The Observation Deck

Observers,

Plumbers Local No. 55 (AFL-CIO), Pipefitters Local No. 120 (AFL-CIO),
Operating Engineers Local No. 18 (AFL-CIO), Carpenters Political Action Committee and Teamsters Local No. 436 all announce their endorsement of Mayor Tom George for re-election.

These respected labor organizations add their support to a group that includes Laborers Local No. 310 (AFL-CIO), County Commissioners Jimmy Dimora, Tim Hagan and Peter Lawson Jones as well as County Auditor Frank Russo, County Engineer Robert Klaiber and County Treasurer Jim Rokakis.

The Carpenters Political Action Committee in "proudly" endorsing Mayor Tom George for re-election said: "you support issues to improve the lives of working people and.....you understand and will voice the cries of working people."

Proud to be your Mayor,
Tom George

Congratulations Mayor George on the endorsements.

What is your position on the major issues facing Lakewood at this time? Do you have a re-election website?

Thank you.

Doug

I definitely see a trend. Congratulations on the support.

Are we to interpret this announcement as suggesting a pro-union stance?

Care to elaborate on your views regarding the issues of union vs. non-union shops?

As for now, Callentine local 101 is yet undecided.

Mayor,

How do you propose to solve the major financial crisis facing this city?

Bret and Doug,

Feel free to stop in the Mayor's office at any time, give me a call or come to one of my numerous public appearances. I'm always happy to discuss Lakewood issues.

Mayor Tom George

Mayor George,

I will definitely try to make an appointment to stop in.

However, that aside, I was kind of hoping that you (along with the other candidates) might like to utilize this space for something more in depth.

With all due respect, just coming in once and a while to post your latest accomplishment amounts to little more than cheep political advertising.

Thank you, Mayor. I think it would be great if you would post information here or else give us a link to a website. However, I will be on the look out for your public appearances.

By the way I think your presentation to Jim Saleet and family means a lot to many Lakewood citizens.

Doug

As long as I have lived in Lakewood, I have never seen a better example of effective leadership, as has been provided by the good offices of Lakewood Mayor Tom George.

This fellow classmate of mine from the LHS class of 1969, has been a quiet and unassuming consensus-builder for the citizens of this city. He has helped so many great things to come to pass, not the least of which has been a stunning renaissance of community pride and good will.

The problems that we continue to face in this city are real, and will not go away soon.

Neither can Tom, nor anyone else, always come up with quick-fixes.

In the long term however, I feel confident that our city's interests are well served by the George Administration.

Keep up the good work, Mayor George!

Gary Rice

Hopefully the Mayor will launch a campaign website listing not only his accomplishments but also his plan to overcome the serious fiscal and lifestyle issues affecting Lakewood in the future.

While a list of endorsements is nice, the critical information is a candidates stand on issues and plans for the future. That's what will win my vote.

To date, I haven't seen anything from the Mayor outlining his positions or his strategy for the future. No doubt he has them, I'd just like to know what they are.

Bret Callentine wrote:Are we to interpret this announcement as suggesting a pro-union stance?

I see the support of government unions as a worrying sign. The Mayor's first responsibility is to the citizens of the community and not the employees of the City.

While the Mayor has had some success in limiting the demands of the City unions, those demands are now exceeding the ability of the City to pay. I see no evidence that the Mayor is willing to take a more aggressive stance against those demands. Such a stance is needed to protect the City's ability to fund needed investments in the City's future.

Cuyahoga County is losing population at a rate greater than any other county in the country with the possible exception of the Detroit area. People are fleeing the reality of record high taxes and declining services and the perception of inevitable decline.

Lakewood is running out of time to deal with that perception. The Mayor's plan to increase the City income tax rate to fund promised raises makes no sense and will further damage the City's economy.

What is troubling to me is that there is no plan for the future of this city. If a candidate wants my vote they need to tell me more than who endorses them. I need substance. So what I want to know is on the record what is the plan to battle a huge deficit? Is it a tax increase? Is it cuts at city hall? Is it cuts in overtime? What do the candidates plan to do? I also want to know if they plan on working with instead of against city council. It's frustrating that we still don't have a strategic plan after all this time and all the hollering. I want a leader that is going to talk to us and not just show up for photo ops. This city is in financial distress and we need action and answers now. So what is a solution, what is the mayor's plan?

Bill,

You wrote:

"I see the support of government unions as a worrying sign. The Mayor's first responsibility is to the citizens of the community and not the employees of the City."

I don't necessarily disagree with all of your statement, but....

You and I have locked horns a time or two over the public employee union issue. In the first place, for the benefit of those who have not read our discussions:

There is no such thing as a "government union". I am sure that governments would prefer not to have unions to deal with.

There are however, unionized governmental employees who have won the right to unionize through court decisions, laws, and the collective bargaining process.

Their actions are a protected part of Ohio, and Federal law.

I will continue to respectfully question your apparent premise that these unions are a problem for the city's financial woes. I do understand and appreciate your concerns regarding sick days taken and reasons why. Those issues can be addressed in the collective bargaining process, however.

As you are probably aware, the Mayor, or Council, or whomever, cannot unilaterally change a contract in place, as that could potentially activate an Unfair Labor Practice lawsuit.

If however, you don't like that contract, of course you have every right to put the Administration's feet to the fire to influence the next one.

As for me though, as a past executive board union rep, I'll probably be coming from another premise :-)

To me these unions are the best thing since sliced bread :-)

We can agree to disagree, and still be good Lakewood neighbors.

Just do not kid yourself into thinking that some other candidate would have an easier time trying to take back stuff already in a union contract.

Gary Rice wrote:Just do not kid yourself into thinking that some other candidate would have an easier time trying to take back stuff already in a union contract.

According to the terms of my Rhetoric Control Program,RCP, I am obligated to point out that you are correct. That is why even though I am critical of the current administration I understand their conundrum.
The government unions have the people by the neck rcp, rcp, rcp.

Mayor George,

It has been pointed out to me (quite correctly) that I referred to what I believe are your thoughts on regionalism (against) without asking you directly.

First of all, I apologize if I have mischaraterized you in any way. I should have stated that ti was only MY understanding of the current administration's position - not that it was in any way a verified fact.

Second, because it is a common perception amongst many people I know that you are opposed to regionalism I would invite you to present your thoughts regarding regionalism (i.e. cost and resource sharing) as they relate to Lakewood.

Thank you and again, my apologies for any misrepresentation I might have made.

Charyn Compeau
Lakewood Voter