Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald to give state of the county address on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 12:30 pm at the convention center in downtown Cleveland, FitzGerald is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor this year, event is sponsored by the City Club of Cleveland

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, the front-runner for the
Democratic nomination this year for Ohio governor

By  Kathy Wray Coleman, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog. Tel: 216-659-0473. (Kathy Wray Coleman is a 20-year investigative and political journalist and legal reporter who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper, Ohio's Black press)

 (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio- Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald will give his state of the county address at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at the convention center in downtown Cleveland, an event sponsored by the City Club of Cleveland. The front runner for the Democratic nomination for governor this year who will not seek re-election as county executive, FitzGerald, 45,  is a former Lakewood, Ohio mayor and prior FBI agent who took the helm as county executive in 2011, beating Republican Matt Dolan to win the seat. He is endorsed for governor by a host of prominent Ohio Democrats including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown,  a Cleveland Democrat, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-11), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-9), and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

Issues that FitzGerald are expected to address in his state of the county speech include foreclosures, crime and safety, and jobs.

Also backing FitzGerald for governor are unions across the state of Ohio, including the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA).

In a statement announcing its endorsement, OCSEA President Chris Mabe said the following in a press release to Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read digital Black newspaper:

“Ed FitzGerald has already proven himself to be a champion of the middle class. He’s a family man with humble roots and believes in the same basic principles of fairness, equality and democracy that are at the core of our union. We believe the state is going in the wrong direction, not only has the economy not recovered under current leadership, but government services have been decimated from the wholesale selling off of state assets, to the privatization of prisons, schools and job development, and to the elimination of programs for the needy. We need a governor who understands the value of public services, particularly in the face of a struggling economy. FitzGerald has the leadership, the experience and the vision to bring Ohio back to greatness.” (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)