A Message Regarding the Vacancy on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

A message from Ron Lisy

Dear Friends,

As you are probably aware, our friend Republican Cuyahoga County Board of Elections member Sally Florkiewicz has announced her intention to resign from the Board effective April 2nd.

This follows a politically charged demand from Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to all four Cuyahoga county Board of Elections members to resign their positions.

Of the four members, only Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Elections remains seated on the Board past April 2nd.

Many of you are also aware that I have been employed at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for the past nine months, joining the Board staff soon after the May 2006 primary debacle.

I've learned the nuts and bolts of the elections process, and seen many areas where the Board needs to improve. I believe it is crucial that our faith in the elections process be restored, and the value of the county taxpayers' dollars be respected.

Several of you have stated that this experience and insight along with my previous activities with the Republican Party, and as an elected member of Bedford City Council would make me an ideal candidate for the Board of Elections vacancy.

Although I am flattered at the suggestion, and did give it active consideration, I will not be a candidate for this vacancy.

In my opinion, an extremely qualified candidate, and an extremely committed Republican has stepped forward and declared himself a candidate -- that person is Judge Jeff Hastings.

Jeff is an ideal person for this seat, with experience in the Ohio Attorney General's office under both Betty Montgomery and Jim Petro, experience serving as Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party, and a stint as a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge, which earned him wide praise for his judicial temperment and legal skills--and nearly re-election despite running against a "legendary name" and the Democratic tidal wave in Ohio.

Jeff Hastings will do us proud on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

I hope that you will attend the meeting of the Cuyahoga County Republican Party Central & Executive Committees, scheduled for Wednesday April 4th at 6 to 8 pm, Independence Civic Center, 6363 Selig Drive in Independence and join me in supporting Judge Jeff Hastings for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

With Regards,

Ron Lisy