This election year began with the expectation that Russ Pry would win easily another four-year term as the Summit County executive. The popular and effective Pry guided the county through stressful budget times following the deep recession and spending reductions at the state level. He expanded the county’s role in economic development, orchestrated sound consolidations of departments and launched initiatives to address worker training and early child development. He also repaired relations with the County Council.
Then, during the summer, the awful news: Pry died suddenly at age 58 from complications involving colon cancer. Ilene Shapiro, the council president, succeeded Pry, and now the Democrat is seeking a full term as executive.
We recommend the election of Ilene Shapiro on Nov. 8.
Shapiro arrived in the office well prepared, having worked closely with Pry during her decade on the council. She gave thought last year, and received encouragement, about running for Akron mayor. She has leadership experience in the public and private sectors, engaged, for instance, as the county made those difficult budget choices. She understands the potential and the stakes in the Conexus program, the joining of educators, manufacturers and other employers to improve the availability of skilled workers.
In these and other ways, including her relationships with city officials and business leaders, Shapiro represents sound continuity, grounded in what Pry was seeking to accomplish and committed to advancing in the same direction. More, she appears determined to see county government take fuller advantage of its charter form of government, examining ways to make the whole work better to address problems. It makes sense, for instance, to look at combining the engineer’s office with environmental services, especially in responding more productively to chronic flooding after heavy rains.
Shapiro has in mind an examination of whether a public defender’s office for felony cases would serve justice and save money.
Finally, she has a proven commitment to diversity, as might be expected from the first woman to serve as executive. She knows that diversity translates into tapping a greater measure of talent available in the community.
The Republican in the race is Bill Roemer, a former Ameritech executive and former County Council member at large. He has his own set of skills. He would do well in the executive’s office. He knows the financial terrain and presses the case for vigilance in controlling spending. He stresses public safety as a priority, with ideas about how to reopen a now-closed wing of the county jail. He also emphasizes the need for job growth and addressing flooding from storm water.
The difference in this race goes back to the idea of continuity. Pry put the county on an improving track, and Shapiro sees more clearly the way forward. In addition, she has a spark of ambition for the county. She shows a greater willingness to push boundaries in exploring how the charter can benefit further the county, looking to deliver something that lends Akron and its surroundings the distinctiveness necessary to grow smartly and enhance the quality of life.