By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog Kathy Wray Coleman is an educator, community activist and 21-year investigative journalist who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper. (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)
BEACHWOOD, OHIO- Newly elected Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, a former state representative and Speaker of the Housee, took the oath of office just after midnight at his home in Beachwood on New Year's Eve as Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) administered the oath, and his wife Amy, other family members and a small group of supporters looked on in support. (Editor's Note: Budish met with greater Cleveland community activists while he was campaigning for county executive this year and Cleveland Urban News.Com published a comprehensive story on that meeting.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACKDIGITAL NEWS)
Another swearing in ceremony, this time open to the public and with a free inaugural celebration, is Sunday, Jan. 4 at 3 pm at the convention center's Global Center for Health Innovation, also known as the Medical Mart.
Doors open at 2 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited. To RSVP, visit http://www.cuyahogacounty.us/en-us/RSVP.aspx or call 216-307-5615.
Both Fudge and Budish are Democrats.
The county executive works in concert with an elected 11-member Cuyahoga County Council on issuance of contracts, county services, and public policy measures.
The job paid $175,000 annually when Ed FitzGerald, who did not seek reelection and ran unsuccessfully for governor, was elected in 2010. It is likely the most powerful job in the county next to the county prosecutor, and the judges.
The county executive appoints his administrative team and the county sheriff, fiscal officer, clerk of courts, coroner, treasurer and many more, a change in the county governance structure dubbed Issue 6 that voters overwhelmingly approved in 2009. The new county governance structure scratched a three-member Board of Commissioners and all elected county offices in place at that time, including the now appointed sheriff and clerk of courts, aside from the elected judges and the still elected county prosecutor.
Budish, Black elected officials, the Cleveland NAACP, and Call and Post Newspaper, a Black Cleveland weekly, opposed Issue 6, including Fudge. They said then that the county executive has too much power, among other complaints.
A former Lakewood, Ohio mayor and prior FBI agent, FitzGerald's relationship with Black leaders, including Fudge, was strained, partly because of the controversial Issue 6, which was pushed heavily by Republicans, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper.
Others said that Blacks were not getting their fair shake of county jobs under Fitzgerald, a Democrat also, who once told Fudge that he did not need her support to win reelection, or to become governor.
While campaigning for county executive, Budish met with community activists and pledged that he would ensure that Blacks get their fair share of county jobs, and he said that diversity in employment has been a hallmark of his career as both an attorney and state lawmaker. He represented the eight house district as a state representative, a seat that Kent Smith, whom he endorsed for election, will hold beginning in January.
(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)BEACHWOOD, OHIO- Newly elected Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish, a former state representative and Speaker of the House, took the oath of office just after midnight at his home in Beachwood on New Year's Eve as Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) administered the oath of office, and his wife Amy, other family members and a small group of supporters looked on in support. (Editor's Note: Budish met with greater Cleveland community activists while he was campaigning for county executive this year and Cleveland Urban News.Com published a comprehensive story on that meeting
