O’Grady mulls run for Congress
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Oct. 31, 2007

Thomas O’Grady

As this year’s general election nears, North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O’Grady is close to a decision about his possible involvement in next year’s political races.

O’Grady acknowledges that he has been mulling his political future and a possible attempt at moving to another office. Two jobs where O’Grady’s name has come up in political circles are state senator, where current area Sen. Bob Spada will not be able to continue because of term limitations in the state of Ohio, or the Congressional seat currently held by longtime representative and former Cleveland councilman and mayor Democrat Dennis Kucinich, who is currently engaged in another longshot run for president.

O’Grady said he will be making a final decision about his political future soon.

“I’ll make a decision about this by mid-November,” O’Grady said. “I’m aware there has been some speculation going on about what might occur.”

O’Grady said he’s been doing research and considering his options as well as his personal beliefs about what would be the best way for him to proceed as a public official.

“It’s been a tough process for me,” O’Grady said. “I’m still very committed to the city of North Olmsted, its people and institutions and being the best mayor I can for them. I’ll always be committed to wanting the best for the city and helping it in whatever I’m doing.”

A former Army officer who served in Special Forces and as a staff officer, O’Grady also was a teacher for many years in the North Olmsted City Schools. He served as a North Olmsted Councilman-at-large and as City Council President for 10 years prior to April 2005, when former Mayor Norman T. Musial resigned. O’Grady was elected mayor decisively in the November 2005 elections over then School Board Vice President and city worker Tom Herbster.

“I’ve basically been in some form of public service, be it the Army, teaching or government, all of my working life,” O’Grady said.

In noting the two different posts his name has come up in connection with, O’Grady said he didn’t think the state senate job would be likely.

“I can’t do as well some of the things there that I think I could do from other positions,” O’Grady said.

Referring to the Congressional seat, O’Grady said it has more possibilities for doing other work he has concerns about.

“I enjoy being mayor and being able to help not only North Olmsted, but other parts of the Northern Ohio area as well,” O’Grady said. “At the same time, there are things that I can’t get done as a mayor, that I can do something about from a job like a Congressional seat. I have concerns about education, economic development, health care and furthering not only this city, but the entire Westshore area as well which I could do something about from a job like that.”

He notes that it is possible to go to a Congressional seat from municipal service. Kucinich himself was on the Cleveland City Council as well as being mayor.

Other area municipal officials say an O’Grady political run at another office could be interesting.

“There’s always a need for fresh political faces in different positions,” said North Olmsted Councilman-at-large Michael Gareau Jr., a Democrat “Anybody can make a run at different positions. We could use some new ideas as well in Congress and in other positions as well. So I would encourage anybody to go ahead and be a part of the process.”

Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough, a Republican, was encouraging.

“He’s done quite a lot and is very qualified,” Clough said. “If he decides to run, it should be very interesting.”

Currently, Kucinich is seeking the Democratic presidential nod again. Activist Elizabeth Palmer is also campaigning for the Democratic seat.

O’Grady said he expects to have a lively political year in 2008 whatever he decides.

“There’s a lot be done, whatever I decide,” he said.