Politics & Government

Ed FitzGerald Tells Business Leaders Change is On the Way

County executive speaks before record crowd at city's Business Breakfast

County Executive Ed FitzGerald told business leaders who packed the Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center today that they can expect a fair shot at county contracts in the future and transparency in dealing with county government.

To illustrate his message, he said he made sure his new inspector general -- hired to crack down on misconduct -- sit in a particular place.

"Her desk is literally where Frank Russo used to sit," FitzGerald said, calling the spot "the epicenter" of dysfunctional government.

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He spoke this morning before a record-breaking crowd of more than 200 local businesspeople at the city's quarterly Business Networking Breakfast. 

Mayor Tom Perciak urged the business leaders to support FitzGerald and the new county government.

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"Were going to find out very shortly . . . we are going to be an important wheel in what goes on in this county," Perciak said.

FitzGerald focused his talk on his efforts to restore integrity and trust in Cuyahoga County government, saying he plans to post all contracts being bid on the county's website and shrink staffing to streamline the budget.

He also said he wants to re-focus on economic development, which currently receives only 2 percent of the county budget, by forming an economic development commission and working on a five-year plan with city leaders.

And while he has high hopes for the county's $400 million investment in the medical mart project, he said he knows that "most economic growth comes in small and medium businesses."

FitzGerald also said he wants cities to join each other in tasks that can be shared, but in a way that differs slightly from the ongoing "regionalism" efforts -- using as an example the fact that there are 59 cities in the county and 59 separate IT departments.

He said he wants the county to be "a catalyst to provide services directly" or to help cities and school districts combine their resources.

Also speaking at the breakfast were Patricia Rowell, president of the Western Campus of Cuyahoga Community College, which sponsored the event, and Strongsville's manager of economic development, Brent Painter.

Painter said that while the economy remained stagnant in 2010, Strongville businesses added 350 new non-retail jobs and more than 150 in retail establishments, not counting Westfield SouthPark mall.

"That's a great success for our community," he said.

 

 

 


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