Political

1. Please provide a brief explanation of who you are, your career accomplishments, how long you have been a resident of Euclid, and any past experience in elective office.

 MY FULL LEGAL NAME IS CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL LITWINOWICZ BORN MAY 27 1979. I HAVE LIVE IN EUCLID 32 YEARS. BECAME AN "EAGLE SCOUT" TROOP 161 IN 1997 

2. Why are you seeking the position of Mayor of Euclid?

TO BE THE PEOPLE VOICE ......... " TIME FOR A CHANCE " TO MAKE EUCLID BETTER.... " TIME FOR CHANGE " 2007- 2008-2012 - 2016

Please provide a brief explanation of who you are, your career accomplishments, how long you have been a resident of Euclid, and any past experience in elective office.  My name is Bill Cervenik and I am a lifelong resident of the City of Euclid. I have been married to my wife Mary Kay for over 37 years and we raised our two grown children on East 213th Street, where we still reside. I am also the proud grandparent of a nine year old granddaughter. I attended night school at Cleveland State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in accounting. I became a certified public accountant in 1983, and am still a partner in the accounting firm of Gallagher Cervenik & Associates. I served as a member of Euclid City Council for 12 years, the last five as council president, and became the 13th mayor of the city Dec. 1, 2003. 

Why are you seeking the position of mayor of Euclid?  I have guided this city through some of the most difficult economic times in our country’s history, and have done so without the drastic cuts that so many other communities experienced in their police, fire and emergency medical services, as well as recreation. I presented annual budgets that assured our residents are safe, their children have supervised activities in which to participate, and continue to vigorously fight the effects of the housing crisis in our neighborhoods with innovative programs and strict code enforcement. The 2011 budget I presented to city council was actually $800,000 less than spent in 2008. Having a strong financial background as a CPA has certainly helped in managing our finances.

In a time when many cities have experienced disinvestment and loss of businesses, through our economic development efforts, our city has experienced unprecedented growth. During my two terms as mayor, our Euclid’s industrial corridor has expanded with the job-ready Bluestone site, the East 222nd roadway project and the construction of Lincoln Electric’s 434-foot, 2.5 megawatt wind turbine. We have also assisted many of our smaller businesses, as can be witnessed by the over $15 million dollars of public and private investment, with the promise of more in the near future.

continued.

Please provide a brief explanation of who you are, your career accomplishments, how long you have been a resident of Euclid, and any past experience in elective office.

I was raised in Euclid, graduated from the Euclid City School System, and was afforded all the great things that Euclid has to offer its' families and children. I have been blessed with two wonderful children and two grandchildren. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and subsequent master’s degree in public administration from Cleveland State University. I ws much honored to be recognized by CSU as distinguished alumni. I am a registered nurse and a healthcare administrator with over 25 years of experience. As an RN, I worked through the ranks of the medical field, starting as an emergency room nurse, until I eventually obtained a leadership role as the director of the Division of Trauma, Burns, and the Metro Life Flight Program, which transports critically injured people to the hospital.

I had the privilege of serving the residents of Euclid for two terms as a city wide councilperson at- large. While on council, I was most proud of the following accomplishments:

• Directed the pursuit and implementation of a more cost effective healthcare administration contract through a transparent, inclusive process that continues to save the city thousands of dollars today.
• Developed and implemented a formal privacy policy with specific focus on the city’s new internal tax department.
• Provided new laptop technology for the housing inspectors to increase their efficiency in the workplace.
• Set priorities for the housing department on code enforcement.

Why are you seeking the position of mayor of Euclid?

I believe in the potential of Euclid and we need to achieve that potential for the residents of the city. Today, the city is drifting and there are too many of our residents who are frustrated by how the city operates. Many of the residents I have spoken to are discouraged at the lack of progress they see, their inability to really impact the decision-making process, and the overall lack of accountability. I know that my business and organizational skills give me the insights and experience to finally put Euclid on track to realize its’ full potential. Our residents deserve the very best from their city leaders and should expect a proactive, responsive, innovative government that listens to them and values their input.

continued.

Urban sprawl remains at the top of critical issues facing Euclid. Even during the economic downturn, urban neighborhoods throughout Ohio are desperately competing with ever growing exurbs. This unequal competition in many ways resembles a boxing match with the state servicing as the referee. In our area, the greenfield towns of Medina, Chesterland and Aurora are the fresh-faced challengers.

Such cites grow because of state policies. These polices distort real-estate markets with the unintended consequences of punishing older communities. Rural areas are a developer’s paradise with their abundance of cheap land unfettered by established housing or city blocks. Businesses also love the greefields: no contaminated land to or obsolete builds to raze. Ohio state policy still looks to link Ohio with highway “macro-corridors.” These corridors always need better interchanges and access road. When near built up areas, these corridors naturally allow development to push into undeveloped areas.

But isn’t this growth good and natural? Given that N.E. Ohio’s population growth is about zero, in the past 40 years, you can say that there is really no growth at all. It’s simply a transfer of wealth from one place to another.

cont.

As I write this column, we learn that American Greetings decided to build its new corporate headquarters in Westlake, taking nearly 2,000 jobs from its current location.  Although American Greetings wanted an updated facility, the decision to move at this time came on the heels of an income tax increase in the city of Brooklyn from two percent to 2.5 percent.  In this case the tax increase is partly responsible for Brooklyn’s loss.

I believe the same holds true for most other businesses, as well as many private individuals. Businesses looking to locate or relocate into a community assess many things, including the tax rate. It makes economic sense. Likewise, families interested in buying a house or re-locating to a community look at many things including the taxes they will pay. The high tax rate in the city of Euclid prevents companies such as American Greetings from moving here (Bluestone Park and easy freeway access would have been ideal for them). We have also lost many good taxpaying families to other communities for the same reason.  Unfortunately higher income families with disposable income do not view Euclid as an option.

cont.

Is this really a reform County Council?

The political machine thwarts takeover

Although not as well-heeled as some of his opponents in the race to become the first Cuyahoga county executive—the leader of the new county government—Tim McCormack and his campaign team have been gearing up for a strong finish.

Count me as one of the Democrat voters disgusted by the scandals uncovered by the FBI in Cuyahoga County government; I voted for the charter change about to take effect following the Nov. 2 general election. We will elect eleven district councilpersons and an executive to replace the three commissioners who administer the business of the county, with a taxpayer mandate to sweep clean the widespread corruption.

Last month I wrote about the “Good Old Days” growing up in Euclid and all my fond memories. Now it is time to get back to the real world; things are definitely different.

Six weeks ago I did something I have never done before. I went on a bus trip to Washington, DC for the Glenn Beck Restoring Honor Rally. There were over 100 of us, leaving out of Mentor on two buses; it was very exciting. We arrived at our nation’s capitol at 5:30 a.m. for breakfast and then were dropped off at the Metro. WOW! The crowd was so immense that we waited in line over two hours to get our tickets. I noticed upon getting closer there was the same long line on the other side of the tracks. So the trains were filling fast and we had standing room only for the 30 to 40 minute train ride. What a ride. Upon emerging from the underground, the first thing we saw was the George Washington monument looming in front of us. It was beautiful.

Shore Cultural once again dodged the wrecking ball at the Sept. 7 Euclid City Council session. The mayor, in work sessions last week with the Coral Company management team, found some money in the 2010 capital budget excess and in the endowment fund. After subsequent conversations with several council members, they came into the meeting with a compromise proposal, a 15-month renewal with funding allowing Coral to hire a development director to raise funds and to put together a marketing plan. A new furnace and thermostat system and backup repair of the existing boiler were also included.

Apparently, no one had a chance against political pro Sunny Simon, who won a landslide victory in the recent Democratic primary for the County Council District 11 seat. She had the endorsement of the County Dems, lawn signs galore, and the ability to flash a friendly smile. She did so during an Election Day appearance in the parking lot of Our Lady of the Lake parish—which some might have considered to be Pat McLaughlin territory.

Opportunity. The reason families boarded ships to come to America; risk takers moved west across the country; African-Americans moved north after the Civil War, and even the reason Bill Gates left school before his Harvard education was complete.

It is by seizing our opportunities that we have been able to create independence, work, wealth and a future.

Cuyahoga County has the opportunity to reinvent its government. But more importantly, we have a chance to showcase the opportunities that our county holds for individuals. People who want to create, build, invest, serve and take risks need to know that Cuyahoga County can help them capitalize on this opportunity to achieve their goals.

Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and how you make your living.

My name is Rich Devor Jr. I am 26 years old and I currently live in the city of Euclid, where I have been a resident for 25 years. I make my living working full time as a manager at a automotive repair facility.

Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and how you make your living.

Rose M. Allen, 62 years old. I am a 34 year resident of Euclid, currently living at North Pointe. I am a semi-retired pharmacist. I review projects as an independent contractor for the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, on an as assigned basis.

Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and how you make your living.

Kathryn E. Gambatese, 68 years old. Lives in Richmond Heights. Current position, 21 years as councilwoman, city of Richmond Heights (compensated), volunteer.

Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and how you make your living.

Raymond J. Schmidlin Jr., 46 years old, Attorney.

Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and how you make your living.

Jim Joyner, 62 years old. Resides in University Heights. My current position is as a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC) and Internationally Certified Clinical Supervisor (ICCS). I have worked in the field of addiction treatment, prevention, education and intervention services for 39 years. I am in private practice providing counseling, consultation and formal intervention services for families and other individuals who are concerned about someone’s alcohol or other drug use. I also provide over 150 trainings each year for groups and organizations like MADD, the Society for the Prevention of Violence and the Northeast Ohio Carpenters’ Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program, to name a few.

Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and how you make your living.

Phillip Robinson, Jr., 29 years old. Resides in University Heights. I currently serve as a 2010 Cleveland Executive Fellow, where I have developed business growth plans and co-authored a study on improving local neighborhoods. Previously, I worked for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and later, for two Fortune 500 global communications firms.

Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and how you make your living.

Philip Fine, 65. I live in Beachwood. I am an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy, foreclosure defense and family law.

Work has begun on the replacement of the sound walls along Route 2 in Euclid.  All of the old panels have been removed and in a very short time the new red brick panels will be inserted.  This $3 million dollar project will greatly enhance the appearance and perception of our community for those that travel by on a daily basis.

I know we are past the 4th of July but when it comes to our Declaration of Independence I guess it’s better late than never. Besides it is still July.

I have been thinking a lot lately about our Founding Fathers and our Constitution. These people were not only very brave but also very intelligent. When they established the federal government they knew things could get out of hand so they added some amendments. The most important one to me is the 10th Amendment. This one was put in place to protect us (we the people) and our individual states from a corrupt government.

I just picked up a copy of the new Euclid Observer. It was very nice and informative. I sent many letters over the years to the Sun Journal and old Observer, and hope to make good use of this one too.

On May 4th, Euclid voters will be asked to approve two changes to the City's Charter. Issue 26 raises the minimum amount of signatures to 25% from 15% of voters voting in the last general election, and Issue 27 imposes a 45 day time-limit on the gathering of signatures.

Despite cold weather and the threat of rain, over 100 turned out on Saturday April 17th after the scheduled outdoor Tea Party rally at Surveyors Park was moved inside to the Shore Cultural Centre small gymnasium.

I can’t remember if I read it in a book or heard it in a movie but the statement has never left my mind. “When democracy dies, the people will have voted it out.” On May 4, or sooner if you mail in your ballot, the people of Euclid will vote on Charter Issues 26 & 27.

Euclid residents are visiting the library and using our services more than ever! Since 2006 circulation of library materials is up 18%, visits to the library are up 11%, and the use of computer workstations is up 26%. And 2009 was a record-breaking year as cardholders checked out over 1.5 million items!  

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections encourages voters to be prepared for the May 4 Primary Election. Voters will cast ballots for candidates running for US Senate, US House of Representatives, state offices, including Governor, and Judicial Candidates. 

On Tuesday, May 4, Cuyahoga County will have a primary election. Voters will be choosing candidates in the primary to be their party’s nominees for the general election in November. 

On May 4, the voters in Euclid will be deciding on changes to our charter. Three amendments are proposed. The ballot only has space for the proposed change. Without knowing the current language, a voter cannot make an intelligent choice.This article will attempt to provide information about these amendments.