WVIZ/PBS ideastream®: Road to Reform

Road to Reform is an occasional series created by The Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com, WKYC Channel 3 News and WVIZ/PBS ideastream focused on government reform in Cuyahoga County.

Episode 2 (December, 2009)

Last month voters decided to throw out the current form of government in Cuyahoga County and adopt a new structure. The measure, Issue 6, passed in every township, village and city in the county. Lots of changes are coming... foremost, the three current county commissioners will be replaced by one executive and an 11-member council. Lots of people are asking "who will be the county's first executive?" In this episode of Road to Reform, our focus is less on who and more on what. Specifically, what kind of leader is best suited to be the county executive? Should it be someone who'll use the bully pulpit of the office to push an agenda and take the heat, or someone more conciliatory? More of an administrator... or a visionary?

Laura Johnston from The Plain Dealer, Tom Beres from Channel 3 News and Dan Moulthrop from WVIZ/PBS ideastream interviewed different people who have a unique and informed perspective on this question including Sandy Cutler, the chairman and CEO of Eaton Corporation, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge and Dan Onorato, county executive, Allegheny County, PA. Excerpts of these interviews are featured along with analysis which includes Jason Johnson, professor of political science and communication at Hiram College.

Coverage in The Plain Dealer

A month after voters demanded reforms in Cuyahoga County government and a year before the first county executive takes office, politicians and government advocates have a chance to imagine a sort of superhuman new leader, a model for the inaugural executive. This Sunday’s Plain Dealer (December 13th) will feature a story by reporter Laura Johnston that explores the qualities and skills political observers hope to see.

Coverage on 90.3 WCPN

Join host Dan Moulthrop on Monday, December 14th at 9:00 AM, on 90.3 WCPN for The Sound of Ideas where he will talk more about the qualifications of the county's first executive with Lee Friedman, President & CEO, Cleveland Leadership Center; Barb Danforth, President & CEO, YWCA of Greater Cleveland; and Joe Roman. President & CEO, Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Episode 1 (November, 2009)

WVIZ/PBS ideastream joins forces with The Plain Dealer and WKYC to present Road to Reform, analysis and discussion of two ballot initiatives aimed at remaking the government of Cuyahoga County. Issue 5 calls for creation of a charter commission whose mission will be to draft a charter form of government and present it to the voters by the end of next year. Issue 6 proposes replacing the county commissioners and most county officers with an elected county executive, an 11-member council and officers to be appointed by the executive. Voters will also choose a charter commission from an alphabetical list of 29 candidates.

Road to Reform panelists will discuss the genesis of Issues 5 and 6 and describe what happens after November 3rd if either, both or neither pass. They’ll also have a look at the eleven geographical districts passage of Issue 6 would create. And they’ll discuss how similar reforms have worked elsewhere in the United States. It’s our hope the program will provide you with the facts you need to make an informed decision.