The Observation Deck

The following message was posted on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at both https://www.facebook.com/City-of-Lakewo ... 605282230/ and https://www.facebook.com/mayorsummers:

This message is from Mayor Michael Summers, who won his bid for re-election last night.

"I’d like to thank this community for giving me the opportunity to serve as your mayor for the next four years.

This is a victory for the future of Lakewood. It is a victory for tackling the tough challenges that we face — as uncomfortable as they may seem. It is about taking a constructive approach to developing solutions that make sense.

This is a victory for substance, not wishful thinking. This is about looking forward, not backward.

It now becomes a question of whether this community can reflect on the past nine months, absorb the meaningful results of this election, and work together to address the future of this great city, or will we face many more hurdles in the path of progress?

I call on all Lakewood to step back, take a deep breath, and resolve to work together to forge the great future of Lakewood.

I look forward to four more years of solutions, not politics."
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#‎1LKWD‬

Summers has only presented one "solution". He hid from that " solution" for several months before the election. That "solutiion" makes no sense unless you are a real estate developer, you want to let CCF out of its liability and obligations to Lakewood and you want to benefit CCF and real estate developers over the underserved in our community.

Depending on how you read the election results between 43 and 48 % of voters don't like his solution and don't trust him. Summers is essentially saying to "those people"-- too bad.

It appears as though he's looking up Riverside to Fairview Hospital!!

Although Summers won by a wide margin, Issue 64 was narrowly defeated, despite heavy campaign spending. There's something in that. I think many Lakewood voters were saying, "we like you, but we want to keep you on a short leash in regard to the hospital."

I will admit that I was hoping that Michael P. Summers would have taken this opportunity to demonstrate true leadership in an attempt to unify everyone in Lakewood ... including the approximately 43% (5,769) of residents who voted against Michael P. Summers for Lakewood Mayor and the approximately 48% (6,421) of residents who voted for Issue 64.

Instead ... Mayor Summers gave what appears to many to be an "Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won" acceptance speech.

As a resident on the losing end of both the mayoral and Issue 64 campaigns, I will personally reach out to Mayor Summers to explore how we can all work together to move Lakewood forward.

I encourage everyone to do the same.

The Lakewood Hospital issue is far from over.

I also encourage everyone to continue to demand that our leaders are honest, transparent, and accountable with and to everyone in Lakewood on all issues including, but not limited to, the Lakewood Hospital issue.

Matt

The Mayor and the Clinic paid good money for that election, so they're going to use it.

To paraphrase one of the Mayor's fellow Republicans, "I've got political capital, and I'm going to spend it"

Mike,

As a Republican, I must address your constant blaming of all the city's problems on the Republicans. I thought this past election was non-partisan. I love my city and ran for Ward 3 Council mainly to save Lakewood Hospital. I have actively participated in the Save Lakewood Hospital Group since the beginning. I also helped Mike Skindell's campaign. So, using your logic, am I to blame for the corrupt deal that appears to be going on with the hospital? As I have mentioned before, this city's problems are not a Democrat or Republican issue. Blaming the Republicans is a turn off and does not help Save Lakewood's cause. I have been told by several persons that talk like this is what made them leave the SLH group or is making them stay away. FWIW

I like to remind people that Summers is actually a Republican masquerading as a Democrat for pure political expediency.
That sort of deception embodies much of the anti-hospital effort.

I hit every door in Ward 3 with the exception of locked apartment buildings. I only met two republicans that were against saving the hospital. However, with the anti-republican rhetoric here and elsewhere, I hope that Mike Skindell didn't lose too many pro-hospital, republican votes. When I was walking door-to-door, I was told by several people that were for saving the hospital that they would not display an SLH sign because of how they were treated by the group. One lady told me that she went to a few meetings, but quit going because she said she was shot down whenever she brought up ideas.

Because my son and I think so highly of Pam Wetula, my son ran around and delivered SLH cards to several voting precincts.

I have met some very nice people in SLH. However, I think that some of the rhetoric needs to be toned-down and that we need to be more open to other people's ideas. This is not meant to be insulting to SLH, just some constructive criticism.

Michael Deneen wrote:I like to remind people that Summers is actually a Republican masquerading as a Democrat for pure political expediency.
That sort of deception embodies much of the anti-hospital effort.

Mike,

As a Republican who stands for honesty, transparency, and accountability, your party is more than welcome to keep Mike Summers. It really is okay. I would like to get Jay Carson back even if he is among the "Lakewood Republicans for FitzGerald" and Summers, too.

It was odd having the "Friends of Mayor Summers" campaign pay for Republican David Harbarger and Republican Jay Carson to send robocalls and mailers, respectively, to Republicans ... again ... "paid for by Friends of Mayor Summers" ... arguing that Mike Summers clings to true Republican principles. I don't fault any Republican for supporting Mike Summers - any more than anyone else - but it was odd since so many Lakewood Democrats were - at the same time - arguing that Mike Summers clings to true Democratic principles.

Then, on election-eve, Republican Jay Foran - whose Republican wife is the campaign manager for "Friends of Mayor Summers," Republican Jay Carson, and Republican Pam Smith hit social media with a vengeance again arguing that Mike Summers clings to true Republican principles. Again, I don't fault any Republican for supporting Mike Summers - any more than anyone else - but it was odd since so many Lakewood Democrats were - at the same time - arguing that Mike Summers clings to true Democratic principles.

My eyes are a blur from reading all of Tommy Bullock's posts about how Mike Summers is the future of the Democratic Party.

Perhaps Tommy Bullock is correct.

But, Mike, please stop lumping Mike Summers with Republicans.

Mike Summers is no longer a Republican by his own choice, which is fine.

Mike Summers is the successor to Democrat Ed FitzGearld.

Mike Summers is the leader of Lakewood Democrats.

Mike Summers is a high ranking leader among the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.

Mike Summers has the support of both Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Senator Sherrod Brown.

Mike Summers hangs with President Barack Obama.

Mike Summers is a Democrat.

That being said, so what?

Lakewood elections are nonpartisan for a reason.

And I will not support a Republican who does not stand for and practice honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Nor will I support a Democrat who does not stand for and practice honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Matt

This may belong in a new topic thread, but here goes:

I've always been a registered Democrat, but never a member of the party. Prior to this last election, I asked about changing my registration to independent, but was told I wouldn't be able to vote in the Democrat primaries which, in Lakewood, is disenfranchisement. But I continue to vote for the best candidate or issue by my lights regardless of affiliation. I've had Republicans' signs in my yard as well as Democrats', and I appreciate the very strong voices coming from Republicans in the current controversy.

I've long been disturbed by the dominance of the Democratic party in local government, just as I am bothered by the dominance of the Republican party at the state level. It may sound strange, but I wonder if we would be as divided as we are today if we had more strong diverse voices on Council. So I'd like to see a reemergence of Republicans in Lakewood government so I would have more choice to continue evaluating each candidate and issue on their merits.

Perhaps this terrible political episode we're living through will bring that about.

Dan Alaimo wrote:I appreciate the very strong voices coming from Republicans in the current controversy.

Thank you, Dan.

There are Republicans in Lakewood who are working hard to advocate and demand honest, transparent, and accountable leadership throughout the City of Lakewood. See, e.g., http://lakewoodrepublicanclub.org and https://www.facebook.com/lakewoodrepublicanclub.

Honesty, transparency, and accountability should be nonpartisan issues held by every leader and resident.

Certainly we can all agree on advocating and demanding honest, transparent, and accountable leadership.

Matt

Matt Markling said: "Honesty, transparency, and accountability should be nonpartisan issues held by every leader and resident."

Well said. I could not agree with you more.

Unfortunately, I anticipate that Mr. Summers will take the election as validation of his backroom politics.