Contentious County Reform Issue to be Tackled at CSU Forum

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Topics: Education, Politics
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Tonight at Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga County voters get to hear from some of the biggest players from the two hotly-contested county government reform proposals. ideastream®'s Dan Bobkoff has a preview.

Most of the debate over changing the structure of Cuyahoga County government has evolved from a question of “whether” to one of “how much.” Two competing proposals for change have been certified for the November ballot: one would scrap the current form of three county commissioners in favor of an elected county executive and council.  The second would establish a 15-member panel to give the matter more study, and then devise a new system. 

Tonight, the public gets another chance to hear proponents of both proposals make their cases.  Cleveland State University is hosting an all-star panel that includes - supporting the immediate change option - Parma Heights Mayor Martin Zanotti, and State Senator Nina Turner, who has come under political fire from the black community for her position.  On the side proposing more study are AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Harriett Applegate, and attorney Betty Pinkney. 

The CSU forum starts at 6:30 in the atrium of the Levin College of Urban Affairs and can be heard live on 90.3.