Sun Post Endorses Issue 11, VOTE YES

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

Dear Friends and Constituents,

Please join me in voting for both Issues 4 and 11 next Tuesday. You can read a great endorsement by the Lakewood Sun Post if you prefer an independent recommendation. In passing Issue 11 we will continue to expand the electorate and participation as we did in 2002 by approving non-partisan elections at 71% of the vote.

Conspiracy theories aside, we should note that Lakewood is one of five communities that has this archaic provision left in its charter that prevents people like teachers from running for public office. It is time for it to be removed. I respect the opinions of those in opposition, but it is important to note that nearly 1500 citizens have put this issue on the ballot and disagree with the past Charter Commission and this City Council. That is exactly why the Initiative provision lies in our charter. The Charter Commission is a group that is hand selected by City Council. Council and the Commission have been wrong before and will probably be wrong in the future.

I appreciate the support of the many voters who helped carry this to the ballot, it is no easy task. I also appreciate the help of the bi-partisan committee who helped collect signatures. I am sure the nearly 400 employees of the Board of Education who will be free to run for office, if they so choose, will also thank you on Tuesday.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Dear Friends and Constituents,

Please join me in voting for both Issues 4 and 11 next Tuesday. You can read a great endorsement by the Lakewood Sun Post if you prefer an independent recommendation. In passing Issue 11 we will continue to expand the electorate and participation as we did in 2002 by approving non-partisan elections at 71% of the vote.

Conspiracy theories aside, we should note that Lakewood is one of five communities that has this archaic provision left in its charter that prevents people like teachers from running for public office. It is time for it to be removed. I respect the opinions of those in opposition, but it is important to note that nearly 1500 citizens have put this issue on the ballot and disagree with the past Charter Commission and this City Council. That is exactly why the Initiative provision lies in our charter. The Charter Commission is a group that is hand selected by City Council. Council and the Commission have been wrong before and will probably be wrong in the future.

I appreciate the support of the many voters who helped carry this to the ballot, it is no easy task. I also appreciate the help of the bi-partisan committee who helped collect signatures. I am sure the nearly 400 employees of the Board of Education who will be free to run for office, if they so choose, will also thank you on Tuesday.

Ryan


You just won me over.

Not.

I do not like the slam that members of this OPEN FORUM are not fair, or impartial? Why would you attack the voters of this city? Why attack and belittle the people that gave up so much time on the Charter Commission.

It would seem to me that it would be better to actually get people that live in this city to back rules and regulations in this city. I guess you prefer the voices from outside of Lakewood to rule Lakewood. But then at your announcement for mayor you spoke heavily for regionalization.

I am sure that 314 people that get the Sun, will consider the source, and then choose wisely. I am sure the 25,000 that stop by LO Deck and the 16,000 reading the LO will do the same. Of course they have a vested interest in this city, the other do not.

I would hope that your run for mayor will not see you attack others for their endorsements, or for any outside influences they might use. As you seem to be so in favor of endorsements from outside the Wood.

FWIW


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[Bryan Schwegler]

Just out of curiosity, how were the members of the charter commission chosen? Was it a popular election type choice or an appointment process?

How often are charter commissions brought together?

[Stan Austin]

Brian--- The Charter calls for a charter review commission every 10 years. Its members are appointed by the Mayor and City Council.

Additionally, city council can at any time vote to amend the charter, that amendment then would have to go to a vote of the electorate.

Or, an initiative petition can put an amendment on the ballot as was the case here.

I think the advantage of a commission in addition to the other avenues available is that if done correctly it comprehensively reviews the charter in light of any changes in the past ten years. It hears testimony from all interested parties and then discusses and debates in a seminar fashion the merits of different ideas.

I have monitored several commissions and have been extremely impressed by the caliber of members.

All in all, a charter review commission is just one additional change or adjustment mechanism that is built into local government.

The voters end up making all final decisions.

Stan Austin

[Bret Callentine]

I do not like the slam that members of this OPEN FORUM are not fair, or impartial?

Jim,

I'm not sure I read Ryan's post the same way you did. what slam are you referring to?

He didn't say anything about fair and impartial, he just said "independent".

was something edited out? Or was there another post I should read?

I'm asking honestly. Because I'm still in the process of figuring out who I'll be supporting in the upcoming election.

[dl meckes]

Bryan-

The Mayor and Council appoint citizen volunteers to sit on boards and commissions. These groups usually meet once a month, but some meet more frequently. These boards and commissions help shape city policy. The length of appointments varies. Sometimes appointees agree to sit on a board for multiple years. The Charter Commission doesn't meet for that length of time.

In my experience, each member of a board or commission takes an appointment very seriously. Meetings last between one to three (ish) hours. There is a lot of homework required. Some boards meet more than once a month because the working sessions and the other meetings can take more than three hours. Again, this doesn't include homework or research.

Lakewood has a dozen "formal" boards, if I count correctly. Each board is made up of at least seven citizens.

Most people who sit on boards have expressed a particular interest in the work of the board and possess some background and expertise that allows for a solid contribution.

These are "plum" jobs that pay nothing and allow citizens to strive to make a positive contribution to our city.


______

Disclaimer: I serve on two boards and my husband serves on one.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I do not like the slam that members of this OPEN FORUM are not fair, or impartial?

Jim,

I'm not sure I read Ryan's post the same way you did. what slam are you referring to?

He didn't say anything about fair and impartial, he just said "independent".

was something edited out? Or was there another post I should read?

I'm asking honestly. Because I'm still in the process of figuring out who I'll be supporting in the upcoming election.

Bret


You know I am very protective of the Observer Family. When Ryan points out "Indpendent" as if this is not, I see red.

Have I ever told you what to post or write?

Have I ever told anyone what to post or write?

The Lakewood Observer backs NO candidate or Issue.

This time the ADVISORY Board was actually unanimous in backing Issue 4, and we sent out, The Lakewood Observer Advisory Board, not the LO Deck or members support Issue 4. The school flyer is a typo, it should have read Lakewood Observer Advisory Board. They got the same letter we posted here. That is how dedicated we are to independent, and making sure LAKEWOOD voices are heard.

You know this from the first time we met. I fight for independent voices, this project is about independent voices. We edit no one, we do not delete messages we do not agree with, we publish everything online or in print. With the exception of a couple small mistakes over a year ago.

For Ryan to act like the SunPapers is independent is laughable. Owned by the Plain Dealer, they are working as a regional paper along with the PD to force regionalism down our throats. At the same time I know Sweet Designs got one of the SunPapers unbiased stories. Only cost her $800. I am not saying Ryan paid, I am just laughing at "independent voice." Let's not forget it is the SunPapers that ran the editorial about Citizen Journalism is not to be trusted! Residents who live in a city have no right to talk or express ideas. Better we tust those from Brooklyn, Bay, Cleveland, anywhere but Lakewood.

FWIW



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[Lynn Farris]

Jim,

I read the word "independent" differently than you. I took it to mean that here is a source other than the person circulating the petition who endorses this issue.

I did not see Ryan indicating that the Sun Post was more independent than the Observer. I find the Observer quite independent - as it has people from every walk of life and every political persuasion writing for it.

Re-read it and see if you could possibly of interpeted what he meant a different way than it was intended.

And Mr. Demro - how about some clarifcation on what you meant by independent.

Thanks

Now, all sing Kumbaya.

[Suzanne Metelko]

You can read a great endorsement by the Lakewood Sun Post if you prefer an independent recommendation.

Jim,

In this case you have jumped to the wrong conclusion. Ryan's reference to independent was directed at anyone who might be looking for an opinion other than his.

As for Jeff's contention that this is a manuver to politicize the schools - fear mongoring is not an appropriate defense. If having the Mayor's personal assistant on the Board of Education, the body that develops the policies of the Lakewood City Schools, hasn't politiczed the schools then having teachers on council shouldn't be a concern. If having the Mayor's assistant has publicized the schools then the argument is moot.

This is about access, plain and simple.

Suzanne

[Jim O'Bryan]

You can read a great endorsement by the Lakewood Sun Post if you prefer an independent recommendation.

Jim,

In this case you have jumped to the wrong conclusion. Ryan's reference to independent was directed at anyone who might be looking for an opinion other than his.

As for Jeff's contention that this is a manuver to politicize the schools - fear mongoring is not an appropriate defense. If having the Mayor's personal assistant on the Board of Education, the body that develops the policies of the Lakewood City Schools, hasn't politiczed the schools then having teachers on council shouldn't be a concern. If having the Mayor's assistant has publicized the schools then the argument is moot.

This is about access, plain and simple.

Suzanne

Suzanne

Oh.


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[stephen davis]

As for Jeff's contention that this is a manuver to politicize the schools - fear mongoring is not an appropriate defense. If having the Mayor's personal assistant on the Board of Education, the body that develops the policies of the Lakewood City Schools, hasn't politiczed the schools then having teachers on council shouldn't be a concern. If having the Mayor's assistant has publicized the schools then the argument is moot.

Suzanne,

I have talked with Ed Favre about this very point. He and I agree that a Charter Amendment banning his situation would be equally "fair".

Ed is not the problem. I respect and trust Ed. The potential for problems with the type of overlap that Ed has, or someone else may have, has been well orchestrated by you. I don't see where expanding the overlap makes sense vis-a-vis your concerns.

Ryan and others have played the "fair" card many times in this discussion. With the shallowness of that argument, this issue will probably pass, but the issues are deeper than that.

You complained when Council ignored the last Charter Commission's recommendations. You understand the Charter Review process and now YOU throw away the recommendations related to Ryan Demro's quest.

Try to keep the Rove-like references to "fear" out of these local issues. We should be a little more academic than that.

Steve

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

Lynn,

What I meant by independent was simply that, its not from me and its not from my political opponents.

I am sorry I touched that nerve with Jim, but I understand that the Observer is his baby. I would like to simply make the observation that that his comments are exactly of the type that I would be criticized for in this forum. If I said them they might be characterized as brash, hostile, and immature. I never said that anyone on this forum is unfair or partial. I never pointed out that Ed FitzGerald claims Steve Davis as a supporter or that Dan Shields is a former opponent in the ward election that I won. I simply posted a statement in support of Issue 11. I did not politicize it.

I am also concerned about the reference to outside endorsements and regionalism. I highly doubt that I will be endorsed by either the Plain Dealer or the Lakewood Sun Post in the race for mayor. For as much as they talk about change and regionalism, those ideas are rarely ever reflected in their endorsements.

Just some OBSERVERations.

BTW-- If the Observer endorsed the issue I would have advertised that also. And does anyone know where the Mayor stands on this issue? I guess I will wait to hear from Stan or Gary. Anybody seen the Mayor around here lately?

[Jeff Endress]

Suzanne, Suzanne, Suzanne

As for Jeff's contention that this is a manuver to politicize the schools - fear mongoring is not an appropriate defense. If having the Mayor's personal assistant on the Board of Education, the body that develops the policies of the Lakewood City Schools, hasn't politiczed the schools then having teachers on council shouldn't be a concern. If having the Mayor's assistant has publicized the schools then the argument is moot.

We've known each other far too long. Because of that, I'll ignore the "fear mongering" comment. My concerns are sincere, they are real and I express them after due consideration of the issues.

And, whether there should be an exclusion prohibiting City employees from serving on the Board adds nothing to the discussion of the appropriateness of the proposed Charter Amendment. If you wish for city employees to be excluded from serving on the school board, if you feel that has a politicizing effect, then perhaps that would be an area to consider for Charter change, but not as a justification for further politicizing.

Jeff

[Jim O'Bryan]

I am sorry I touched that nerve with Jim, but I understand that the Observer is his baby. I would like to simply make the observation that that his comments are exactly of the type that I would be criticized for in this forum. If I said them they might be characterized as brash, hostile, and immature. I never said that anyone on this forum is unfair or partial. I never pointed out that Ed FitzGerald claims Steve Davis as a supporter or that Dan Shields is a former opponent in the ward election that I won. I simply posted a statement in support of Issue 11. I did not politicize it.

BTW-- If the Observer endorsed the issue I would have advertised that also. And does anyone know where the Mayor stands on this issue? I guess I will wait to hear from Stan or Gary. Anybody seen the Mayor around here lately?

Ryan

It is not my baby, it is our baby, which is why I took offense.

As far as the backing of an issue. The paper does not, the Advisory Board does, only on something we all felt so important, as to put our names on it, and that we were unified on. This happens so rarely I cannot ever remember it happening before!

Steve Davis' letter to the paper was deemed not an Observer issue but a Steve Davis issue which is why it was in letters to the editors. Had you sent in a story as Jay Foran did for the Schools it would have been published. You know that is true.

Ryan as always thanks for taking part. As you point out you are here more than most sharing your views and thoughts with the residents of Lakewood. For that I am sure we are all thankful.

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[Suzanne Metelko]

Ed is not the problem. I respect and trust Ed. You complained when Council ignored the last Charter Commission's recommendations. You understand the Charter Review process and now YOU throw away the recommendations related to Ryan Demro's quest.

Try to keep the Rove-like references to "fear" out of these local issues.
Steve

Steve,

Oh, how 527 of you. Show me, or tell me when or where I have ever said that Ed was a problem. You continue to divert attention from the question of access.

As for the Charter Review - I have never advocated for blanket acceptance or denial of any charter recommendation. My complaint has been and continues to be that the recommendations are not thoughtfully reviewed.

As for fear - that's your tactic, not mine. I'm just responding to your reasoning.

Suzanne