The Observation Deck

According to the Plain Dealer:

http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index ... s_new.html

Running for County Executive makes more sense than hoping issue 6 failed so he could run for County Auditor.

Bill Call wrote:According to the Plain Dealer:

http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index ... s_new.html

Running for County Executive makes more sense than hoping issue 6 failed so he could run for County Auditor.

Actually pretty interesting list, makes it even more interesting when you consider their
power base, and where the votes would come from. I have come to know Joe Cimperman
and find him to be nothing like the hype, and very open and progressive.

But as I went over the list Mayor FitzGerald was one of a small handful, that had the practical
knowledge of what the county needs. Tim McCormick I think will also emerge as a strong contender.

Early in Mayor FitzGerald's term I had the chance to speak with him about the County
Auditor seat. This was after city after city official from around the county asked what
I thought about him, as they thought he would make a good replacement for Russo.
So it would seem he had the support for Russo's seat from the Democratic Caucus and
beyond. His answer to me was always, to paraphrase, "With the tough cuts I have to
make to keep the city solvent, I cannot see myself as a multiple term mayor." I would
have to disagree and say that many Lakewoodites, understand cuts had to be made,
and he made those tough choices as he saw it, and took full responsibility for those
actions.You cannot ask for much more from a mayor or a politician. Will county voters
see it the same way?

As for the comments of Parma Heights Mayor Martin Zannotti, good guy, but I have never
been in a politician's office that was more troubling. He has one wall covered in photos
from the Godfather, and Sopranos. Including him with some of the stars. I had to ask,
"Why?"


FWIW

I think Ed Fitzgerald would find it difficult to win a countywide election - he just doesn't have the political capital. Look at the names already out there. He doesn't have countywide recognition.

Grace O'Malley wrote:I think Ed Fitzgerald would find it difficult to win a countywide election - he just doesn't have the political capital. Look at the names already out there. He doesn't have countywide recognition.

Grace

First off Lakewood has an incredible name around the county. It is really better than
what most Lakewoodites tend to think about ourselves. The second thing is some of that
is due to the mayor's action, and much of it due to the very nature of Lakewood. People
outside of Lakewood see Lakewood as a progressive open community.

While he does not have the name recognition of Tim McCormack, he also does not have
the baggage of Tim McCormack. I would say he had the Russo seat before this election,
and would think that many of the same people would still help and campaign for him.

I would certainly think of him as one of the front runners.


FWIW


.

Should be an interesting race. Of this list of characters, Rokakis has a county wide name and is very intelligent and creative. But he would definitely be painted as old guard. Cimperman, give me a break, he really better have grown-up since his race against Dennis. That has to have been the worst run campaign I've ever seem. FitzGerald has a much better image regionally than most mayors, he's be very fiscally responsible to help his appeal on the edges and has been vocal on urban issues. In typical Democrat fashion I'm sure there will be several candidates beating each other over the heads in the primary.
I expect the Republicans to provide us (no primary to speak of) with a candidate with business experience. This their one big shot to take control, the first person crowned king of the county. (I mean elected executive) He and his party will have ALL the power. The eleven council members will have practically 0 influence over what really counts the $$$, Yes they will approve a budget but beyond that the executive will have total control of the spending and hiring. The ability to corrupt will get a whole lot easier, one official and his hand picked managers vs. a handful of officials and their lackeys. I guess part of the sales pitch was to streamline county government.
The $175,000 is probably enough to attract some new faces. It will be interesting to see if any of the new names can win a political contest.

Bill

Bill Trentel wrote:But he would definitely be painted as old guard. Cimperman, give me a break, he really better have grown-up since his race against Dennis. That has to have been the worst run campaign I've ever seem.

Bill

I would agree, but that is not the Joe Cimperman I have come to know since then. He
really is developing a following, especially around sustainability and the green movement.

Bill Trentel wrote:FitzGerald has a much better image regionally than most mayors, he's be very fiscally responsible to help his appeal on the edges and has been vocal on urban issues.

Bill

Again, I agree.
Mayor FitzGerald has real traction and a following outside of Lakewood. He is also seen
as a new name in politics, not the same old names. It is really amazing to see and
hear how much Lakewood, and Ed are in other people's thoughts.

Should be interesting.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:First off Lakewood has an incredible name around the county. It is really better than what most Lakewoodites tend to think about ourselves. The second thing is some of that is due to the mayor's action, and much of it due to the very nature of Lakewood. Peopleoutside of Lakewood see Lakewood as a progressive open community.

Ed Fitzgerald would be a very strong candidate.

He dealt decisively with Lakewood’s budget problems and has demonstrated an ability to manage a complex organization. He is also untouched by the County scandals. His support of issue 5 is irrelevant.

Of course the really hard part of governing Lakewood is yet to come so there is no time like the present to seek broader horizons.

So, Jim, what good things do they say about us?

Bill Trentel wrote:The ability to corrupt will get a whole lot easier, one official and his handpicked managers vs. a handful of officials and their lackeys. I guess part of the sales pitch was to streamline county government.

I agree with your assessment.

The new County Executive will probably sign on to minor organizational changes and then announce success. Think of him as an angel hovering over a pile of horse shit. He won’t get his hands dirty for fear of disturbing the flies.

However, Cuyahoga County offers such a target rich environment that great things are possible for a leader who actually WANTS to accomplish great things. The biggest target is THEM; not an individual or an organization but just THEM. The focus should be on a thorough restructuring and repurposing existing County organizations.

Bold steps taken on day one will have broad support, support that won’t exist one year later.

On the other hand the biggest political gain can come from challenging regional institutions that are out side County government:

Potential Targets:

Medical Mart/ Convention Center

The County has collected over $80 million in sales taxes to fund this project and they still haven’t decided exactly where to put it.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/11 ... r_new.html
http://realneo.us/content/medical-mart- ... -recession



RTA

What a mismanaged mess. $75 million on a now closed Waterfront Line? RTA spent $350 million on the so called health line. Operational subsidies for that line are affecting service throughout the entire system. I wish someone would just confess that the whole thing was just a scam to get the federal government to pay for resurfacing Euclid Avenue. I appreciate a well executed scam but I think RTA was serious.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07 ... tra_2.html

Unions: I guess I’ll turn blue before anyone in this region challenges the government unions but hope springs eternal. Virtually all of the tremendous increase in state and local spending went to bigger raises and earlier retirement for government workers. Anyone serious about government reform has to confront labor costs.

Port Authority

The Port Authority is the poster child of a corrupt, bloated and mismanaged County Government. It is also an example of looking backward to find our future.

We are set to give this secretive group $500 million (and counting) to move the port to E55th street. No financial rationale has been offered to justify this expense. Why not just let Lorain have the port?

Bonds

http://realneo.us/content/port-authorit ... teriorates

Port Director Resigns

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10 ... ort_1.html

Port Authority Removes CEO

http://www.wcpn.org/WCPN/news/28535/

The widening of the Panama Canal will make Gulf and Atlantic Ports more competitive with West coast ports and with Great Lakes ports. No one in their right mind is going to enter the Panama Canal and pass up 20 gulf and Atlantic ports to make the long trip through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Even if it would be cheaper to use Cleveland’s port why spend $500 million to subsidies Chinese imports?

State of Ohio

Cuyahoga County has been Southern Ohio’s cash cow for years. Our Democratic governor has used his authority to deny Cuyahoga County stimulus funds while spending $200 million to build a new bypass in virtually unpopulated Southern Ohio:

http://www.athensnews.com/news/local-ne ... of-project

Strickland has made the cold political calculation that he can seize the wealth of Cuyahoga County and transfer it to Southern Ohio with no affect on his political fortunes. Why? Because he thinks Cuyahoga County will support him anyway. It’s time to upset that assumption.

This is the latest wkyc news report on the new county executive position:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=125178

Notice no mention at all of Fitzgerald's name.

Really, as far as the county goes, he's got an uphill battle and it's not meant to be critical, its just a fact.

Bill,

The Port Authority is the big issue there. The power the state has invested for bond issuance for development projects is where the money is. Counties that dont even have a coastline have started PA's for that reason.

Bob Mehosky wrote:Bill,

The Port Authority is the big issue there. The power the state has invested for bond issuance for development projects is where the money is. Counties that dont even have a coastline have started PA's for that reason.

The Port Authority is a good example of a public institution that loses sight of its vision. It seems to exist just to feed its own appetites. It consumes huge amounts of tax dollars that provides the paychecks and pensions of the people who operate the Port. Those people produce nothing except a need for more tax dollars and more Port Authority Employees.

Cleveland should give the gravel and cement business to Lorain and develop the port as a living, working and playing environment.

There is a Port of Lakewood. I wonder it Lakewood could start its own Port Authority to issue develoment bonds for the City?

The Plain Dealer is annointing Nina Turner.

She would be a very bad choice.