HERE'S $100,000 BUT IT'S NOT APPROVAL - HUH?

I have a hard time understanding how the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) can give $100,000 to get something on the ballot but can’t it support what it wants on the ballot.

 

Would you give $100,000 to something you hated?

 

GCP announced it would donate $100,000 to help put the reform issue that would significantly change Cuyahoga County government on the ballot.

Isn't this just what you'd expect from our mixed up leadership?

 

However, Joe Roman, GCP’s $445,000 a year president (2007 figure), says GCP isn’t endorsing the measure to be put to the voters. Not yet anyway. A $100,000 check doesn’t say you are for it? What does it take? A $1 million? $2 million?

 

The County reform measure has been lagging in financial support. Until the GCP contribution only $20,000 had been donated, according to the Plain Dealer today.

 

The reform wants to create a single county executive instead of the three County Commissioners – not too resistant to that move – but it would create in its place an 11 member council-type legislative body, which seems too cumbersome, bureaucratic and an invitation to more patronage and cost.

 

The GCP backing - with money if not its official endorsement – suggests that the reform is generally a corporate move to elect some Republicans from more wealthy districts that would be created. The three commissioners are all Democrats, though Republicans have been elected county-wide.

 

So it’s reform with a hook. And that’s hard to swallow.