Newsmaker: Mayor Gary W. Starr, Middleburg Heights
Starr announces on Feagler & Friends that the city plans to retain two former U.S. Secret Service directors, Eljay E. Bowron and Lewis C.Merletti to develop a new security plan for the city’s public schools. Starr says the need for a coherent plan became obvious in the wake of the mass shooting at a school in Newtown, CT. The directors will spend the summer formulating the plan and have it ready to go in time for the start of next school year.
Roundtable: Henry Gomez, politics reporter, The Plain Dealer; David Arredondo, vice-chairman, Lorain County Republican Party; Leila Atassi, reporter, The Plain Dealer.
CPD Blues
The city of Cleveland says a dozen police supervisors face discipline in the wake of the November 29th chase that ended with the shooting deaths of two people. An internal investigation revealed officers ignored the police department’s rules of engagement and their supervisors apparently compounded the errors by letting them happen. They’re liable for suspensions and possible termination.
Back to Class
Strongsville teachers returned to work, ending an eight-week strike over the terms of a new contract. It was the first such strike anywhere in Ohio since 2008. Teachers won raises and agreed to higher costs related to health care coverage.
Wrong Time for Right to Work
Right-to-work legislation proved to have a short half-life at the Ohio statehouse. Senate leadership buried the bills days after their introduction by a pair of state representatives. They would have barred closed union shops in both the public and private sectors and put the matter to a public vote. Democrats and union leaders immediately decried the measures as anti-worker.
FitzGerald’s Chance
Democrat Ed FitzGerald wants to challenge Governor Kasich for re-election. FitzGerald declared his candidacy, eschewing a possible second term as Cuyahoga County executive. He has a year and a half to fight an uphill battle against a Republican incumbent whose approval rating is now above 50%. FitzGerald is little-known outside Cuyahoga County.