Contractors contribute to O’Grady
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Feb. 6, 2008

Thomas O’Grady

Mayor Thomas O’Grady’s campaign for the 10th Congressional District has drawn financial support from people whose businesses have done work for the city during his administration and others familiar in local political circles.

In the financial disclosure statement released this month for his campaign against incumbent Dennis Kucinich, Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman, journalist and activist Rosemary Palmer and Barbara Anne Ferris, O’Grady received a wide range of support in the $28,300 he raised. Among the contributions are several people who have worked with his administration and/or in the city.

Giving the most at $2,300 was Richard Bowen, head of the firm which received the city contract for engineering work last year. O’Grady’s administration has sought an extension of the contract with Richard J. Bowen & Associates, Inc. City Council was scheduled last night to consider giving the firm a new one year contract. O’Grady has sough to get the contract approved before now, saying the delays will hurt street and repair projects which are scheduled to get going this spring.

Bowen could not be reached for comment in time for this story.

 In addition, Gary C. Johnson, an attorney whose firm frequently works on labor negotiations for the city, gave $1,000 to O’Grady’s campaign. Johnson’s firm has done business with the city for several years – including administrations prior to O’Grady’s. Council was scheduled to consider the initial reading for a new contract with Johnson’s firm, Johnson, Miller & Schmitz (formerly Johnson and Colaluca) last night.

Johnson said his contribution was based on personal belief in O’Grady.

“He’s a good guy, I think he’d do a good job,” said Johnson. “My contribution certainly wasn’t based on my doing business with the city because I’ve done it with the city for years before the campaign. And, council and the law director are the ones who primarily decide what firm to hire for the labor work.”

O’Grady also received contributions of $1,150 each from local businessman and restaurant owner Tony George and his wife Kristine. Tony George has been active politically on the local, state and national scene for years by supporting a wide range of candidates.

Also appearing on O’Grady’s list are former Brookpark mayor and current political consultant Thomas J. Coyne, who kicked in $1,000.  Charles E. Jones, a senior vice president for First Energy Corp. also gave $1,000.

O’Grady attributes seeing contributors like this to work his administration has done.

“People who are familiar with this administration see the kind of work we’ve done here and are happy with how we do things,” O’Grady said. “They’ve had good success here and they believe we can be effective at another level.”

In addition, O’Grady said he has always tried to do the right thing whether its in his political, military or educational work. O’Grady served in the army, both as an officer with a Special Forces team as well as a staff officer overseas in Japan.

“No one else in the race has my combination of experience in the political, educational and military fields,” O’Grady said. “That combination puts me clearly ahead of the other candidates. I’ve always conducted myself with honor and integrity in whatever I’ve done.”

In addition to the contributions from people and organizations which have worked with his administration, O’Grady said he received contributions from businesses and people from both within and outside North Olmsted city limits.

“We’ve got a range of contributors in this campaign,” he said. “We’ll always appreciate support and we will do the right thing now and in the future.”

Other home cities for contributors in the campaign included Bratenahl, Cleveland, North Ridgeville, Valley View, and Westlake as well as people from Pennsylvania and Florida.

O’Grady said he felt his campaign message has not always been communicated by some members of the news media and that some criticism of some his campaign or its contributors is to be expected.