Is Ed FitzGerald leaving Lakewood politics?

Dan Shields · Post by **Dan Shields** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:02 pm

There was an article in today's Plain Dealer which seems to indicate that Mayor Ed FitzGerald is planning on running against Auditor Frank Russo in 2010. Is this true? Has there been some sort of official announcement? If this is in fact the case, doesn't this mean that Mr. FitzGerald is not even planning to complete his first term in office?

Dan Shields

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:31 pm

Heh, heh.

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:31 am

Mr. Shields,

Quite a late post, too. Did your PD delivery boy get lost on his route?

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:32 am

whoops, minus the "too".

Ryan Patrick Demro · Post by **Ryan Patrick Demro** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:00 am

I got word last night that that is the case. Unbelievable. If elected to that position, the Law Director will become Acting Mayor until the next municipal election. I doubt that Fitz will be able to beat Russo, despite questionable politics and potential indicments; however, if he does, Lakewood should be scanning its leaders to consider who might be a suitable replacement. New library director, new superintendent, and potentially a new mayor. CHANGE is coming

...or has it already arrived?

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:30 am

"Nothing endures but change"- Heraclitus

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:37 am

Seriously, I wish Ed well in his endeavors, whatever they may be.

But if he's thinking about leaving us, I wish he'd take those 96 gallon curbside rubbish bins with him.

Bill Call · Post by **Bill Call** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:42 am

Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:I got word last night that that is the case. Unbelievable.

The City will miss him.

Does he know that the auditors job is a political graveyard?

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:44 am

Gary Rice wrote:But if he's thinking about leaving us, I wish he'd take those 96 gallon curbside rubbish bins with him.

Gary

Can I please get a kumbaya on this trash thing.

.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:47 am

Jim,

Soon as I see yours on that other topic...

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:52 am

Gary Rice wrote:Jim,

Soon as I see yours on that other topic...

"A wise man should never

walk in the foot steps

of a fool

such as I"
quote, Jim O'Bryan

Gary

I am in complete support of 90% of the board of LakewoodAlive. The only
two I question publicly are the two that spin, attack, belittle, and ignore tax payers and residents, they claim to be helping.

So would you be willing to accept 83 gallon trash cans?

.

Gary Rice · Post by **Gary Rice** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:59 am

Jim....

What's that about walking in another's footsteps?

Perhaps I would be more inclined to accept 83 gallon trash cans if everyone in Lakewood, like you, had them normally situated only about 8 feet from the treelawn, as yours are.

Some of us have 100 foot plus driveways...

Oh heck, Kumbayah anyway!

Grace O'Malley · Post by **Grace O'Malley** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:03 am

Why is anyone surprised that the mayor is running for "higher office?"

I could see this coming and so should have everyone else.

His number one priority is himself, not Lakewood.

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:53 am

Grace O'Malley wrote:Why is anyone surprised that the mayor is running for "higher office?"

I could see this coming and so should have everyone else.

His number one priority is himself, not Lakewood.

So based on your reasoning no local politician should ever seek higher office? Kind of ludicrous if you ask me.

There have been other Lakewood politicians who have gone on to higher office, guess they're all selfish horrible people too.

Ryan Patrick Demro · Post by **Ryan Patrick Demro** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:04 am

I am not going to pretend that there isn't a slight bit of bitterness about this on my end, after spending nearly a year of my life running for that office and raising $24,000 to do that. Not to mention what Tom George must be thinking after 16 years on Council and 4 as Mayor. I will try to offer a perspective void of it though.

I don't disagree with the notion that we didn't know Ed was going to run for higher office, but I didn't think it would be so soon. It is still too early to say that the City is stable (financially or in terms or crime) by any means. Politically it is a good time to get out. If it is going to hit the fan, escape to the county trough where nobody pays any attention to the billions of dollars floating around that place. I think if he was elected he would do some good there, but the question at hand is how could he leave the City to which he said he was so committed? He said it was important for his children's future.

Given, Fitz isn't the only person capable of being mayor. Yet his replacement, Nora Hurley is by no means a politician in any sense. So I doubt she will run for that post. So you are really looking at current and former members of Council and current and former members of the School Board for replacements. I am not so sure you will find too many willing participants in that bunch.