Is Ed Fitzgerald Running The Wrong Campaign?

[Bill Call]

Here is a partial list of his endorsements:

AFL-CIO Federation of Labor
American Assoc. of University Professors - Cuyahoga Community College Chapter
Boilermakers Local #744
Bricklayers Local 5
Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council
Cleveland Port Maritime Council
Cleveland Stonewall Democrats
Cleveland Teachers Union
Communication Workers of America, District 4
Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
Heat and Frost Insulators Union, Local #3
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local #38
Iron Workers, Local 17
Jewish Voters Association
Laborers' Local 310
Laborers' Local 860
Lakewood Democratic Club
National Association of Broadcast Electrical Technicians (NABET-CWA), Local 42
Northern Ohio Firefighters
Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters
Ohio Democratic Party
Ohio Patrolemen's Benevolent Association (O.P.B.A)
Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6
Parma Heights Democratic Club
Plumbers Local 55
SEIU
Seven Hills Democratic Club
Shaker Heights Democratic Club
Sheet Metal Workers Local #33
Teamsters' Ohio D.R.I.V.E (Democrats, Republican, Independents Voter Education)
UFCW Local 880

The list reminds me of what appeared on Tom George’s campaign material.

Is this the year to brag about the endorsement of the unions and leading officials of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party?

People are tuned out to campaign ads and campaign material but they do have at least one ear turned to hear. In an environment where people are disgusted with the status quo running as the incumbent seems ill advised.

[David Anderson]

Nothing against the mayor, Bill, but I was surprised to see the rate of support current or recent office holders received in the primary. Based on the results, it seems as though defining yourself as an incumbent is the correct strategy.

7 of the 11 wards were won by a current elected official.
One more was won by a former elected official.

Ward 1 –
Jones – North Olmsted City Council – won D primary

Ward 2 –
Dale Miller – Ohio Senate – won D primary

Ward 3 –
Dan Brady – Ohio State Representative – won D primary

Ward 4 –
Germana – Parma City Council President – won D primary

Ward 5 –
Ann Marie Donegan – Olmsted Falls City Council – won D primary
Michael Gallagher – Strongsville Council President – won R primary

Ward 6 –
Taft – Pepper Pike Councilman – won D primary

Ward 7 –
Yvonne Conwell has never held public office but her husband is a Cleveland councilman.

Ward 8 –
Pernell Jones Jr. has never held public office.

Ward 9 –
C. Ellen Connally – retired Cleveland judge, D nominee for Ohio Supreme Court in 2004 – won D primary

Ward 10 –
Julian Rogers has never held public office.

Ward 11 –
Sunny Simon – South Euclid council – won D primary

County executive –

Fitzgerald – Lakewood Mayor – won D primary
Dolan – Ohio State Representative from 2005-Jan. 2010 – won R primary


Are you excited about Ken Lanci? Personally, I find his story and campaign quite compelling.

[Shelley Hurd]

Here is a partial list of his endorsements:

AFL-CIO Federation of Labor
American Assoc. of University Professors - Cuyahoga Community College Chapter
Boilermakers Local #744
Bricklayers Local 5
Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council
Cleveland Port Maritime Council
Cleveland Stonewall Democrats
Cleveland Teachers Union
Communication Workers of America, District 4
Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
Heat and Frost Insulators Union, Local #3
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local #38
Iron Workers, Local 17
Jewish Voters Association
Laborers' Local 310
Laborers' Local 860
Lakewood Democratic Club
National Association of Broadcast Electrical Technicians (NABET-CWA), Local 42
Northern Ohio Firefighters
Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters
Ohio Democratic Party
Ohio Patrolemen's Benevolent Association (O.P.B.A)
Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6
Parma Heights Democratic Club
Plumbers Local 55
SEIU
Seven Hills Democratic Club
Shaker Heights Democratic Club
Sheet Metal Workers Local #33
Teamsters' Ohio D.R.I.V.E (Democrats, Republican, Independents Voter Education)
UFCW Local 880

The list reminds me of what appeared on Tom George’s campaign material.

Is this the year to brag about the endorsement of the unions and leading officials of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party?

People are tuned out to campaign ads and campaign material but they do have at least one ear turned to hear. In an environment where people are disgusted with the status quo running as the incumbent seems ill advised.

From what we all have heard about Fitzgeralds intent to Regionalize every aspect of goverment he can get away with, the Unions would be foolish to anger the Emporer who plans to rebuild (regionalize) the County by Not endorsing Fitzgerald.

And plenty of Lakewood City workers threw their suppost Fitzgeralds way merely to try to get him out of Lakewood.

The Fire Union also would have been short-sighted if they did not support the Russo Dimora machine hand picked sucessor to the throne. The fate of this "regions" fire departments has already been sealed. The cost to Lakewood will be higher, but that really doesnt matter to the Regionalists.

Fitzgeralds play book has always been to use fear and intimidation to win elections, govern and get his way. And apparently, the middle and working class havent YET tired of responding to his fear tactics. But there is a grumbling. A ever growing grumbling.

[Charlie Page]

Democrats have been in the back pocket of unions since the beginning of time. Why would anyone expect them to endorse any non-democrat? I personally don't think a union endorsement is a sign of business as usual, as far as corruption goes.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Fitzgerald is the only candidate running on a clean up corruption first platform. Others only mention it after the tired phrases of jobs progress and bringing in business. I don't think you can attract business and bring progress without first changing the culture of decades of corruption.

I particularly like Fitzgerald's 'Office of Public Integrity' idea. Although, I have to admit I'd rather see a broader Internal Audit department that includes the functions of the OPI but also performs various audits on each County department. Audits to root out inefficiencies in every department (picks up where the Auditor of State's performance audit left off). Audits to ensure departments are following proper procedure (no more white out on property tax forms, proper procedures are implemented and followed for purchases, for example). Audits of expense reports at all levels. Audits of time cards and payroll. Audits of vehicles and usage. Audits designed to catch fraud at every level using Computer Assisted Audit Techniques. Audits of internet usage (think SEC office and porn). In short, anything can and should be audited. Internal Audit should have a heavy hand in forming all policies and procedures. Most $600+ million companies have an Internal Audit department that does these kinds of audits and more. It's about time our County does. The OPI is a step in the right direction.

[Meg Ostrowski]

grrrrrr

[Bill Call]

Nothing against the mayor, Bill, but I was surprised to see the rate of support current or recent office holders received in the primary. Based on the results, it seems as though defining yourself as an incumbent is the correct strategy….

That’s a good point.

I was disappointed but not surprised that people who are part of the corrupt power structure won their primaries.

I suppose if all that is expected is a slightly more efficient and slightly less corrupt County government then guys like Brady and Miller are the right men for the job. Tom Jordan and Cris Ronayne would have brought some fresh ideas to the table but the old names are hard to beat.

The Fire Union also would have been short-sighted if they did not support the Russo Dimora machine hand picked sucessor to the throne. The fate of this "regions" fire departments has already been sealed. The cost to Lakewood will be higher, but that really doesnt matter to the Regionalists.

Fitzgeralds play book has always been to use fear and intimidation to win elections, govern and get his way. And apparently, the middle and working class havent YET tired of responding to his fear tactics. But there is a grumbling. A ever growing grumbling.

Ed Fitzgerald has been an excellent Mayor.

The fact that the government unions and the Democratic Party establishment back Fitzgerald speaks more of their desire to back a winner than Fitzgerald’s desire to do their bidding.

At the minimum Ed Fitzgerald will offer competent and honest leadership. I hope for more.

To get more will require the new executive to seize the initiative. Organizations like RTA, the Port Authority, Cuyahoga Arts Council, Tri-C and others should be put on notice that if they expect continued support from the County they need to start working for more than their narrow personal interests. In other words the new executive should seek a broader mandate for change.

The “reform” movement will be mostly a waste of time if all we end up with is a slightly less cumbersome and slightly more efficient County Government.

[Richard Cole]

I was disappointed but not surprised that people who are part of the corrupt power structure won their primaries.

OK - just bit my tongue, twice.

Is this a Tea Party Innuendo? Is this Tea Party policy? Is this all the Republicans/Tea Party have? Is this the future for anyone who runs for public service from the Palin/O'Donnell "piss on you" (Democrat or Republican) parade? If there are any facts that can be shared, be elucidated, then please do so.

Otherwise, Tea Partyesque ramblings of the inane (and dare I say insane) just contributes to the bipartisan national and local politics. If this is a rallying call for all the Tea Party afficiendos to belittle and malign those who have put their name forward in Cuyahoga County, then I guess the battle is on.