RPCC Platform should be REJECTED

Dear RPCC Central Committee Members,

On July 25th the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County will be asking us to vote on a platform as a foundation on which our local party is to build.

In the best interest of our party, I respectfully request that each member vote this platform down. While direction and guidance is needed, this platform results in neither.

Not only is this platform fundamentally flawed, it has no input from the rank and file members. Furthermore, we are being given three minutes to speak at the Convention, but cannot introduce amendments to the platform that more specifically represent the grassroots interests.

The Platform Committee itself, is suspect. A platform created by the same people that have led us to over 15 -20 yrs of poor performance and failure, should be the last people used to plan our new direction.

Mayor Sutherland & Mayor Akers have recently came out in support of the County Commissioners forced, open ended tax increase for the proposed Med Mart.

Some of you may remember when Issues 1 thru 5 were on the ballot, proposing several changes to the State structure, including eliminating the Secretary of State. Under the guidance of Mayor Akers, the platform committee recommended that the Central Committee endorse all said issues, which were clearly Democratic initiatives and contrary to the basic principles of conservatism.

The Committee voted down the recommendation; but as you can see, Mayor Akers has not gotten the message that the base does not support such concepts of government as this.

Do we really want someone supporting a forced tax increase and initiatives by democrats, drafting the direction of our party?

If our party was sincere, and was making an outward expression of an inward change, I would stand behind them 100%. But in my opinion, this platform rings hollow of a political move trying to shore up local support for the party and grab a few headlines.

At this point, I suppose the point of debate is only to convince a majority that as it stands, the platform is insufficient to adequately represent the grassroots objectives and needs of those it hopes to represent.

If they want to point our local party in the "right" direction, they should start with censuring Roger Synenberg for making donations to democrats.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ralph W. King
RPCC Central Committee

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To touch on some of the misguided platform goals –

County Reform

Eliminate Board of County Commissioners / Elect County Executive

• We are unable to win 1 of 3 seats now…

Elect a combination of 11 district and at-large County representitives

• What formula or line of thinking was used to calculate the number of representatives.

• Would it not be better to leave this open to, an as needed number reflecting the population?

• Is the proposed number in the proposed platform the same as what was recommended to and accepted by the platform committee?

Combining Treasurer, Auditor & Recorder into one position. Making Coroner, Clerk of Courts & Engineer no elected positions. ALL of these positions will be appointed by a County Executive.

• This puts too much power in the hands of the proposed County Executive position. Furthermore, with these positions not being elected, we exposes our party to not even having a chance for these positions.

• Increases the opportunity for political patronage and corruption by the majority.

• Should we change the rules because we cannot win?

Reform of City of Cleveland Government

Reduce size of City Council from 21 to 11, of which four would be at-large.

• Would it not be better to leave this open to, an as needed number reflecting the population?

• What formula or line of thinking was used to calculate the decrease of council seats in Cleveland?

• Is the proposed number in the proposed platform the same as what was recommended to and accepted by the platform committee?
  

Reform State Government

Oppose efforts to curtail constitutional home rule in various areas

• ‘Home Rule’ has been watered down and systematically abused by municipalities.

Reform of Education

Support vouchers, elimination of tenure, merit based pay system

• Good ideas, but no plan of implementation

Support reduction of administrative costs and reduce number of schools in districts

• Good ideas, badly needed. Again, no plan of implementation.

• Can be accomplished with School Performance Audits.

General Recommendations

Support steps to promote regionalism

• Political pandering from both parties on this issue. The single largest city owned utility in the area is Cleveland Water Dept.

• C.W.D. services Cuyahoga, Summit, parts of Lake & Geauga counties. The City of Cleveland controls over 6000 miles of water line & uses less than 29% of the total water consumption.

• None of the regionalism proposals address this utility which sets their own rates. C.W.D. is being used by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson as a tool against other communities regarding ‘poaching’ and economic development.

Recruit & promote minority candidates

• RPCC Platform Committee did not have ANY minority members.

• No Platform Committee members are even from a predominately African- American community.

• Badly needed, no plan of action.

Favor merit selection of judges / Lengthening terms

• Does not say who would make or appoint these selections.

• Increases the opportunity for political patronage and corruption by the majority.

• Terms should remain the same.

Support reform on “Double Dipping” of retirement on public servants

• Conflicts with goal to support efforts to curtail constitutional home rule.

• This can and has been addressed on a local level, in some communities.