I'm really disgusted by what I saw in the Plain Dealer today and I'm calling for those that would prefer to read the whole story to write a letter to the editor and file a complaint with the Ombudsman Ted Diadiun at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tell him their coverage of this race has been unfair and a disservice to our community.

If you missed it, the front page article gave readers the impression that there were only two choices in the race for Cuyahoga County Executive. The same paper that spent so much time exposing corruption is now only providing part of the reform story.

I am real reform. I am a true Independent with no ties or obligations to the parties, both of which have been mired in controversy.

Apparently the Plain Dealer wants you to think you have no choice.

The truth is just the opposite. For the first time in Cuyahoga County, you do have a choice. 

If you’re fed up and really want change, vote for me, the REAL Independent. My only obligation is to work for you and the greater good of all residents. 

This is the most important decision you'll make in the history of Cuyahoga County. Don't allow a newspaper to tell you to vote for the lesser of two evils. Use the power of your vote to finally turn this county around.

If you want more jobs, fair property taxes and real progress, elect an experienced executive to be your first County Executive.

Get the whole story here on my web page and vote for Lanci on Tuesday.

On July 19, 2007, I was going about my life when it all suddenly changed. I died and literally saw the white light.

A pain in my left arm and shoulder developed and I asked my wife, Linda, to call 911. When I arrived at the Hillcrest Hospital I told the doctor “I was going out.”

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Did you read that our County Commissioners are cutting an additional $35 million out of the county budget because of revenue shortfalls? They are blaming property tax and slow sales tax receipts. I’m the only candidate who will make fair property tax appraisals a priority. I’m also the only candidate who will bring jobs to Greater Cleveland.

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Our campaign has been all about YOU, and we need YOU to help finish the job.

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While the ‘professional politicians’ spouted off and bickered about what ‘professional politicians’ usually spout off and bicker about, I revealed a vision for Cuyahoga County at yesterday's City Club Debate.

While they gave platitudes, I laid out a substantive vision for the future. 

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The Machine continues to amaze me. It’s obvious the Republicans and Democrats are hedging their bets, feeling the heat of a viable Independent candidate. It has uncharacteristically brought them together in an attempt to keep the same power brokers in charge.

The Democrats who have come out to endorse Republican Matt Dolan: Marty Zanotti, Jose Feliciano and Steve Kaufman, really don’t represent progress and reform as they would like you to believe.

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The time is NOW to stand up and show your support for the only candidate who is "in it to win it" for you - the people of Cuyahoga County.

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Today the taxpayers of Cuyahoga County won, and I could not have been happier. 

You may recall a few weeks ago that I went to Federal Court to block the sale of one of our valuable county assets, The AmeriTrust Building, from being sold by the current county commissioners for less than half of its value.

For the last several weeks, this case has been before the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. I filed the motion in Federal Court because I didn’t want to deal with any local judge that was involved with the corruption scandal. Since two of the tainted judges were arrested and are no longer on the bench, I took my quest to keep Jimmy Dimora and “company” from selling off our assets to Common Pleas Court today, dismissed my Federal case, and asked for an immediate review of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).

On your behalf, I presented my case before Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold who was good to work with and immediately heard the case. On the stand, our side was able to get Jay Ross, director of Central Services for Cuyahoga County to admit that there was no way that the old form of government could possibly sell this asset this year.

Additionally, assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Charles Hamm agreed stating in his closing argument that the TRO was not necessary since the commissioners could not sell AmeriTrust this year. The decision to sell or not to sell will rest solely with the new county executive and council.

Judge Saffold agreed with the county that they could not sell AmeriTrust and denied the TRO. This is a win-win situation for the people—you get to hang on to this asset and allow me as the new county executive and the council determine its direction next year instead of being defrauded of nearly $20 million.

This is what I call a win by losing. As residents, we won today and I was proud to work on behalf of taxpayers to help stop the commissioners from looting our assets.

Case closed.

People 1

Commissioners 0

Now let’s seize the moment and ensure I can keep fighting for you come January as your first Cuyahoga County Executive. Vote for “Ken Lanci.”

 

 

As we celebrate Labor Day and the many hard working men and women of Greater Cleveland, all those struggling to make ends meet and how much they deserve stronger, more innovative leadership, is weighing on my mind.

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There's been some hoopla about a preliminary design (finally) and some bare bones budget numbers (finally) for the new convention center. MMPI and LMN Architects released some pretty pictures and detailed floor plans. And I’ll be the first to say I think some of the design concepts are first rate. Four years and $100 million dollars later, but it’s a good start. 

Yet one glaring fact was overlooked by the media, the business community, the county candidates…and almost everyone else. I’ve told you before: I do my homework. I study the details because the devil’s in the details. And I think I noticed a disturbing one.

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More bad news leaking out from behind closed doors at the Board of County Commissioners - and you wonder why I filed a request in federal court for an injunction to keep these commissioners from doing any more damage before they finally take their leave?

The latest story I have heard is that the commissioners are planning to increase the “Bed Tax” (the extra tax for every night spent in a hotel in Cuyahoga County) by a whopping 40 percent!

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 More Corruption from The Democratic Machine

When I heard the news today that two staffers at the Cuyahoga County Board of Revision, one fired for incompetence, and the other quit because he was breaking the law, were rehired by Frank Russo, I was not surprised, but I was disgusted.

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There was a change in the weather at Cuyahoga County headquarters last week.

The financial forecast from just a few months ago has changed from sunny and mild to cloudy, with a storm front on the way. The County now projects a budget deficit of almost $40 million over the next two years.

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I was in jail last night, but don’t worry, it was voluntary. It was just part of the comprehensive research I’m doing into every aspect of the current Cuyahoga County government.

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Personally I expected LeBron James to stay in Cleveland because I believed he was a man who knew where he had came from and what loyalty meant.

I’m sorry to say I was wrong.

He’s not a man, he’s a kid who wants his cake, and he wants it now. But I believe that you measure the success of a man by how much more he gives back than what he has taken.

Of course his hasty departure hurts, but we’ll get over it. And James has robbed himself of the “things that could have been.”

Cuyahoga County is on the brink of a renaissance. With new projects, plans for a new government, a promise of jobs and progress, and a better way of getting things done, Northeast Ohio could look very different in just one short year.

Together we can make all this happen. We don’t need a self-proclaimed “king” to do it. We’ll do it as a team, with everyone pitching in. We’ll share the work, share the success, and share the credit. Like the Cavaliers say, “all for one and one for all.”

Instead, let’s celebrate the true heroes—those that work hard everyday and are committed to strengthening our region. I was raised here, have grown my businesses here, raised my own family here, and will remain here. I will continue to give back to my community and help provide the critical services that residents need to make their dreams a reality.