Mayor Michael P. Summers in 2015. Also, a trade name was just added for Great Lakes Strategies on 5/15/2017.. That trade name is "Democracy Advisors". What is wrong with this picture? Basically, Edward O. Fitzgerald and Kevin M. Butler's supposed "business" suddenly shifted from dong political work to advising fortune 500 companies on matters such as site selection, and now back to advising democracy? I don't believe it. This seems fishy.
Come on Ed, you appear to have been using Lakewood's Law Director Kevin M. Butler as a front man for Great Lakes Strategies for almost two years, and now you expect us to believe you are suddenly advising Fortune 500 companies on site selection?
Again, very fishy. There appears to be more to Great Lakes Strategies than meets the eye. By the way, I still cannot find a telephone number, website, or e-mail address for Great Lakes Strategies. Why?