Your chance to be mayor of the nation's coolest suburb

[michael gill]

More than three sources--and in a couple of cases primary sources--confirm that if Ed Fitzgerald is elected county executive, none of the people in the line of succession to be mayor is interested in the job. So Council will accept resumes from voters. Got yours ready?

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-hea ... erComments

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

I'm not so sure about that..

[Jim O'Bryan]

More than three sources--and in a couple of cases primary sources--confirm that if Ed Fitzgerald is elected county executive, none of the people in the line of succession to be mayor is interested in the job. So Council will accept resumes from voters. Got yours ready?

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-hea ... erComments

Michael

I get some completely different answers than Vince got!

I have spoken off the record to many of the players mentioned and I think there could
be some surprises in this. Even with that said, there is much work afoot to make sure
our next mayor is not selected out of a hat.

So I would say outsiders have not only zero chance at being mayor, but zero chance at
the two council seats that will be opened.

In this city, if their lips are moving, they are not telling you anything new or real.

Read Kevin Butler's article on how it will happen in the newest Observer or here
http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/6/18/lakewoods-changing-political-landscape
online.

.

[michael gill]

Hi Jim.

That's my story, not Vince's. My name appears at the bottom.

I've seen Kevin's letter, which you posted. It outlines the process perfectly well.

When Kevin (4th in line) tells me he's not interested in becoming mayor, I take him at his word. When Joe Beno tells me he's not interested, I take him at his word. When more than three credible sources tell me that neither the first-in-line Law Director nor the second-in -line Finance Director is interested; when several phone calls to those offices produce no response from one, and a perfectly reasonable declaration that it would be premature to say (but certainly no declaration of interest) from the other, then I think it's safe to report what I did.

I didn't say anything about whether the next mayor would be a councilperson (who may submit a resume and want the job) or some other person in the administration (ditto).
Of course any of those people who live and vote in the city, and want the job, can and should go for it.

Kevin tells me the last time this happened, the law director--Harbarger--took the job. He believes this will be the first time ever that it has fallen to Lakewood Council to appoint someone to fill the Mayor's seat--IF Mayor Fitzgerald should win the County job.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hi Michael

I take many of them at their words as well. However most I have spoken with phrase it with
"at this time" or "currently have no interest..."

Of course the story does not take into account perhaps Norah Hurley stepping down for
a day to whenever, and appointing someone else in her place.

Or a change in council, or...

Or the fact that they are desperately looking at the charter and changing the charter to the
point of having two experts come in just to look at succession.

But far be it from to to think of "conspiracies."

peace

[Charlie Page]

Even with that said, there is much work afoot to make sure
our next mayor is not selected out of a hat.

So I would say outsiders have not only zero chance at being mayor, but zero chance at
the two council seats that will be opened.

I hope any mayor is never selected out of a hat.

Jim if you need someone to fill a major role at the Observer, will you choose someone after looking at a few resumes and talking to them for a half hour? Probably not. You go this route and you might wind up regretting it. Or will you choose someone who’s involved, a name you’ve known for a period of time, someone who you know is ready and have a good working relationship with, someone you know that can get the job done? Go this route and it looks like some back-room insider decision. It's all about perspective.

TWO open council seats? Are you saying you know which of the remaining council members will be our next mayor? Don't leave us hanging on this one Jim

Or the fact that they are desperately looking at the charter and changing the charter to the
point of having two experts come in just to look at succession.

But far be it from to to think of "conspiracies."

Changing the charter? I doubt it. More like getting their ducks in a row so when the conspiracy theorists cry foul at the outcome, they can show it’s all on the up and up and survive legal challenges.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Even with that said, there is much work afoot to make sure
our next mayor is not selected out of a hat.

So I would say outsiders have not only zero chance at being mayor, but zero chance at
the two council seats that will be opened.

I hope any mayor is never selected out of a hat.

Jim if you need someone to fill a major role at the Observer, will you choose someone after looking at a few resumes and talking to them for a half hour? Probably not. You go this route and you might wind up regretting it. Or will you choose someone who’s involved, a name you’ve known for a period of time, someone who you know is ready and have a good working relationship with, someone you know that can get the job done? Go this route and it looks like some back-room insider decision. It's all about perspective.

TWO open council seats? Are you saying you know which of the remaining council members will be our next mayor? Don't leave us hanging on this one Jim

Or the fact that they are desperately looking at the charter and changing the charter to the
point of having two experts come in just to look at succession.

But far be it from to to think of "conspiracies."

Changing the charter? I doubt it. More like getting their ducks in a row so when the conspiracy theorists cry foul at the outcome, they can show it’s all on the up and up and survive legal challenges.

Charlie

First go back and read the meetings. The conversation was not, "Let's make sure are
facts are straight..." Two of the finest minds in the city were brought in to look at the
charter. In the end no changes were made. What I found odd was out of two charter
reviews which produced no suggestions being taken, that "council" found it worthwhile
to look at succession to see if they needed changes.

Charlie, please go back and read the scope of my writings on this subject. I am a person
that believes many of our appointments have performed as good if not better than
elected officials.

Charlie we both know how closely I am checking the next Observer publisher out. Of course
I have time, no charter, and it is not a electable seat spending government funding,
allocating those funds, nor charting the future of 50,000 residents, home owners,
business owners and safety of those entities. The Observer is a for-profit business that
has two separate citizen boards. One for the business end, one for the content end.
With that said I am probably turning the finding of the next publisher over to those
committees. Perhaps I am too close to the project.

But as long as you brought it up. Single minded small groups can work within the law
to get their close friends and associates appointed or elected to push their cause farther
and make sure they get their way without input from citizens legally, and effectively.
While it is certainly more legal than offering bribes and threats, in the end you still have a
very small group of people controlling a city for many. From there a person could argue is
it healthy for that city? Is it effective?
.

[Bill Call]

I have spoken off the record to many of the players mentioned and I think there could be some surprises in this. Even with that said, there is much work afoot to make sureo our next mayor is not selected out of a hat.

A very reiliable source has told me that the Director of Law, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works and President of Council are not interested. I'm not surprised. The Mayors job is THE most difficult of any elected position.

Also consider that those next in line earn substantially more than the Mayor. Who would want to accept all the grief and a pay cut just to be Mayor? I suppose one of the four might be convinced to take the job for one year but then what? Apply for their old job?

This is the time to adopt the City Manager form of government.

If council acts quickly they might be in a position to appoint their choice as City Manager as Mayor. After the charter change the "Mayor" could be reappointed as City Manager.

Ed Fitzgerald and the Council have done a fine job over the last three years. As hard as it was it was the easy part. The short list of fiscal bad dreams


1. Lakewood Hospital has just gone through another round of layoffs. They continue to cut service and programs and marketing. What affect will losing 500 jobs have on our downtown district?

2. Public employee pensions are SERIOUSLY underfunded. The State may soon demand a 30% increase in pension contributions as a TEMPORARY fix. A permannt fix will require a substantial increase in income taxes just to pay people who aren't working. How do we fund services?

3. How do we fund the next round of raises? Do we need an income tax increase to fund a series of 3% raises?

4. Obamacare will cause health care premiums to increase 30% or more over the next 12 months. Where will that money come from?

5. Income tax revenue and property tax revenue are set to decline. How do we make up the shortfall?

6. The council has been quiet on the state of the schools much to the detriment of the City. A quick look at State rankings show Cleveland and Lakewood schools near the bottom of the list. The attitude among some is So what?..Grant and Lincoln are rated excellent and even though we are closing Grant that leaves us with Lincoln so everything is fine except we need a LOT more money!! It is time for the Council to take a stand. The schools problems will lead to revenue problems.

The Council and City Manager will have their hands full.

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

Greetings from Iraq! Where everybody is also wondering who is going to lead the government. In all seriousness, this "crew" of elected officials is part of a good ole boys network and has been since I got involved in politics in 1997. They will find someone from the political machine to place in the position. Lakewood City Hall is just the downtrace version of Cuyahoga County. Probably not corrupt, but everybody is connected to somebody and they are all only a stones throw from the den of corruption downtown. It's time for an unconnected outsider to come to City Hall. City Manager is a great proposition, but restructuring the government in time to account for a vacancy is unlikely.

[Charlie Page]

TWO open council seats? Are you saying you know which of the remaining council members will be our next mayor? Don't leave us hanging on this one Jim

You left us hanging.

I have time, no charter, and it is not a electable seat spending government funding, allocating those funds, nor charting the future of 50,000 residents, home owners, business owners and safety of those entities. The Observer is a for-profit business that has two separate citizen boards. One for the business end, one for the content end. With that said I am probably turning the finding of the next publisher over to those committees. Perhaps I am too close to the project.

You’re right. You don’t have to answer to anyone (except maybe to Deb) on who you hire. But the analogy remains the same. You’re going to pick close friends and associates whom you know and trust over some new-comer.

But as long as you brought it up. Single minded small groups can work within the law to get their close friends and associates appointed or elected to push their cause farther and make sure they get their way without input from citizens legally, and effectively. While it is certainly more legal than offering bribes and threats, in the end you still have a very small group of people controlling a city for many. From there a person could argue is it healthy for that city? Is it effective?

Not sure what input from the citizens you’d like to see in the appointment process.

By the way, I believe all ward council seats are up for election in 2011 as well as Mayor and whoever is appointed to Nickie Antonio’s seat. Voters will get their input next year.

[Jim O'Bryan]

You’re right. You don’t have to answer to anyone (except maybe to Deb) on who you hire. But the analogy remains the same. You’re going to pick close friends and associates whom you know and trust over some new-comer.

Charley

I do want to make sure the person can keep the project open, but this could easily be handled
by allowing the boards to run the paper. I would not be opposed to a "newby" should they
have the muster. Funny story Eric Burnett came back from New York, and has been a
known quantity have worked with the Village Voice. He had heard about a possible opening
at the LO and we talked. He ended up as the head editor for the Scene.

I am not opposed to casting a wide net, but seeing how it has to be owned by someone, until
that person is found, it is me.

As for council my point is as always, with things like this, make a decision. We do not need a charade.

.

[Charlie Page]

TWO open council seats? Are you saying you know which of the remaining council members will be our next mayor? Don't leave us hanging on this one Jim

You left us hanging.

You gonna leave us hanging?

[Jim O'Bryan]

You gonna leave us hanging?

for now yes.

.

[Richard Cole]

You gonna leave us hanging?

for now yes.

.

This exchange reminded me of one of the greatest bands from the 1970's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBcKVECS ... re=related

[Kate McCarthy]

Okay leave 'em hanging. Mike reported on what he knows and heard...then the wink wink crowd comes in with no useful information beyond "I know something you don't know." This is all beyond tiresome.