Cuyahoga County Charter Reform Issues
NOVEMBER 3, 2009 GENERAL ELECTION
I. BALLOT QUESTION # 6 : "Shall a county charter be adopted, providing for an elected county executive, an elected county prosecutor, eleven county council members elected by district, and all other officers appointed by the county executive whose appointments are subject to the confirmation by council and who shall serve at the pleasure of the county exectuive?"
The League of Women Voters recommends: VOTE YES! Here's why:
- Separation of Legislative (policy-making) from Executive (administrative) powers permits numerous effective checks and balances to hinder or prevent overreaching by a single strong County leader, while providing Ohio's largest county with executive focus and visible, accountable leadership.
- A Council of 11 will represent the county's diverse districts and have the power to pass ordinances, investigate wrongdoing in the bureaucracy, and debate County policies in the open.
- Appointing rather than electing 7 of the 8 "row offices" (Recorder, Auditor, Sheriff, Coroner, Engineer, Clerk of Courts and Treasurer) leads to a unified, professionally administered executive branch that greatly reduces patronage, duplication and waste.
- New safeguards against corruption and abuse of power include mandatory internal audits, centralized employment standards, a code of ethics covering conflicts of interest, a whistle-blower mandate, possible recall elections, and a charter amendment process.
- Powerful new focus on both economic development and regional collaboration brings limited Home Rule flexibility that will enable new initiatives to reverse county decline.
- This charter is backed by 53,000 petition signatures and a bipartisan group of political and civic leaders including the League of Women Voters. It is drawn from the best features of the Summit County charter, the 1996 Barber Commission draft, the Municipal League's Model County Charter, and suggestions by the drafting group, municipal law specialists, and other contributors. Diverse opinions were sought, respected and incorporated.
II. BALLOT QUESTION # 5 : "Shall a county charter commission be chosen?"
This question was put on the ballot in mid-July by the County Commissioners, who also support 15 of the 30 candidates running for the 15 Charter Commissioner seats. If this issue passes, the county charter commission must meet the Ohio constitutional mandate to study county government and various options for reform and to draft a charter for voter consideration in November 2010. The 30 candidates will appear on the ballot without political affiliation. The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes this issue or any candidates.
Three studies of Cuyahoga's government structure and operations have taken place since 1995, and nine since 1935. The League of Women Voters has published a brochure detailing its own study findings -- "A Citizen Guide to Cuyahoga County Government," available on line. It is our opinion that another year of study would be a costly delay of reforms already well crafted and ready to go. No one can know what degree of independence or reform the County Commissioners' own panel might produce.
For these reasons, the League of Women Voters recommends: VOTE YES for Issue # 6
- Proposed Charter
- The League's education brochure, "Citizens Guide to Cuyahoga County Government"
- The League's June 28 Editorial in the Cleveland Plain Dealer
- Summary of charter provisions
- Analysis of the many Checks and Balances the Charter offers
- Frequently Asked Questions can be found HERE.
- Visit the NewCuyahoga website for more background material.
- Be sure to visit the League's "Press Release" section for the latest news and do visit our "Calendar" for all of the public presentations about the Charter Reform Ballot Issues - more are being added every week!
- WVIZ Channel 25 will air a special on Issue 5 and 6: Friday, October 23 at 8:30 pm; Sunday, Oct. 25 at 10:00 am; Questions can be submitted at www.cleveland.com/countyincrisis
If you would like to have a yard sign, pass out literature, and/or help out on Election Day, contact LWVCuyAreaOutreach@gmail.com
