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Is Ed FitzGerald leaving Lakewood politics?
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:02 pm
by Dan Shields
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
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:31 pm
by sharon kinsella
Heh, heh.
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:31 am
by Ivor Karabatkovic
Mr. Shields,
Quite a late post, too. Did your PD delivery boy get lost on his route?
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:32 am
by Ivor Karabatkovic
whoops, minus the "too".
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:00 am
by Ryan Patrick Demro
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?
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:30 am
by Gary Rice
"Nothing endures but change"- Heraclitus
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:37 am
by Gary Rice
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.
g
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:42 am
by Bill Call
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?
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:44 am
by Jim O'Bryan
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.
.
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:47 am
by Gary Rice
Jim,
Soon as I see yours on that other topic...
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:52 am
by Jim O'Bryan
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?
.
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:59 am
by Gary Rice
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!
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:03 am
by Grace O'Malley
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.
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:53 am
by Bryan Schwegler
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.
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:04 am
by Ryan Patrick Demro
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.