You may also count Lake County Recorder Ann Radcliffe as another person who has ruled out an interest to receive an appointment as Lake County commissioner in January.

“I am very happy serving as the county Recorder and this is where I would like to stay for many years to come. After two years in office I can still say that I am not a politician but a full time hands-on Recorder who works with the staff and will continue working to meet the needs of the public," Radcliffe said.

Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish has served the past 18 years as commissioner and announced Nov. 18 that he would not seek re-election in 2016 and he would resign effective Dec. 31. The Lake County Democratic Party Central Committee will appoint a new commissioner in January.

So far, Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO and Laketran Trustee President Kevin Malecek is the only person to publicly announce a candidacy. Malecek also is a former Willoughby Hills councilman.

Others who sources say are in the mix are state Rep. John Rogers; Common Pleas Court Judge Joe Gibson, who term ends this year and couldn’t run for re-election due to age limits; Clerk of Courts Maureen Kelly; Mentor Councilman Matt Donovan; and Concord Township Trustee Paul Malchesky.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County Treasurer Lorraine M. Fende said she is not interested in a potential appointment as Lake County commissioner.

"When I ran for treasurer, I made a commitment to the residents of Lake County to pursue the collection of delinquent taxes and I would be remiss in my duties as an elected official if I didn't keep that promise," Fende said.

Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish has served the past 18 years as commissioner and announced Nov. 18 that he would not seek re-election in 2016 and he would resign effective Dec. 31. The Lake County Democratic Party Central Committee will appoint a new commissioner in January.

So far, Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO and Laketran Trustee President Kevin Malecek is the only person to publicly announce a candidacy. Malecek also is a former Willoughby Hills councilman.

Others who sources say are in the mix are state Rep. John Rogers; Common Pleas Court Judge Joe Gibson, who term ends this year and couldn’t run for re-election due to age limits; Clerk of Courts Maureen Kelly; Recorder Ann Radcliffe; Mentor Councilman Matt Donovan; and Concord Township Trustee Paul Malchesky.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

As the year 2012 comes to a close it’s time to take a look back at the career of a retiring Lake County official.

For Commissioner Raymond E. Sines, his last official meeting after 10 years on the board was Thursday.

Sines has served since he was appointed by the Lake County Republican Party in 2003, and then won two elections to four-year terms.

During his time in office, he was the lone Republican on the three-member Board of Commissioners.

Sometimes Sines didn’t agree with his Democratic colleagues on the board, but what I think made him effective was that he choose his battles carefully.

He was the kind of commissioner who could sternly make his point during an open session and even staunchly disagree with a colleague, then crack a joke about the situation when the meeting was over.

Sines occasionally would say it takes two votes to get something passed by commissioners, which is certainly true. With that in mind, he had the understanding that no matter his opinion, there were two other commissioners who might not agree with him. So he had to work together with his fellow colleagues.

Even though he disagreed on some issues, including building a high-level bridge over Vrooman Road in Leroy and Perry townships or the creation of the Lake County Stormwater Management Department, Sines’ influence was noticeable.

I think his ability to be reasonable when it came to making decisions and his work ethic also made him effective.

When it came time earlier this year for the commissioners to announce a plan to increase the countywide sales tax rate by 0.5 percent to deal with budgetary concerns, Commissioner Daniel P. Troy frequently said that he wanted bipartisan support before he would agree to raise the sales tax. What that really meant was Sines needed to support it too.

Sines told me many times that he did not want to raise the rate, but he felt the county’s finances had gotten to a point where major cuts would have been needed and there was no certainty that services could be maintained to a level that residents expected.

When Sines recently reflected back on his tenure, he said the sales tax issue was one of his toughest decisions as a commissioner.

Part of what went into that decision was Sines also felt that the county Stormwater Management Department had more funding than was necessary and that if the other two commissioners would support cutting the user fees to property owners by 50 percent as part of an overall package, then he would support the sales tax increase.

So what ensued was the proposal spearheaded by Troy and agreed to by Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish and Sines to raise the sales tax by 0.5 and decrease the stormwater user fees by 50 percent, plus reduce the rate property taxpayers pay to the county’s General Fund by 1.1 mills.

Because the sales tax package was a unanimous decision that made it much easier to implement and the issue did not have to be put on the countywide ballot.

Only a referendum could have defeated the package and there was never much hint of that developing. Meanwhile, the county’s budgetary situation appears to have stabilized.

At his last meeting Thursday, Aufuldish said Sines and the other two commissioners were able to put politics aside to get things done.

Troy said that Sines would be missed and he was able to work together with Sines not only as a commissioner but when the two served together as state representatives years ago in the Ohio General Assembly.

Sines noted at the meeting that the key to his life has been the support of his family who allowed him to do what he wanted to do.

He added that if a script were to have been written about how he wanted to live his life, it had contained everything he always wanted.

When Sines concluded his remarks about his retirement at the meeting, Troy and Aufuldish — in a show of class — gave Sines a standing ovation.

Swearing in ceremony

The Lake County Democratic Party will swear in Aufuldish and Commissioner Judy Moran, state Rep. John M. Rogers, Clerk of Courts Maureen G. Kelly, Recorder Ann M. Radcliffe, and Treasurer Lorraine M. Fende at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Performing Arts Center Theater at Lakeland Community College.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

The three-member Lake County Board of Commissioners will definitely have a western Lake County feel next year.

It also will be an all-Democrat commission, as Robert E. Aufuldish of Wickliffe was re-elected Tuesday and Willowick Council President Judy Moran was elected to her first term.

They join Willowick Democrat Daniel P. Troy, who remains on the board until his term expires at the end of 2014.

According to final unofficial results (used for all information in this column), Aufuldish won by a margin of 54,787 to 49,081.

He won each precinct in Eastlake, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willowick, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, and Timberlake.

Aufuldish also prevailed in Madison Township, winning seven of 10 precincts and six of 11 in Painesville Township,

His opponent, Republican John R. Hamercheck, a Madison Village councilman, won each precinct in Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Leroy Township, his hometown Madison Village, North Perry Village, Perry Village, Perry Township and Waite Hill.

Hamercheck also won 13 of 14 precincts in Concord Township and four of seven precincts in Willoughby Hills.

The two candidates split the city of Mentor, as each won 17 precincts.

Overall, Aufuldish won 99 precincts, while Hamercheck won 58 precincts.

Moran won by a margin of 53,713 to 50,897, defeating Willoughby Hills Councilman David M. Fiebig.

Moran won each precinct in Eastlake, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, Wickliffe, Willowick, Fairport Harbor, Grand River and Timberlake.

She also was victorious in Willoughby by winning 10 of 15 precincts, six of 10 precincts in Madison Township and six of 11 precincts in Painesville Township.

Fiebig won each precinct in Kirtland, Concord Township, Kirtland Hills, Leroy Township, North Perry Village, Perry Village, Perry Township and Waite Hill.

He also took 19 of 34 precincts in Mentor and five of seven precincts in his hometown Willoughby Hills.

Overall, Moran won 89 precincts, and Fiebig won 67 precincts. They tied in Mentor Precinct 2C, as each received 421 votes.

For both commissioners races combined, there were 208,478 total votes for the two races and of that figure 108,500 were for Democrats with 99,978 for Republicans.

That contrasts to the top of each party’s ticket in Lake County, where Republican Mitt Romney beat President Barack Obama by a margin of 57,150 to 55,219 giving Romney the edge by 1,931 votes.

Also in Lake County, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, beat Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Republican, by a margin of 52,896 to 51,335 to win the county’s overall vote by 1,561 votes.

In a future column, I’ll take a look at how the Ohio House of Representatives races in Lake County shaped out and possibly others that have generated interest.

Prediction recap

In last Sunday’s column I made predictions for 18 races that appeared in the print edition. I also posted those plus 10 additional picks on the News-Herald’s political blog.

Out of 28 races, I got 24 correct — missing on one countywide result in Lake and Geauga counties, one multi-county race and one statewide race.

In print, 16 of were 18 correct, missing on the races for Lake County recorder and Geauga County commissioner for the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2014.

I incorrectly picked Jason Wuliger to defeat Ann Radcliffe in the recorder’s race, and Jim Dvorak to beat Mary Samide in the commissioner race. Radcliffe and Samide were victorious.

For the additional 10 picks published online, I missed when I picked Mary Jane Trapp to defeat Colleen O’Toole for 11th District Court of Appeals, and I picked Yvette McGee Brown to beat Sharon L. Kennedy for Ohio Supreme Court for the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2014. O’Toole and Kennedy were victorious.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish announced he recently received the endorsement of the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor and Western Lake County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 116.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter:@newsheraldjah

Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish announced he’s received endorsement from the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Most branches of government are facing tough tasks putting together their budgets, and Lake County commissioners are no exception.

Due to decreased revenues, some elected county officials and department heads have had to utilize staff furloughs, announce layoffs, leave vacant positions unfilled and consider shortening office hours.

Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap recently laid off two deputies. The Elections Board will implement furlough days, and potentially consider other cost-cutting options, because there is a $130,000 difference between what the department requests and what commissioners propose.

The reasons for the declining revenues?

Interest earnings in 2008 provided the county with $6.9 million. But rates remain at historically low levels, meaning revenue dipped to $4 million in 2009 and shrunk to $2.18 million for 2010 as higher returning investments came off the book. This revenue is projected to provide $1.25 million this year.

Collections from annual property taxes have dropped because property valuations that determine how much one’s home and land are worth declined two years ago by 10 percent in the county — and aren’t likely to rise when the triennial update is completed next year.

Sales tax revenues are the county’s biggest source of revenue, and collections have remained flat. Sales taxes generated  $14,524,182 in 2009, $14,519,064 in 2010, and is projected to be around $14.1 million this year.

The only controllable option commissioners have to increase revenue is to raise the county’s sales tax. The idea is unpopular and not one commissioners are seriously considering.

Should the commissioners ever change their mind, there’s a process they would have to follow to do so.

How it would work

Ohio law permits county commissioners to levy additional sales tax by increments of a quarter of 1 percent by adopting a resolution that generally must state the tax’s purpose and how long it would be in effect.

Two public hearings would need to be conducted before passing the resolution. The second hearing must be held not less than three days, nor more than 10 days, after the first.

In the resolution, commissioners may — but are not required to — direct the Elections Board to ask voters whether to approve the increase.

If the resolution is passed as a non-emergency measure, commissioners must pass it by at least a 2-1 vote and the question may be submitted to the Elections Board 90 days before the election.

If the resolution is adopted as an emergency measure deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, it must receive a unanimous vote and it needs to state the reasons for such necessity.

Voters can use a referendum to prevent a non-emergency tax from going into effect 30 days after the resolution is passed. An emergency tax is not subject to a referendum, but voters can decide to repeal it by petition.

The petition would need to be filed at least 75 days before the general election in any year and must be signed by at least 10 percent of the voters who voted in the most recent gubernatorial election.

If a tax were to be repealed by voters, it would be effective after the current year.

Announcements, endorsements

Highland Heights Mayor Scott Coleman announced he will seek a third term in office this November.
 

Coleman cites support and endorsements from U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, state Sen. Tim Grendell, Mayfield Heights Mayor Greg Costabile, Mayfield Village Mayor Bruce Rinker, Gates Mills Mayor Connie White, Lyndhurst Mayor Joe Cicero, Richmond Heights Mayor Dan Ursu, Willoughby Hills Mayor Robert Weger and South Euclid Mayor Georgine Welo.

Fundies

Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy: Mardi Gras Party, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Holiday Inn Express LaMalfa Centre in Mentor. See Kip Molenaar.
 

Jamie Callender, candidate for Ohio Senate: Mardi Gras party, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Quail Hollow Inn in Concord Township. See Jamie or Heidi Callender.

Lake Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish: St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites LaMalfa in Mentor. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour or Ernie Koenig.

Willoughby Hills Councilman David M. Fiebig: Spring Fever party, 5 to 7 p.m., March 22 at Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig.

John Arthur Hutchison’s column appears Sundays in The News-Herald. View it online at www.northernohiolocalpolitics.blogspot.com.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Ohio Senate Bill 5 is shaping up to be one of the most spirited pieces of legislation in recent state history.

The measure, sponsored by state Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, aims to prohibit state employees from collective bargaining.

It also would abolish salary schedules for public employees and instead require merit pay, among other changes, to the Collective Bargaining Law.

The bill comes at a time when state officials are trying to find ways to eliminate an estimated $8 billion or more budget shortfall.

Gov. John Kasich has expressed his support for the bill in concept, but he has also signaled that he might bring forward his own plan that could go even further by banning public employee strikes.

Reports from Columbus, including those from national media outlets, showed thousands of union employees, teachers, police and firefighters and others descended onto the state capital to let their presence be felt and voices be heard during opposition testimony for the bill at an Ohio Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee hearing. Among them was Tim Burga, president of the Ohio AFL-CIO.

“Workers and trade unions understand the state of our economy and the challenges confronting our public budgets at all levels,” Burga testified. “State and local employee unions are regularly working with government administrators and elected officials to find ways to be flexible and reduce costs to balance budgets while delivering needed services.

“As a result, pay freezes, cost pick-ups, benefit reductions and unpaid leave have been implemented at the state and local levels. Public employee unions have assured this Committee that they will continue to work collaboratively with government officials as we work together to find solutions to create private sector jobs that sustain our public budgets.”

As reported last week, state Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township, said he does not support the bill in its current form and believes the bill in general goes too far.

“When talking about labor situations, you need to have a balance,” Grendell said. “If problems with the current system are too costly to taxpayers and too favorable to employers we need to address those issues.

“As written, Senate Bill 5 essentially tips the balance in a way that eliminates any protections for people who work as public employees.”

Grendell said later that discussions have begun to encourage more flexibility on the bill.

Announcements and filings
Peter V. Wayman announced he will seek a fourth term for Madison Township trustee. Wayman cites the township’s ability to provide basic services of police, fire and roads during a rough economy while maintaining a good fiscal budget.

Wayman has filed petitions with the Lake County Elections Board. Stay tuned for future fundraiser details.

Kirtland Councilman Doug Davidson has filed petitions to run for mayor against incumbent Mark Tyler.

Former Euclid Councilwoman Charlene Mancuso has announced she is running for Euclid mayor. Mancuso served on Euclid Council from 2003 to April 2008.

A registered nurse, Mancuso says she has a track record of building consensus among disparate parties in her work with state and local government agencies.


Fundies
Karen Kowall, candidate for Willoughby Municipal Court judge: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Pine Ridge Country Club, Wickliffe. See Marisa Cornachio or Dana Lutz.

Lake Commissioner Daniel P. Troy: Mardi Gras Party, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 8 at Holiday Inn Express LaMalfa Centre in Mentor. See Kip Molenaar.

Jamie Callender, candidate for Ohio Senate: Mardi Gras party from 6 to 8 p.m. March 8 at the Quail Hollow Inn in Concord Township. See Jamie or Heidi Callender.

Lake Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish: St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites LaMalfa in Mentor. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour or Ernie Koenig.

Deadlines for information within this column are Thursdays at noon.

John Arthur Hutchison’s column appears Sundays in The News-Herald.
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah