Here's $100,000 But This Isn't Approval - Huh?
I have a hard time understanding how the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) can give $100,000 to get something on the ballot but can’t it support what it wants on the ballot.
Would you give $100,000 to something you hated?
GCP announced it would donate $100,000 to help put the reform issue that would significantly change Cuyahoga County government on the ballot.
Isn’t this just the kind of leadership we’ve been getting from our corporate leaders?
However, Joe Roman, GCP’s $445,000 a year president (2007 figure), says GCP isn’t endorsing the measure to be put to the voters. Not yet anyway. A $100,000 check doesn’t say you are for it? What does it take? A $1 million? $2 million?
The County reform measure has been lagging in financial support. Until the GCP contribution only $20,000 had been donated, according to the Plain Dealer today.
The reform wants to create a single county executive instead of the three County Commissioners – not too resistant to that move – but it would create in its place an 11 member council-type legislative body, which seems too cumbersome, bureaucratic and an invitation to more patronage and cost.
The GCP backing - with money if not its official endorsement – suggests that the reform is generally a corporate move to elect some Republicans from more wealthy districts that would be created. The three commissioners are all Democrats, though Republicans have been elected county-wide.
So it’s reform with a hook. On that’s hard to swallow.
Comments
County Reform: Facts vs.
County Reform: Facts vs. Rumors.
Mr. Bartimole is relying too much on rumor. Let's take the long and broad view, both of which will be needed to achieve success.
1. GCP contributed $100,000 to help get this on the ballot, but stopped there, to avoid playing too heavy a hand. It is now time for community discussion and debate so that each voter can make an informed decision before voting in November. It's the voters' opinions that matter, not GCP's.
2. Financial support is coming nicely -- from all walks of life and from both Ds and Rs. No single interest will be allowed to control this chance for real reform.
3. This is not a partisan issue, even though opponents like to pretend that it is Republican-run. In fact, all but one of the core leaders are Democrats. More to the point, all of individuals involved are working hard to rise above partisan politics.
4. The County Council will be composed of 11 part-time members with a shared staff. All County employees will be protected by Civil Service rules. Cronyism will end, making way for fairness and professional qualifications.
5. I used to love reading Mr. Bartimole and would be interested in his evaluation of the merits of this proposal. As I see it, the core advantages of this reform proposal are:
a. Separation of Powers: The Council will act as watchdog and official check on the Executive. Right now, the three commissioners act as both Executive and Legislative, with no check on them.
b. A Representative Council: With 11 districts, all parts of the County will be fairly and proportionately represented. I expect that 7-9 districts will be Democratic, with 4-5 of them represented by African-Americans. 2-3 will be Republican. Currently, all three Commissioners live in the suburbs. What's representative about that?
c. Job Creation: The Charter empowers the Chief Executive to attract businesses, and help all residents in this County thrive. If he or she fails, the voters will know exactly whom to blame.
d. Open meetings and public debate. Council will insist on full debate in its watchdog role. Currently our Commissionerss spend 2/3 of their meeting time in Executive Session. No other government acts that way.
e. Local Control. Currently, County government is fully dependent on the State. With a Charter, this County will gain Home Rule and we can chart our own course for a much stronger future.
For full information on the proposal, go to www.gocuyahoga.com. There are lots of legitimate debates to be had about our shared future, but the role of the GCP in presenting County Reform to the voters is not one of them.
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