Fitz-O-Meter

Tracking the promises of Ed FitzGerald

"FitzGerald will institute a rigorous ethics policy, to be applied to all county employees and vendors."

In a Plain Dealer survey, FitzGerald pledged he would make public each year his calendar of appointments, meetings and county-related travel.

In an interview with The Plain Dealer, FitzGerald said an inspector general would have power to refer criminal charges to appropriate authorities or recommend disciplinary action to the county executive and council.

"Areas of declining population loss create opportunities for a rebirth of neighborhoods by opening green space for recreation and community functions. Smart, coordinated, land use policy will be critical to our success. ... The County Planning Commission will be directed to coordinate with our communities and representative organizations, including First Suburbs and Northeast Ohio Mayors’ and Managers’ Association, to advance land-use planning policies to recognize current population trends, and use sustainability principles to grow our neighborhoods for long term health, prosperity and quality of life."

"FitzGerald will direct an audit of county operations’ and facilities’ waste disposal practices through the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and utilize the district’s expertise to look for waste reduction and recycling opportunities beyond the district’s current programs."

"As executive, Ed FitzGerald will support continued investment by the county and other community stakeholders to enure the proposed 20 megawatt project is successfully completed."

"The Department of Development and Board of Health will coordinate to implement measures in support of local food procurement as appropriate to the county's mission and charter."

Will "pool the costs of energy efficiency projects from multiple property owners to deliver special financing rates to make energy efficiency projects that save energy and money."

In a Plain Dealer survey, FitzGerald replied yes to the question, "Will you pledge to make public each year an itemized list of the gifts you receive as county executive and the exact value of each gift?"

In a Plain Dealer survey, FitzGerald said he would make records deemed public under the Ohio Revised Code available to county residents on demand.

"FitzGerald will direct the county Jobs & Family Services department to establish metrics-based programming that focuses on connecting young people with suitable internship and job opportunities and develop a meaningful internship program for Cuyahoga County."

Will promote collaboration among cities to save money and improve service delivery to strengthen the region while preserving the rights of the individual cities.

"My first act as county executive will be to order a complete review of all functions and operations, to root out the corruption once and for all. The parade of scandals and investigations must be brought to an end so we can focus on creating jobs and maintaining services."

"Part of his public engagement plan will include the assignment of a youth-specific portfolio to a community liaison within the executive’s office to maintain contact with young community leaders and arrange regular meetings between different segments of the youth community and the executive."

"FitzGerald will work with corporate, community, state, federal, and education partners towards the full phase-in of the UPK (universal pre-kindergarten) implementation plan to ensure that all of Cuyahoga County’s children enter school ready to succeed. Additionally, the new county government will work to increase partnerships with Cuyahoga County’s public school districts and local governments to increase local UPK investments and community engagement."

"FitzGerald will work with the broad stakeholders in education to design and phase-in a program using all available resources to provide higher education scholarships to county residents."

Modeled after Ohio's successful Third Frontier fund, FitzGerald's "Fourth Frontier" would use grants and revenues from Cleveland's soon-to-be-built casino to invest in local businesses.

"Any local government in Cuyahoga County can participate in the Fourth Frontier program, as long as they agree to not provide tax incentives or other public resources to lure companies away from other cities also participating in the Fourth Frontier program."

"FitzGerald will also work to preserve the quality lake front development we already have in Cuyahoga by leading a multi-city shoreline protection initiative to protect some of the most valuable property in the state."

"FizGerald will build on that capacity by leveraging other resources to broaden the land bank's capacity to acquire strategic property and assemble larger developable properties."