In the race for county council, District 5 (Berea, Middleburg Heights, Strongsville, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township’s Precinct D), voters will choose between two competent, committed public servants who are involved in public policy-making at the city council level.

Republican Michael J. Gallagher has served as a Strongsville councilman for 11 years; three as council president. Democrat Anne Marie Donegan has served as an at-large councilwoman in Olmsted Falls from 2002-2006 and 2008-present.

Both advocate restoring trust and confidence in county government and working to promote job growth and economic development. Gallagher’s experience as chairman of Strongsville’s finance committee and his responsible, disciplined approach to finances would be a valuable asset in serving the county. Strongsville carried over more than $7 million in cash from the last budget — no small feat in today’s economy.

Donegan, admirably, has championed efforts to streamline county agencies and operations to optimize services, which will save operating costs.

Gallagher has put forth a more detailed plan for the county, and views the District 5 seat as an opportunity to solve problems and seek development and prosperity on a regional level rather than putting the emphasis on his particular district. This is what voters called for when they approved the reform measure.

For District 5, Sun News supports Gallagher.

http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/index.ssf/2010/10/gallagher_in_county_councils_d.html

District 5 encompasses Olmsted Falls, Berea, Middleburg Heights, Strongsville, North Royalton and part of Olmsted Township. At stake is a four-year term. Early voting has begun.

THE CANDIDATES:

Ann Marie Donegan, 49, health care consultant, Olmsted Falls City Council member, Democrat.

Michael J. Gallagher, 53, Court of Appeals deputy administrator, Strongsville City Council president, Republican.

OUR VIEW:

It is hard to see the candidacy of Donegan, a longtime member of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party executive committee, as anything but opportunistic. An obedient apparatchik, she toed the party line and opposed Issue 6. When the voters set her straight last November, Donegan did an about-face, touting "a bold new course of government," and put her name on the ballot.

. . .his experience and commitment to change make Gallagher the clear choice for voters in District 5. ..

Now, Donegan is serving up platitudes about restoring public confidence and creating a climate conducive to economic development, but she offers few details.

Gallagher, a former Democrat, has a reputation as a fiscal conservative and a consensus-builder. He wants to lower the sales tax to make the county more competitive. He favors outside performance audits to make the county more credible, efficient and effective, and says his priorities would be job creation and a strict ethics code.

Gallagher plans to retire as deputy administrator on Dec. 1, which means -- if elected -- he will be a double dipper, collecting a state pension and a county paycheck.

STRONGSVILLE -- Strongsville Council President Michael Gallagher has announced his desire to represent his disrict on the new Cuyahoga County Council.

Gallagher, 53, is the first candidate to return his petitions for a pre-check with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for the 5th District seat. The 5th District includes Strongsville, North Royalton, Middleburg Heights, Berea, Olmsted Falls and Precinct D in Olmsted Township.

Gallagher told Sun News on Tuesday that his years on Strongsville City Council have given him the expertise to serve on county council.

"We have a record of financial stability and economic development in Strongsville,” he said. “I believe that I’ve been at least a small part of that during my tenure on council.”

Gallagher has represented Ward 4 for 11 years. He has served two years as council president.

http://www.cleveland.com/sunstarcourier/index.ssf/2010/02/strongsville_council_president_1.html

Cleveland Area Middle East Organization (C.A.M.E.O)

On June 30th, Mike Gallagher was endosed by the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County in his race for the District 5 County Council seat.

District 5 includes the cities of Berea, Middleburg Heights, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, and Strongsville, and Olmsted Township Precinct D

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