2006 Endorsements
Sherrod Brown for Ohio SenatorCurrent Republican Senator Mike DeWine is well-liked, moderate and brings home the bacon. But his incompetence, or worse, on the Senate Intelligence Committee helped get us into war in Iraq, and his stubborn support of the Bush Administration has frustrated a citizenry that expects more of their Senator. Congressman Sherrod Brown is respected, principled, intelligent and energetic. His compassion for working people and desire to renegotiate international trade agreements will do him well representing a state where the economy is still stuck in neutral. See CC video interview here: PC or Mac.
Jimmy Dimora for Cuyahoga County Commissioner We disagree with his blind support for judicial candidate Christine Russo, and with his support (along with many other County officials) for Issue 3 for slots and gambling. And we wish the Republican party in Northern Ohio could field qualified candidates, strengthening and diversifying our government. But Jimmy Dimora is infinitely more qualified than his opponent, and he has real empathy for the needy of Cuyahoga County. His support of innovative programs, from ACE funding for the arts, to programs for children, and the effective operation of County government during his tenure are a testament to his efficacy. See CC video interview here: PC or Mac.
Cool Cleveland endorsements on the candidates:
- Ted Strickland for Ohio Governor and Lee Fisher for Lieutenant Governor
Where to start with our disdain for Ted Strickland's opponent? We wish Strickland had a more articulated strategy, and a more aggressively pursued agenda, but his low-key candidacy is obviously paying off with a 24-point lead in the polls, so the chances that we'll hear more details are slight. His 7-point Turnaround Ohio plan can't be argued with, neither can his party affiliation.
Sherrod Brown for Ohio SenatorCurrent Republican Senator Mike DeWine is well-liked, moderate and brings home the bacon. But his incompetence, or worse, on the Senate Intelligence Committee helped get us into war in Iraq, and his stubborn support of the Bush Administration has frustrated a citizenry that expects more of their Senator. Congressman Sherrod Brown is respected, principled, intelligent and energetic. His compassion for working people and desire to renegotiate international trade agreements will do him well representing a state where the economy is still stuck in neutral. See CC video interview here: PC or Mac.- Marc Dann for Attorney General
His aggressive pursuit of the Ohio Bureau of Workman's Compensation scandal reveals the personality necessary for Attorney General. His opponent, who held the post for 8 years, hasn't acted in the best interests of Ohio citizens regarding predatory lending and consumer protections. In this key role of prosecutor, Dann's tenacity is needed to undo our state's pay-to-play culture. - Barbara Sykes for Auditor of State
Barbara Sykes' stated intention to end the payola culture in Columbus, plus her desire to bring greater transparency to the auditor's role, put her in good favor with Cool Cleveland. - Jennifer Brunner for Secretary of State
Her role as a deputy in the Secretary of State's office in the 1980's, as well as her experience as an attorney specializing in election law, should serve Jennifer Brunner well as Secretary of State. She has also shown remarkable independence as a judge, a necessary trait in the person who oversees our state elections. - Richard Cordray for Treasurer of State
His innovative tactics as Franklin County Treasurer resulted in record-breaking tax collections and superb investment returns. Richard Cordray's fresh approach is what's needed in state government.
Jimmy Dimora for Cuyahoga County Commissioner We disagree with his blind support for judicial candidate Christine Russo, and with his support (along with many other County officials) for Issue 3 for slots and gambling. And we wish the Republican party in Northern Ohio could field qualified candidates, strengthening and diversifying our government. But Jimmy Dimora is infinitely more qualified than his opponent, and he has real empathy for the needy of Cuyahoga County. His support of innovative programs, from ACE funding for the arts, to programs for children, and the effective operation of County government during his tenure are a testament to his efficacy. See CC video interview here: PC or Mac.- Joan Synenberg for Judge of the Common Pleas Court (1/12/07)
Joan Synenberg is a fine candidate, given the highest ranking ("Excellent") by all the bar associations. Her opponent, Christine Russo, gets a "Not Recommended" ranking from each of the bar associations, and should withdraw her candidacy.
- For help with the judges, we recommend you visit the non-partisan site Judge 4 Yourself http://www.coolcleveland.com/goto/?forjudge, with recommendations from the Bar Associations.
Cool Cleveland endorsements on the issues:
- YES on Issue 2 Voting YES on Issue 2 will raise the minimum wage in Ohio by an amendment to the state constitution, and peg it to the rising Consumer Price Index. With poverty a major concern in NEO Ohio and the state, with the minimum wage at a 50-year low, with 700K Ohioans standing to benefit, it's difficult to vote against Issue 2. We don't like that it changes the Ohio Constitution, increases paperwork, and opens some privacy concerns, but these measures are only recommended because the lax Ohio legislature has not acted in the best interests of its lowest wage earners. http://RaiseTheWage.org
- NO on Issue 3 Another Ohio Constitutional amendment, this one only benefiting nine families in the state: those who already own racetracks, plus Jeff Jacobs and Forest City. They are the only people who would be allowed to install 31,500 slot machines, as a first step towards full-fledged casinos. As strong supporters of NEO's economic development, Cool Cleveland is inclined to support efforts to compete with neighboring states such as Michigan and West Virginia (and soon Pennsylvania), which currently suck hundreds of millions from Ohio gamblers. But rather than offer a master plan for tourism and mixed-use development spurred by gaming, this troubled initiative is sold as our latest silver bullet, creating a permanent private monopoly for the handful of business interests who put up the huge $20 million campaign funds, which is why you've been inundated with "Learn and Earn" advertising. Disingenuous from the start, neither signature collectors nor the ads mention gambling, only grants for the Top 5% of Ohio students to attend college. Critics contend that those grants have huge loopholes and no guarantees they would be instituted as promised. Passage would create an estimated 109K new gambling addicts. They didn't charge enough for the gambling licenses, worth over $100m a year in profits. And why are these gambling profits exempt from the new state CAT Commercial Activity Tax? http://www.VoteNoCasinos.com
- NO on Issue 4 Another Constitutional amendment (knock it off already!), this one created by the tobacco industry to counteract Issue 5. In fact, if Issue 4 passes, permanently allowing smoking in a wide range of public places (bars, restaurants, hotels, nursing homes...), it would nullify Issue 5, even if 5 passes. Passage of Issue 4, known by their big-budget ads as "Smoke Less Ohio" would also overturn smoke-free laws in 21 Ohio cities, and make it unconstitutional for lawmakers to enact future clean indoor air laws. http://www.SmokeFreeOhio.org
- YES on Issue 5 Not a constitutional amendment (yeah!) that would effectively bring Ohio into the 21st Century by eliminating smoking in all restaurants, public places and workplaces. Major areas such as NYC have gone smoke free with no negative economic effects. Listen to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Assn, the American Lung Assn, and your own common sense, and help pass this issue. You inhale the equivalent of 1.5 cigs just sitting in a non-smoking section for 2 hours. Smokers would still be able to light up in private residences, vehicles and outdoors. http://www.SmokeFreeOhio.org
- YES on Issue 18 For Cuyahoga County only, a $.30 per pack tax on cigarettes that would raise over $20 million a year for 10 years, going straight to Cuyahoga County's deserving non-profit arts and cultural organizations. A rigorous panel-based process was meticulously instituted to insure that smaller organizations get a much larger share of their budget than the big boys, a process that has been effectively used by the County's ACE (Arts and Culture for Economic Development) grants over the past 2 years. With the recent demise of the Ohio Ballet, and dozens of cultural orgs in debt, this measure would ensure security for the $1.3 billion arts sector of our regional economy that showcases Cleveland and its suburbs in the best light, strengthening our tourism and hospitality industries, and providing arts education for thousands of public school kids. http://www.CoolCleveland.com/artslevy http://www.Issue18.org
- YES on Issue 19 For Cuyahoga County only, a replacement of a portion of an existing levy, actually reducing slightly the overall tax, to benefit the General Fund Appropriations for Health and Human or Social Services for 4 years. This is the County's critical "safety net" that 200K citizens a month rely on: funding for Metro General Hospital, support for seniors home health care & independent living, foster care for abused & neglected children, health care for 50K newborns & toddlers, treatment for emotionally disturbed youth. http://www.Issue19.org
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