Susan’s Suggestion for the Elections – Primaries -Tuesday May 6, 2014

This is a very short ballot no matter which ballot you select. As this is a primary and most candidates are running unopposed in their own parties, the run –off election in November will be much longer than this one.  However, short does not mean unimportant.  Politicians know who votes and communities who vote count.

Background: What is the purpose of a Primary Election?

This is a primary election.  That means voting for a candidate in a primary does not determine who will get into office, but who will run for office against the other party’s candidate in November. The winner of that election will take office, not this one ( except for Committee Man which is a position within the party and not a government position).  However, in some cases, choosing wisely in the primary can be the same as picking the November winner.   Also remember that choosing one party or candidate now does not at all relate to who you may choose in the fall.  So you can vote, for example, an entirely Green party now and then vote for all the Libertarian candidates in November, or any combination in any party. How you vote now does not obligate how you vote in November in any way.  Voting issues only is also an option. However you choose to vote, please make sure that you do.  My suggestions are below.

Republican Ballot:

Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division Judge: No Recommendation

Democrat Ballot:

Governor:  Ed FitzGerald and Sharen Swartz Neuhardt

Court of Appeals 8^th District:  Mays or Corrigan, both have solid judicial experience, two good choices.

State Senator 21^st District: No Recommendation

State Representative 9^th District: Janine Boyd, CH council member who understands and respects our community

Judge for Common Pleas General: Shannon Gallagher

Common Pleas Domestic Relations: Francine (Frankie) Goldberg, endorsements not limited to both Plain Dealer, and Call&Post, as well as all our regional mayors:  Beachwood, CH,  Solon, South Euclid, and UH.

County Executive:  Armond Budish

All Ballots:

Vote as you prefer on Issues One and  Yes on Seven – see expanded explanation below.

State Issue One:   This proposal would issue bonds in the amount of $1.875 billion over the next 10 year period for infrastructure capital improvements.  The amendment would fund projects in all 88 counties such as roads, bridges, water waste treatment and supply, solid waste disposal, and related items.  It is limited as to how much of the fund can be dipped into per year such that it should last the intended term.  Pros: The issuance of these bonds would be well under the state’s 5% constitutional limit while providing for the needs of local governments and creating jobs.   Because funds to repay the bonds are already built into the budget there would be no raise in taxes and it would alleviate the need for local governments to raise taxes for these projects.  This method has been used three times since it was first implemented in 1987. While it is accruing debt to the state, it is likened to taking on a mortgage or car loan – for a specific and necessary purpose and only within a confined percentage of acceptable debt to income ratio. Cons:  All Ohioans will be paying the interest on the bonds but not all Ohioans will directly see a benefit from them.  This bond issue comes sooner than expected as it was expected to last a full 10 years when passed in 2005 and it represents the largest raise in general indebtedness since these bonds began.  Also, some would argue it takes away flexibility from local authorities that use state funds.   That said, it shares overwhelming bipartisan support having passed in the House at 90-2 and in the Senate 31-0, big labor and business and is a proven program. No recommendation.

County Issue 7: The much ballyhooed, controversial, so-called Sin Tax.  This is a renewal of a tax on alcohol and tobacco that will be used to fund repairs for the sports stadiums.

Sports play an important part in the American psyche and having 3 major league teams is part of what defines Cleveland as a big city. This is not about the merit of team spirit, not about the idolization of sports heroes or their use of performance enhancing substances, and not about team stats or logos. Sports are here to stay and their revenue is important to the city of Cleveland.  People are competitive by nature and it is far preferable for that to play out on a field with lines and umpires than on our streets.  

In truth, a compromise of a seat tax, so that those who actually sit in the seats at the stadiums pay for the upgrades more than those that don’t, combined with a county tax would have sat better with me.  I am also not impressed with the idea of supporting more exciting scoreboards through the tax payer.

Still, the city does own the facilities and failure to pass this levy leaves a much, much less desirable alternative. Either the sports franchises will “feel the love” elsewhere and pick up leaving Cleveland with a vacant stadium or two and a hole in its revenue (less likely but possible – has occurred here in the past and more recently in other cities) and/or the city will have to fulfill its obligation as the landlord to make the needed repairs anyway through general funds: A solution which will likely mean another tax to cover it anyway or a shortfall for Police, Fire and pot hole filling or all of the above. You can use your imagination to figure out from where they will take the funds.  Given the choice, ending the tax in the face of growing obligation would be blow to our struggling economy and to any economic growth and turnaround.

Bottom line, whatever your feelings about sports or how a fairer tax might have been conceived, Cleveland’s economy cannot afford not to pass this levy.  This is a renewal of a tax we are already paying that is set to expire. It costs only 1.5 cents per bottle of beer (9 cents on a six pack) and 6 cents per bottle of wine.  For those consuming alcohol and tobacco in healthy amounts (i.e. small and none) the amount of difference is very minimal.  Should Cleveland lose its big-city status and the economy bear the consequences of not passing it the results would be far more sweeping. This is purely an economic issue of how Cleveland can best meet its obligations and remain strong and marketable.  Vote Yes.

A word about Congressional candidates Dave Joyce and Matt Lynch for Lake County voters.

Normally, I refrain from commenting on elections outside my own voting area, (unless asked as I have been by Wickliffe residents before) but this is an interesting election that has played strongly in the frum community and therefore merits comment. 

In contrast to Cuyahoga County, this district trends Republican, making these primaries the real dime upon which the election will likely turn.. It is important to understand the rift in the current Republican Party.  There are Establishment Republicans and Tea Party Republicans.  Republicans define themselves differently from Democrats in that they believe small government must be protected to insure economic growth and personal liberties. Both sides would agree with that statement; however the difference lies in the lengths they will go to achieve that goal. Establishment Republicans are more willing to work with Democrats to get things done when agreement can be reached while being accused of hampering the conservative agenda for lack of backbone, whereas Tea Party Republicans have gone to the mat to make their point, sometimes ineffectively. Their opponents call them brash, and naïve and accuse them of giving truth to Democrats accusations that Republicans are just the party of  “No!”. Each side’s message to the other is that if you were more like us, we’d be a stronger, more effective party. Establishment types say Tea Partiers are too ideological to get anything done while Tea Partiers call the Establishment Republicans sell outs who aren’t true to their ideology in action. Soundbytes from both sides are ubiquitous in the news these days as this election is playing out in congressional districts all over the country.

It goes without saying that one can turn on the radio and hear either/both opinions validated by someone.  While these sources are indeed informative and often persuasive, they are paid to be entertaining and persuasive and often use controversy as a tool to boost listenership. Clearly they are not Toras Moshe M’sinai, no matter how golden their microphone, if they feel we live in the greatest nation, have law suits for personal liberties moving forward, opened their own university, shout loudly,  or how much sense they make or how large their listenership. While they can inform, they are not our source for determining our hashkafos.  Don’t let a single persuasive speaker turn your head.  When listening in the car especially, one’s brain is already occupied by driving and the speaker gives the listener little chance to process a thought before going on to his next point, amplifying his ability to get into your brain while decreasing your ability to think his point through.

To the best of my awareness, there is no clear “hashkafa” or official position among askanim as to which side is more righteous, correct, effective or worthy of our support.

Lake County is only one of many districts where Congressional candidates are vying for control of the party It’s both about the values the party holds dear and how best to achieve them in practice. It is more about economic than social decisions, but at the same time about both. It is history unfolding.

Personally, I can only say that I hope this division won’t do to the Republicans what the Dixiecrats did to the Democrats once upon a time, because the Republican party has an important role in American politics today and tearing it in half would be detrimental. Meanwhile, there are strong numbers on both sides of the debate. It will be interesting to see how this plays out not only in Wickliffe, but all over Ohio and the US now, and where Tea Partiers victorious now , how they do against Democrats in November when the entire general public votes and not just those selecting Republican ballots.  While you may hear that they are unelectable, keep in mind they said that last time and some won their elections while others did not.

There are those in the frum community who have held fundraisers for the Tea Party challenger, Matt Lynch. I am excited to see those who can taking an active role in politics today.  That is a good thing, a positive for us as a whole and those who have done so deserve our thanks. Courting and maintaining good relations with all politicians opens the doors for when community members have needs. Ultimately, we want whoever is in office to pick up the phone when we call, and that if our vote is in play, they have to work to keep it.

Those fundraising for Mr. Lynch certainly feel that the Tea Party has the right idea and have come out in support of that.  That is a valid point of view. It should also be noted that Dave Joyce has had a positive relationship with our community since he took over LaTrourette’s seat.  He has been a strong supporter of School Choice and is well aware of who we are in his district, even speaking at the most recent Telshe Yeshiva dinner.  Having done nothing to negatively impact our community, and in light of his support of an issue we give weight to, Hakaras Hatov may be in order. Perhaps we don’t want to make our vote seem fickle if we remove our vote from a supporter.   That is also a valid point of view.

Your vote is important and I strongly urge Lake County voters to look into the matter and show up at the polls.   No Recommendation.

No matter how you vote, early or at the polls, on one party or another, please make sure that our voice is heard on Tuesday, May 6^th and vote.