Q & A With County Executive Candidate Jack Schron

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1) What has the current Cuyahoga County Executive done right and what has he done wrong and what would you do differently?

I believe the $100 million fund for economic development was a step in the right direction. As chair of the economic planning committee I led the effort on county vouncil to structure the fund to provide incentives for large companies to move here and smaller microloans for startup ventures. By adding the incentives to the $100 million fund we now have one of the largest economic development funds in the state and are finally at a point where we can go out and attract businesses to our county which is what I plan to do as county executive.

Sharing services can be one way for local governments to save money without cutting services or raising taxes. Our new charter is very clear in that success for our region is dependent on success of our region’s economic engine. I have run a high-tech, global manufacturing company, Jergens, Inc., for over 30 years. Every day we must work to streamline processes and innovate to remain competitive. If not, our competition will put us out of business.  I will bring my executive
knowledge, experience and urgency to the office of county executive to improve our region’s economy. No business is an island, success requires working with others both private and public where every job has an impact on our entire region’s success.  My administration will work to cooperate in regional job creation.

From my four years of experience on county council, I know how to bring private and public sector regional leaders together to increase efficiency and effectiveness. The Jergens redevelopment of the old Collinwood Rail Yards site as our manufacturing headquarters shows regional cooperation not in talk but in action. This would not have been possible without public,
environmental and private leaders all working together to change the future of that once-blighted Cleveland neighborhood.

My experience on the boards of MagNet and Wire-Net has taught me that industry can and does work together in the regional cooperation to grow jobs in the manufacturing. Like Silicon Valley with its software and North Carolina its Research Triangle, our region must bond together to tell the world we are the leaders for medical and manufacturing. As John F. Kennedy said, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” and this cooperation will help our entire region.”

I will continue to focus the resources of our county government to attack our most important needs: economic recovery/job growth and improved services. To accelerate these efforts, I will convene a summit for business improvement from the private, public and labor to help grow our economy.  I will also organize a second group, an operational improvement task force, consisting of county staff, those who use county services, business and other public groups to improve delivery of our county services.

2) How would you change the relationship between the Cuyahoga County Executive and the county council?

I believe that we need committed leadership at the top instead of someone who wants to simply use this job as a political steppingstone to further their own ambitions. Our county government is in the midst of a fledgling reconstruction period and I commit to the people of Cuyahoga County that I will serve out my elected term, and run again for another term. My opponent will not commit to two terms, and like Ed FitzGerald plans to use it as a steppingstone.

Our new charter government is just in its early stages of development moving from a 200-year-old system to this new government.  Our current county executive is leaving to run for a new office before the job is done. He decided this only eleven months into the job. I pledge to complete a full fouryear term and if re-elected to serve another four year term to ensure a steady hand in directing the future of our county. My opponent refuses to make the same pledge.

3)  What is the most important issue facing county government in Cuyahoga County?

I think one of the most important issues facing county government is that we need to finish the county reform we started four years ago. As it stands right now, we have a new form of government that is still in its infancy, and now we need to finish our county reorganization.  The charter speaks to the importance of economic development and job creation. As chairman of council’s economic development committee, I have worked with the administration to align our actions with charter in these areas. We have carried out and finished many projects but the expectations of the charter will not be met until all who want jobs are working. We passed our charter reform and we now need to finish our county reorganization. There are many decisions still to be made as we move forward to improve delivery of essential services to our seniors, families and others in need.  For example, there are currently multiple county agencies, often in separate locations, that have a hand in delivering support to those needing county services.  We need to simplify and streamline this process so we can help people better and faster. We can deliver county services to locations throughout the county by using technology just we do in our personal lives with our banking, bill paying and buying from the internet.

4)  Why is your opponent unqualified for the job?

My opponent does not have the skills and experience to rebuild our economy. When he had the opportunity, he left an $8 billion budget shortfall for the next administration to fix and 350,000 lost jobs. And according to every major newspaper in Ohio, he left one of the most inactive legislative sessions in Ohio’s modern history, passing one piece of legislation for every 27 fundraisers. My opponent’s ideas for economic growth included beach volleyball and Lollapalooza, which the Plain Dealer said, “took the prize for offbeat proposal.”

5)   What advantage does being a Republican give you as county executive? What are the drawbacks?

I believe in working together across party lines and have a record of putting good policies over partisan politics, which is why both Democrats and Republicans have endorsed my campaign. I even proposed to county council to eliminate partisan elections for county offices. This would increase participation and welcome all independent voters to be part of the entire election process. During last spring’s county primary only 21% of registered voters voted. This low turnout was partially because nearly 50% of registered voters are independents and were
not part of the county office selection until after the primary.  When we talk about voters who are not part of the system it would seem time that the highest offices in the county should follow those cites, villages and townships which make up Cuyahoga County.

 

 

 

 

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