By Far The Better
Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson is a grinder. He’s serious, sincere and rock solid – a workhorse rather than a show horse. Even his critics would probably admit as much. His eight years in office have been scandal free and those who work closely with him speak highly of his honesty and genuineness.
Jackson took office in 2006 and in the ensuing time he has steered the city through what has been the greatest national economic crisis in nearly 80 years. And, everything considered, he has done so in an admirable fashion.
Of course, there are legitimate criticisms of Jackson regarding his handling of crime and the safety services; how he approaches the continuing problems with schools; the manner in which he prioritizes downtown development vs. neighborhood investment; how he deals with the city’s pockets of extreme poverty and debilitating hopelessness; and his responsibility for a city hall “culture” that is perceived as unresponsive and unprofessional.
Certainly, there is room for debate about Jackson’s stewardship as regards the above issues and several more, but a drive around Cleveland provides genuine excitement about what has been accomplished over Jackson’s tenure and where the city may be headed in the near future.
Downtown Cleveland has been undergoing a major overhaul with the Horseshoe Casino, a new convention center and medical mart, an expanded Cleveland State University, more housing units and more hotels, and the relocation of the Cuyahoga County office buildings to the former Ameritech complex. Plans are also underway for more recreational opportunities downtown and a more pedestrian-friendly Public Square.
There has been exceptional progress in neighborhood development areas such as Ohio City, Detroit-Shoreway, Kamm’s Corners, Upper Chester and University Circle. The Community Benefits Agreement that Jackson has forged with leaders of nine business, civic, labor and trade organizations includes a pledge to set goals for hiring local and minority skilled workers for future construction projects throughout the region and to support training programs that contribute to the industry’s workforce.
Jackson has carefully managed the city’s finances and has done a remarkable job of keeping costs in check, which enabled Cleveland to handle America’s worst economic slump since the Great Depression with less suffering than most major cities. His Cleveland Plan for the city schools, which included cooperation and concessions from the Cleveland Teachers’ Union, is probably Jackson’s signature achievement and provides a glimmer of hope for parents looking for more and better choices as to the schools to which they send their children.
Jackson is not a perfect mayor and Cleveland has gigantic issues facing it. His laconic personality and low-key governing style leave him open for criticism and, at times, obscure his effectiveness and thwart his initiatives, but he is by far the better of the two candidates running for the job.
Which brings us to his opponent, Ken Lanci, a tremendously successful, charismatic businessman who came onto the political scene in the 2010 race for Cuyahoga County executive. At that time he was a fresh face with a number of interesting ideas – a passionate and genuinely impressive figure emerging on the local landscape.
This time around, Lanci’s campaign has been composed of criticisms of Jackson, claims that because he is a successful business executive he can cut better deals and create more jobs than career politicos; gimmicks like upside down billboards and, most recently, his bold and repeated assertion that “I am not a politician, I am biblical.” There is little that is concrete in his proposals or analyses.
For Cool Cleveland, this is an easy choice.
Cool Cleveland recommends you vote for FRANK JACKSON for Mayor of Cleveland.
The Cuyahoga Board of Elections isn’t sending out applications to vote by mail this year. To request a mail-in ballot, go to http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/vote-by-mail.aspx.
Watch the unedited video of Mayor Frank Jackson talking with the Cool Cleveland Editorial Board on 9/26/13:
Watch the unedited video of Ken Lanci talking with the Cool Cleveland Editorial Board on 9/26/13: