WARD 16, IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, SAYS NO TO MARTIN J. SWEENEY’S DIRTY POLITICS!
APPOINTMENT OF A NON-RESIDENT AS COUNCILMAN:
On January 5, 2015, Brian Kazy, a resident of Ward 15, was sworn in as Councilman of Ward 16 to succeed former Councilman Martin J. Sweeney who is now a representative for District 14 in the Ohio House.
According to the City Charter, council members persons don’t have to live in the ward they are elected from.
In 2013, Mr. Kazy challenged Brian Cummins for Councilman of Ward 14 while still living in Ward 15.
SWEENEY REJECTS LONG-TIME RESIDENTS AS HIS SUCESSOR:
In selecting Brian Kazy, a resident of Ward 15,
as his successor, former Councilman Martin J. Sweeney
rejected two long-time residents of Ward 16:
Danny Kelly a 25-year resident of Ward 16,
and
Bill Ritter a lifelong (59-year) resident of Ward 16.
SWEENEY KEEPS RESIDENTS IN DARK DURING EIGHT TO NINE-MONTH LONG CLOSED SELECTION PROCESS:
In selecting Brian Kazy, a resident of Ward 15,
as his successor, former Councilman Martin J. Sweeney
kept residents of Ward 16 – totally in the dark
during the 8 to 9-month long closed selection process.
Not a word about the process from Mr. Sweeney who has represented the ward since 1997
and has called the closed process a “fair process”.
“DEAR WARD 16 NEIGHBOR” LETTER FROM MARTIN J. SWEENEY:
On January 9, 2015, I received a “Dear Ward 16 Neighbor” letter from former councilman Mr. Sweeney.
The letter dated December 29, 2014 took twelve days to arrive and was received at the end of the 8 to 9-month long closed selection process.
Mr. Sweeney is literally our neighbor and lives a few houses away from us on the perimeter of Jefferson Park.
Here is an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software transcription of Mr. Sweeney’s letter.
CITY OF CLEVELAND
Office of the Council
Martin J. Sweeney COUNCIL MEMBER, WARD 16
COMMITTEES: Mayor's Appointments - Chair • Municipal Services & Properties - Vice Chair Transportation • Workforce & Community Benefits
December 29, 2014
Dear Ward 16 Neighbor,
I hope this letter finds you well. As the days wind down of me being your councilman, the last responsibility I have is to recommend a successor to the entire Cleveland City Council body. I have taken this most important decision very seriously. Eight individuals asked to be considered and each one was a good candidate. There was a long vetting process, more than eight months. I had them interview with long time key stakeholders in the ward, attend the ward club, and walk the ward meeting and introducing themselves to residents. I considered their neighborhood involvement and record of voting. This was an intensive and fair process in order to make this difficult decision.
My recommendation for the new Ward 16 Councilman is Brian Kazy. Brian is a hard-working, responsive and dedicated individual. He and his wife, Dawn, recently purchased their home in Ward 16 on West 143rd Street where they will live with their five children. While Brian is not currently living in our ward, his involvement in the community, reviews from stakeholders, and his diligent door-to-door activity all helped me make this decision. Please give him the same chance you gave me 18 years ago. He will work for you.
I will really miss being your councilman. I want to thank my loyal ward aides, Sheila, Maureen and Chuck, for all their hard work; without them I would have been lost. To all of you, the great residents of Ward 16, I must once again say thank you. Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to have a job that I loved and gave me the ability to provide for my family. Kate, Molly, Bride, Samantha, Maggie, and I will all be forever grateful.
Remember to always keep the faith!
Martin J. Sweeney
Your Ward 16 Councilman
City Hall 601 Lakeside Avenue N. E., Room 220, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
PUBLIC MEETING:
On January 7, 2015, I attended a 75-minute long public meeting addressed by Brian Kazy, the new councilman for Ward 16. The meeting was held in the evening at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church located at 12826 Lorain Avenue. The event was an informal back-and-forth between twelve residents and Mr. Kazy who very much to his credit, answered every question in a calm and polite manner.
*At the January 7 meeting, Mr. Kazy stated:
that he was not beholden to any one,
that his life was an open book,
that he was not a carpetbagger, and
that he will be transparent with his constituents.
At the meeting, Mr. Kazy stated that a poll had been conducted and that he had received the maximum number of votes.
*Mr. Sweeney, in his letter, has not listed the names of all the eight individuals considered for his succession.
So far I am only aware of four: Brian Kazy (Ward 15), Danny Kelly (Ward 16), Bill Ritter (Ward 16), and David Budzik (not Ward 16, but another ward).
*Mr. Sweeney, in his letter of December 29, 2013, has not listed the names of stakeholders who interviewed the eight candidates.
SWEENEY ABSENT AT MONTHLY MEETINGS OF JEFFERSON PARK CONCERNED CITIZENS BLOCK CLUB:
At the January 7 public meeting, I told Mr. Kazy that he never visited our 10-year old block club (Jefferson Park Concerned Citizens). Danny Kelly is a member of our block club. David Budzik addressed our block club a few months ago. As he was from another ward, Mr. Budzik stated that he would move in after being elected – a fact that was not appreciated by the residents. Bill Ritter dropped by our house over the summer.
I also told Mr. Kazy that Mr. Sweeney was conspicuous with his absence at our monthly block club meetings – which are held at a location – a stone’s throw away from the former councilman’s house.
Brian Kazy who got high marks for his diligent door-to-door activity never visited our block club.
Mr. Kazy has stated that he got the top votes. Mr. Sweeney never contacted the block club for their opinions about a non-resident.
E-MAIL TO MR. KAZY:
On January 9, 2015: I wrote an e-mail to Mr. Kazy seeking responses to a large number of questions, including the poll, and furnishing of copies of all documents used in the closed selection process.
The request was made in the spirit of his statement that he will be transparent with his constituents and Mr. Sweeney’s statement that a “fair process” was used during his selection.
UNIT RULE:
On January 5, 2015, ten Cleveland City council members, with six abstentions, invoked the “unit rule”, and confirmed the nomination of Brian Kazy with a unanimous vote.
The "unit rule" requires council members to vote with the majority or face banishment from future caucus meetings. The ten members who attended the meeting voted unanimously for Brian Kazy.
The following six council members abstained: Zack Reed, Joe Cimperman, Ken Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Michael Polensek and Kevin Conwell.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
“Cleveland Councilman Martin J. Sweeney expected to name former candidate Brian Kazy as successor”,
Leila Atassi, Northeast Ohio Media Group, December 31, 2014.
http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_councilman_martin_j.html
"Cleveland City Council should not rubberstamp Sweeney's replacement: editorial",
The Plain Dealer, January 02, 2015
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC0QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fopinion%2Findex.ssf%2F2015%2F01%2Fcleveland_city_council_should.html&ei=tMiyVOSFLsS0ggSbroPgCw&usg=AFQjCNEpjmtH-NXvftDoeXHah9nc7mA-Vg
“Cleveland City Council to choose successor to outgoing councilman Martin J. Sweeney today”,
Leila Atassi, Northeast Ohio Media Group, January 5, 2015.
http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2015/01/cleveland_city_council_to_name.html
“New Cleveland City Councilman Brian Kazy pledges to move soon into the ward he represents”,
Leila Atassi, Northeast Ohio Media Group, January 5, 2015.
http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2015/01/new_cleveland_city_councilman.html
“Brian Kazy appointment illustrates why Cleveland City Council needs to change its policies: editorial”,
The Plain Dealer, January 07, 2014
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fopinion%2Findex.ssf%2F2015%2F01%2Fbrian_kazy_appointment_illustr.html&ei=tMiyVOSFLsS0ggSbroPgCw&usg=AFQjCNGiNqQ36oSlT91xF0TPNzXu86lTpQ
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