for the November 4, 2008 General Election
Welcome to Cool Cleveland's endorsements for the 11/4/08 general election. We have endorsed candidates and issues in the Cuyahoga Country area, including state and national issues and candidates. Please feel free to click the button in the upper right for a printable version. Regardless of how you vote, we encourage everyone to vote early by absentee ballot, or visit the polls on Election Day.
President of the United StatesVOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA and JOE BIDEN More than a new leader, we need a new approach to solving our problems. Sen. John McCain's continued support of the misguided Iraq war and the Bush legacy of pre-emptively shooting first & asking questions later, his ill-advised choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as running mate, and his less-than-steady response to the current economic crisis, have exposed his weaknesses as a leader. Sen. Barack Obama, while less experienced, has exhibited the character and countenance to face unexpected and daunting challenges, all the while offering a thoughtful and diplomatic approach. He's shown toughness and resilience in fending off Sen. Hillary Clinton and in fighting back against negative campaigning.
Ohio Attorney General VOTE FOR RICHARD CORDRAY
Cuyahoga County Commissioner: VOTE FOR PETER LAWSON JONES Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones rightly opposed the AmeriTrust HQ project and questioned the tax to support the Medical Mart and Convention Center (going against the other 2 Commissioners), but strongly supported the County Fatherhood Initiative and Arts & Culture cigarette tax, showing he has a good ear for what is right. Opponent Mayor Deborah Sutherland would break the Democratic stronghold on our region; however, Jones is a moderating force that does not capitulate to party politics. She should run against Commissioners Dimora or Hagan, and maybe she will.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor: VOTE FOR ANNETTE G. BUTLER Annette Butler is a federal prosecutor with 24 years experience, and she is a serious challenger to the powerful incumbent. We'll say what everyone else is thinking but won't admit to in the light of day: too many questions have arisen about the choices that prosecutors have made in Cuyahoga. Most recently, incumbent Prosecutor Bill Mason's close association with former County Recorder Patrick O'Malley, now jailed on obscenity charges, Mason's stubbornness on open discovery, and the recent revelations about potential racial bias in our County justice system (see more).
Cuyahoga County Recorder: VOTE FOR LILLIAN GREENE
U.S. House
District 10: VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH If people outside the 10th District had their way, Dennis would be sent packing, but that's exactly the point. His office in NEO does what a politician should- listens to their constituents, and acts on their behalf, often vociferously. While his stellar constituent services alone will get him re-elected as often as he wishes, one shouldn't discount the support the public gives to his views on the Iraq war and other progressive causes. Opponent Jim Trakas is a good politician who should run in a race he can win.
District 11: VOTE FOR MARCIA FUDGE
District 13: VOTE FOR BETTY SUTTON
District 14: VOTE FOR STEVE LATOURETTE
District 17: VOTE FOR TIM RYAN
Ballot Issues
Issue 1, Early Ballot Issue filing: VOTE YES There are pros and cons to requiring early filing of ballot initiatives, but we come down on the side of getting it done early, and getting it done right, so there are fewer potential problems.
Issue 2, Clean Ohio Fund: VOTE YES Passage of this issue will not raise anyone's taxes, but continues an essential program to use a $400 Million fund to clean up brownfields & reclaim green space, much needed in our state for economic development. Plus, Cuyahoga & Summit have received $75 Million of the fund to help clean up our urban areas and reduce pressure to chop down more inexpensive farmland for development.
Issue 3, Water Rights: VOTE YES Though not necessary (the Ohio Supreme Court has already affirmed private water rights), putting this issue on the ballot was part of the pact that got the Ohio legislature to OK the Great Lakes Compact between 8 states and two Canadian provinces stopping water from being diverted from the Great Lakes to other states with a soon-to-be-ravenous need. It's a progressive measure that keeps our eye on our most valuable asset, and it's the right thing to do.
Issue 5, Payday lender restrictions: VOTE YES Who in their right mind would allow 391% interest on loans? The Ohio legislature recently came to their senses and capped interest at 28%, and Gov. Strickland signed it into law. Voting YES would keep that cap in place.
Issue 6, Casino: VOTE NO Yes, we are losing tourist dollars to surrounding states, but voters didn't allow casino gambling last time around, when it benefited Cuyahoga County even more than this measure would. A loophole could reduce the casino's tax bill to zero, if a tax-free Indian casino opened in Ohio later. BTW, this is a constitutional amendment to allow a monopoly to one casino operator. And no one likes the increased societal costs of the side effects of gambling addiction. As a friend once said, do you want your children to be bioscientists or croupiers? Voting NO keeps the casinos out. For now.
Issue 39, Reduce Cleveland City Council: VOTE YES For Cleveland residents only, this measure would eliminate 4 of the current 21 Cleveland City Council seats, a charter amendment that a vast majority of Council themselves apparently agree with, since they put this issue on the ballot. Council is too big for a shrinking city and a smaller Council will reduce budget and streamline decision making, something this city desperately needs.
Issue 127, Cuyahoga County Public Library levy: VOTE YES Last year, the Cuyahoga County Public Library took first place in the country for library systems over 500,000 population, and this year's ranking is #2 (Columbus took #1). That means it Cuyahoga's is virtually the best library system in the country, beating out the NY Public Library and virtually every other system in the nation. They have broadened their scope and leveraged new technology and media, offering podcasts and web searching, and loaning out millions of CDs and DVDs each year to over 550,000 library card holders. In all, they lend over 16 Million books and other materials each year. The cost for all this? Less than the cost of one book per year: $21 for a $100,000 home. Judging by the usage at libraries around here, many Cuyahoga residents are catching on that this is one sweet strategy for saving money while getting entertained and educated. Voting YES keeps the Cuyahoga library system funded so it can continue offering world-class services.
State Board of Education
VOTE FOR MARTHA HARRIS She's been endorsed by the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Cleveland Teachers Union Local 279 and the Ohio Education Association. She's spent 35 years teaching, and won the Special Education Teacher of the Year award in 2008 awarded by the Council for Exceptional Children.
Judges
To assist you in your decisions as you vote for area judges, please consult the useful and non-partisan site http://www.Judge4Yourself.com, which compiles the ratings and endorsements of the following: The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, The Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, and The Ohio Women's Bar Association, along with the endorsements of The Plain Dealer and The Call & Post newspapers:
http://www.Judge4Yourself.com
The Ohio Judicial Voters Guide, prepared by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office, allows you to search by judicial candidate:
http://www2.sos.state.oh.us/pls/jvg/f?p=203:12:10525494600780097433
School Levies & Municipal Issues
To assist you in your decisions on local municipal issue, please consult the non-partisan League of Women Voters- Cuyahoga Area, which has a summary of the numerous city issues in Cuyahoga County.
http://www.lwv2008vote.info/MUNICIPAL%20ISSUES.htm
For Cuyahoga County election information, including voting hours, absentee voting info, optical scan voting guide, polling locations, poll worker info, check the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. On Tue 11/4, election day, you can track election results by customizing a page showing the progress of voting on candidates and issues in the county:
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/election-results.aspx
Other election information
TO assist you as you work on your absentee ballot, or prepare to visit the polls on November 4, the non-partisan League of Women Voters- Cuyahoga Area have assembled much of the information you will need: Vote By Mail applications, polling locations, register to vote, Track Your Ballot, early voting, sample ballots, candidate lists, poll worker information, and more:
http://www.lwvcra.org/voterguide.html
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