Prior to posting this I spoke with several members of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party (RPCC). Collectively we felt at a time when rebuilding character, improving morale and restoring party integrity among rank & file members of the RPCC and with the voters of Cuyahoga County, honesty, transparency, & integrity is of the utmost importance.
Once a Democrat, the Republican candidate for Cuyahoga County Commissioner, Bay Village Mayor Deborah Sutherland, has previously described the Cuyahoga County Commissioners Ameritrust Tower deal as -
Sutherland should be careful of what she says, as many in our party have already described her run for commissioner against Peter Lawson Jones using these exact same words.
Now that the recent deal to sell the Ameritrust Towers has fallen through, Sutherland, tries to throw
another jab....Bay Village Mayor Deborah Sutherland - a Republican running this year for a commissioners seat - has been a regular critic of the project.
Sutherland said the breakdown of the deal isn't surprising.
"Look at how the commissioners have handled the project to this point," she said.
This would be a well deserved and well placed jab if it came from someone else or if it was directed specifically at the proper individuals - one of them being the "mouth" of the Cuyahoga County Commissioners - Taxin' Tim Hagan, the "Hollywood Husband."
Hagan, who is running unopposed, has supported many of the most recent blunders in Cuyahoga County....
- Purchase and demolition of the Ameritrust Tower.
- Awarding of asbestos removal contract being investigated by FBI.
- Supported the forced sales tax increase for the failed MedMart plan.
- Supported awarding a questionable no-bid contract for the lease of optical scanners from a company facing litigation for massive equipment failure and undesirable business practices from several Secretary of States.
Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones voted against everyone of these above embarrassments and misguided fiasco's. So why no criticism from Mayor Sutherland directed at the commissioners who supported these other failures? Misguided attacks against the wrong guy will not serve her run well.
Trying to recreate herself as a watch dog of bad decisions will not sail and might cost her some support within the party. Against the wishes of many party members, Sutherland vocally and actively supported the MedMart deal & forced sales tax increase that has turned out to be much like her description of the Ameritrust Tower blunder - putting lipstick on pig of a deal!
Where am I on Sutherland? She is fellow member of the RPCC and we should work together in advancing our conservatives ideals, doing what is best for our party and the people in Cuyahoga County.
Sutherland's support within the party is luke warm at best. Since she announced her candidacy there has been grumblings within the RPCC rank & file that someone should start a "Republican's for Peter Lawson Jones" group.
Even though many of our party officers actively support and donate to democrats, in violation of RPCC by-laws and with our chairman's approval, I believe the rank & file members should not take this course of action. To be more blunt - just because our so-called RPCC party leaders don't act like leaders and openly support democrats over republicans, this shouldn't be used as an excuse for us to be as two-faced as them!
I have to ask one favor of Mayor Sutherland--
Mayor Sutherland will you please refrain from making hypocritical statements?
The volunteers will have a hard enough time helping you get elected. We are having several million tons of ice sent to hell so hopefully you and the snowball will have a chance.
Please remember, putting lipstick on a RINO can be just as hard as putting it on a pig!
Good points all around. The only thing I question is when you talk about the volunteers for her campaign. I wonder seriously who those are going to be. I think Sutherland is going to be hard pressed to find some good grassroots volunteers when those volunteers can also choose to help out the GOP presidential nominee, Trakas, and a host of good candidates for the state house, state senate, and judiciary.
ReplyDelete-Prince
I have spoken with many of the Bedford Republicans and others in and around our area over the past couple weeks.
ReplyDeleteYou are right... so far everyone I have spoken with have said they will be busy helping other campaigns and will have no time to help anyone else. For that matter - these same people have said they will not have time to help Cathy Luks in her run for county recorder either.
I guess people on our executive committee, the officers of our party and our chairman will have to pick up any lack of grass roots support since many of our usual volunteers will be helping other campaigns.
May I suggest a nice pair of walking shoes fot them.
I found this by searching for info on the ameritrust sale. I am not involved in the political scene around here but do follow local events from tv news and the plain dealer.
ReplyDeleteI have a question that I don't know if you can answer. If two seats are open for this race wont the top two vote getters be the winners?
Beer Drinker-
ReplyDeleteHagan is running unopposed for one slot. Sutherland is running against Peter Lawson Jones for the remaining slot. The race isn't like some city council races where the top vote getters get elected. Instead, they're running for a specific term.
-Prince
this is unbelievable. How can Sutherland attack the commissioners for a bad idea when she supported their other bad idea, the MedMart?
ReplyDeleteAs a conservtive leaning independent there is no way I oculd ever vote for her. She supported a tax increase for something we did not need and still haven't got. So much for being the party of lower taxes.
This is why I will be supporting Jones.
If a Republicans for Peter Lawson Jones group starts will you please list the info on here. I would be very interested in helping them.
Hello Anon.... Thanks for reading and commenting.
ReplyDeleteYes it is very disturbing that we are foced to promote someone that is not even remotely close with our conservative beliefs.
As a conservative leaning indie you have not had much to celebrate around Cuyahoga County. Don't worry that will change. There is a small group, and growing, of RPCC members that will be making change in our party. The party can either accept it or have it forcfed upon them. Makes no difference to us.
Yes, if a Republicans for Peter Lawson Jones group starts you can be sure you will se it here.
King
I live in Bay and have suffered under Sutherland's "leadership" since she slid into office on the strength of being the only council member without gainful employment. I'm not surprised she backs the wrong horse every time. Her astute judgement has caused the Bay Village debt to grow from $2M to $22M in her term of office and yet the city council is having a hard time making ends meet -- and having to override her wild spending budgets over her howls of protest. If someone comes up with a "Republicans for Jones" committee, sign me up! I'll work tirelessly. "Refrain from making hypocritical remarks"? Not a chance! She'll say whatever she thinks will get her elected. I'd hate for the county to suffer as Bay Village has.
ReplyDeleteHello Bay resident! Thanks for reading and commenting. I am sorry for your suffering
ReplyDeleteBut I am shocked, shocked I tell you...
Are you sure the debt grew to $2 million to $22 million under Sutherlands watch?
If so, this would make her a perfect candidate for County Commissioner - they love blowing money on pipe dreams!
Sutherland is the back end of a horse? Ooops, sorry I misread... you said "She always backs the wrong horse." Well she is in the RPCC and as usual - they are backing the wrong mule in this race!
I can get documentation, but that's my understanding. There's a grass roots move afoot here in Bay to recall her:
ReplyDelete- The city is $800K in the hole this year. To cover the deficit, she wanted to spend $500K of the city's income producing savings!
- City Council has essentially taken her ability to budget from her and passed a budget of their own. It didn't spend any savings, but including $12 per quarter for every household in trash collection fee increases and several accounting sleight of hand tricks.
- In spite of the fact that the budget she originally submitted was in the red, it included a new SUV for her (her car has all of 50,000 miles!)
- All Bay employees get full health insurance coverage and contribute not a dime to the premiums (including several part time employees like the law director)
- City employees are allowed to drive their city vehicles anywhere they want, even on private errands, with no questions asked and no records kept. In fact, Sutherland told a group once that she can take her car anywhere "...even to the mall...".
She's fiscally irresponsible, personally reprehensible, ambitious, and in WAY over her head.
We need her gone, but I wouldn't wish her "leadership" on anyone -- especially not the county where I live!
Bay Resident -- I want to apologize. I was being silly and a smart A** in my repsonse.
ReplyDeleteWe need to speak more. While I do not think she has a chance in hell of winning, the residents of BV should not be subjected to this type of mismanagement.
I hereby bestow upon you the right of free access on posting anything you like on KRS. I have spoken with the GOP Prince and he agrees.
Put something together you would like posted and it shall be done.
Bay Resident - email me at kingsrightsite@yahoo.com and we can talk more
ReplyDeleteKing