COUNTY REFORM NEEDS A REFORM

Somebody is going to have to reform the reform movement on County government. Otherwise reform appears dead on arrival once again.

 

Why would anyone want to set up a Cleveland City Council for the County? It doesn’t make sense to me.

 

What you’d have are 11 new politicians who all will need new staff and an expense account, creating 11 more fiefdoms. The 11 all by themselves would provide the unnecessary political egos for mischief. And, as someone pointed out to me, these 11 won’t even be legislators – as City Council members are - because we don’t have County laws as we have municipal laws.

 

What would they do beside cause more confusion?

 

The entire reform movement here seems to be something devised by suburban Republicans and County Prosecutor Bill Mason, who might just as well be a Republican.

 

Republicans want in on the action and Mason is just power hungry. Mason would likely even control the county public defender if that person is elected, providing him with control over prosecution and defense. That’s because Mason likely has the best political organization to elect someone County-wide.

 

Reform should simplify, not complicate.

 

There should be one fiscal office – not treasurer, auditor, or recorder – and the fiscal officer could be elected or appointed.

 

It would be crazy to elect a second Cleveland City Council. That’s the “reform” we’re offered.

 

Come up with a better plan or go home.