Candidate Op-ed: Say 'No' to the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Machine

The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Machine so badly mismanaged Cuyahoga County government that a majority of voters in every city in the region approved a ballot issue that essentially yanked the plug on the machine's way of life.

No more patronage! No more corruption! No more real estate white elephants! No more Medical Mart boondoggles!

The machine hasn't gotten the hint, and is pushing their slate of candidates in an effort to regenerate and gain influence in the new voter-approved county government. Don't let them do it!

I am a Democrat running in District 4, which includes Brooklyn, Linndale, Parma, Parma Heights, and Seven Hills. I'm a regular citizen who has never run for office before. I'm a homeowner, father, husband, and 40-year member of the District 4 community. I chose to get involved after becoming frustrated by seeing the same old names declare their candidacy.

My primary opponent, Chuck Germana, is a nice fellow, but he's a career politician who has been elected unopposed 7 times. Although he briefly left the party and was once elected as an Independent, he's as much a part of the political machine as anyone.

So, this primary season, I am asking voters to remember how we got into the mess, and to realize how we can get out of it -- by electing new voices for a new county government.