Council hopefuls stress integrity, experience
By Kevin Kelley
Westshore
Published Sept. 22, 2010

Republican Dave Greenspan and Democrat Nicole Dailey Jones invoked similar themes at Monday night’s League of Women Voters candidates forum that took place at the Westlake Schools Performing Arts Center. Greenspan put the emphasis on his experience; Dailey Jones espoused integrity in government.

The two are candidates for the District 1 seat in the new Cuyahoga County Council, which will convene in January. Libertarian candidate Ryan T. McGilvray did not attend, citing a schedule conflict.

In today’s national political climate, the exchange was notable in its civility; neither candidate launched anything resembling an attack on the other.

Greenspan repeatedly touted his experience in the business world and as a founding city council member in an Atlanta suburb. Dailey Jones articulated Cuyahoga County residents’ desire for a government they don’t have to be ashamed of.

“Our government for too long has put self interest ahead of the common good,” Dailey Jones said.

The North Olmsted councilwoman called corruption in county government one of the biggest hindrances to economic development.

Greenspan pledged to help put in place sound business practices at county headquarters. He recommended the county introduce formal job descriptions for public positions and performance reviews.

Greenspan said the county should employ better efficiencies to cut costs and taxes.

“Government doesn’t have an income problem,” Greenspan said. “Government has an expense control problem.”

However, Greenspan said no responsible politician should make specific promises in advance regarding what cuts should be made.

Republican Dave Greenspan and Democrat Nicole Dailey Jones discuss county government reforms at Monday evening’s candidates forum. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Greenspan said the private sector, not government, was the best agent for job creation.

Dailey Jones said that as a councilwoman, she has helped North Olmsted be a better partner to the private sector. She said she has voted to cut government spending, including her own salary.

“I’m a mom who cuts coupons,” she said.

Greenspan said that since he launched his campaign in March, he has offered specific proposals on how to improve county government.

One of Greenspan’s proposals – that of creating an independent inspector general to oversee ethics – revealed one difference between the candidates. Greenspan said funding for the office would be based on a quarter-percent fee based on all contracts entered into by the county. The funds would be allocated from the county’s general fund budget. That would ensure the office would be truly independent of the county budgeting process, he said.

But Dailey Jones said that amounts to taxing companies doing business with the county, exactly the opposite of what’s needed to spur the local economy. She said she was also opposed to creating a new bureaucracy, adding that the new department of internal auditing can handle the job of ethical watchdog.

The two candidates were close on a number of issues:

Both agreed the inaugural council will have some heavy lifting to do. They said the new council members will find themselves in a full-time job.

Both expressed an unwillingness to jump head first into more regional government. Dailey Jones said regional projects should be explored only with the goal of saving money. She added that people chose to live in a particular community for a reason.

Both candidates said if elected, they will put the interests of District 1 residents ahead of their respective political parties.

“The political party I belong to is not my master,” Dailey Jones said. “The people who elected me are.”

Greenspan, who said he disliked being referred to as a politician, said he would vote for what’s best for his constituents regardless of what his party says.

Greenspan likewise said regional projects should be pursued on a voluntary basis in order for communities to share resources.

On the Web:

• Nicole Dailey Jones campaign website
• Dave Greenspan campaign website
• League of Women Voters - Cuyahoga