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

THE CANDIDATES:

Michael J. Gallagher, 53, court of appeals deputy administrator and Strongsville City Council president

Craig A. Marvinney, 52, attorney

OUR VIEW:

Both Republican Party-endorsed candidates in this conservative, suburban district offer the depth, experience and vision to carry out reform the voters have demanded. This is the only county-council primary in which the Cuyahoga County GOP endorsed both contenders.

. . . Gallagher's City Council experience better prepares him for the task ahead.

Marvinney, who has never held elective office, served two terms on the North Royalton Planning Commission. He preaches an aggressive economic development strategy that includes dialing back the sales tax.

Gallagher, a former Democrat, also stresses the need for the county to become more business-friendly. He currently heads the Strongsville City Council, where he has been a leader in helping manage city finances.

Both support a strict ethics code and performance audits to increase county efficiency and effectiveness. Both have reputations as consensus-builders and nimble negotiators. They recognize that regionalism trumps parochial agendas.

It's a close call, but Gallagher's City Council experience better prepares him for the task ahead.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/08/post_26.html

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

Click here to download a PDF version of this map.