From The Metro Desk of Cleveland Urban News.Com
COLUMBUS, Ohio- On Sunday, Democratic Cuyahoga County Executive and former FBI agent and prior Lakewood mayor Ed FitzGerald (pictured) received the official endorsement from the Ohio State Council of Machinists that represents 30,000 workers and retirees in Ohio in his bid to unseat Republican Gov John Kasich in the 2014 gubernatorial race.
But can he generate enough love and support needed from rural and Appalachia voters and from Ohio Democratic Black elected officials in greater Cleveland and his own county to perpetuate his dream into a reality?
"The Ohio State Council of Machinists is proud to announce its endorsement for Ed FitzGerald running to be Ohio's next governor," said Ohio State Council of Machinists President T. Dean Wright, Jr. in a press release to
Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read online Black newspaper. "Since
announcing our support for him years ago, Ed FitzGerald has proven us right by making government work for middle class families. Ed is clearly the right choice forworkers in Ohio, and we look forward to supporting him."
In response, FitzGerald said that he is pleased with the endorsement.
"I'm honored to have such strong and early support from the Ohio State Council of Machinists. This historic organization has represented Ohio workers with the highest honor, and I hope to do the same as their governor," said FitzGerald. "In the coming months I look forward to working with them to find the best ways to help to protect workers in Ohio. I am deeply appreciative of their longstanding support throughout my years in public service."
From serving as an FBI agent on the Organized Crime Task Force, assistant
Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Lakewood mayor, the county executive of Ohio's largest county, a county that is roughly 29 percent Black, includes Cleveland and is a Democratic stronghold FitzGerald, 43, brags that he has "brought down corrupt public officials, cleaned up government, and fought to make government work for the middle class."
The moderately young Democrat that his party hopes will bring a fresh perspective to next year's statewide office races has announced and not yet announced endorsements from practically every powerful Democratic elected official in Ohio, though Kasich has his ear in Cleveland's Black political community and has a relationship with some powerful Black leaders.
Some Black elected officials of the majority Black city like him, and he has partnered with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, up for a third term this year, on educational reform issues and the successful passage last year of the Cleveland schools tax levy.