Candidate Op-Ed : Let’s Write Cuyahoga County’s Next Chapter

The following is submitted by Phil Robinson, Cuyahoga County Council Candidate, District 11. OhioDaily invites candidates across the state to submit op-ed articles for consideration via the Forums section of this site.

When Cuyahoga County Democrats head to the polls on Tuesday, September 7 – assuming they’re not one of the many expected to cast an early vote-by-mail ballot – they’ll have a couple of big choices to make. The first will be which county executive candidate they want representing the Democrats in the primary election this November. The second will be which county council candidate best embodies their vision for moving Cuyahoga County forward.

Cuyahoga County is only the second county in Ohio to adopt a county executive/council system of governance (Summit is the first). Whoever holds the executive office will undoubtedly be the most powerful person in the region. The 11 men and women elected to the council seats have a powerful role as well. The council has five primary functions:

• Serve as a check and balance to the County Executive by deciding the formation of county departments and confirming appointments to numerous boards and commissions
• Oversee the county’s $1.5 billion budget, including the administering of the sales tax and approval of government contracts
• Make our government open, honest and accountable, with the formation of a strong ethics code, conducting open meetings and making all records available to the public
• Ensure the county provides excellent health and human services while holding down costs
• Assist in developing a regional growth plan, including five-year economic development and infrastructure plans

In May, I declared my candidacy for county council in District 11 because for our community to continue growing, we need a government that can operate efficiently and transparently in the 21st century. District 11 includes the communities of Beachwood, Euclid, Lyndhurst, Richmond Heights, South Euclid and University Heights.

My experience in all three sectors--public, private, and non-profit--gives me a unique perspective on how to move Cuyahoga County forward. This experience includes working on federal legislation for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, managing multimillion dollar budgets for two Fortune 500 global communications firms, and helping nonprofit organizations thrive in difficult economic times during my time as a Cleveland Executive Fellow.

I moved back to Northeast Ohio from Washington, D.C. three years ago because I believe in this region and its people. I love calling this area home and want to be part of its future.

I invite you to visit www.votephilrobinson.com or my Facebook page to learn more about my platform. My ideas on how to energize our economy; encourage brain gain; and ensure an open, accountable county government are just part of the reason my campaign has been endorsed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, AFSCME Council 8, Cuyahoga County Young Democrats, the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats, State Sen. Nina Turner, and State Rep. Mike Foley, as well as many other District 11 residents and elected officials.

Most importantly, I ask for your support on September 7. We have a rare opportunity to reinvent our region and write its next chapter, and I believe that together we can make our new government as good as its promise.