Ed Fitzgerald's first news conference was far ranging, from announcing a jobs summit for later this month - to calling for better cooperation with law enforcement; from planning public meetings in all 11 county districts, to budgeting NOW for state funding cuts that he says are inevitable.
FITZGERALD:
"Look - I know we're gonna lose millions and millions of dollars."
He says he understands though, that Governor-elect John Kasich is going through the same learning curve that he is....
But his first comments centered on the one item pundits agree sped the replacement of the previous administration - ethics.
FITZGERALD:
"We tried to very quickly set a very strong tone when it came to ethics, and what we expect of county employees."
It's all spelled out in an ethics policy issued this morning (Monday) for all eight thousand county employees, and a signed executive order that makes ethics training for `every' employee mandatory. The policy also includes rules for private vendors who seek business with the county.
Fitzgerald also noted a lack of applicants for open county positions... and blamed it, in part, on the continuing federal investigations, and Cuyahoga County's image as scandal-plagued.
FITZGERALD:
"I think that the scandal has been a dis-incentive for people to be involved. We thought we would get a rush of applications for all kinds of positions, and we didn't. And I think it was partly because of that."
Fitzgerald re-stated his call that newly elected council representatives avoid hiring people who've been removed from previous county positions, specifically members of the Board of Revisions, and says he hopes to name an Inspector General; charged with keeping government squeaky-clean; in a matter of days.
