On the Issues

This election is about economic development and job creation for Northeast Ohio.

This election is about the long-term economic security of our region.

Twice in the last four years, Cleveland was the poorest city in the nation. I remember when Cleveland was one of the top ten most livable cities in the nation for more than a decade! This election is about the fact that over the last decade, we have lost one third of our federal funding - because the 10th Congressional District does not have an effective, responsible representative in Congress. In fact, our representative is often absent from committee hearings and floor debate on issues that impact our lives every day and into the future.

The focus of my campaign is on economic development and job creation by bringing home our fair share of federal dollars. This and many critical issues are at the forefront of this primary election combined with my unfaltering a commitment to work every one of our public and private sector leaders to achieve results. My work with labor and business will bring about new, living wage jobs so that people can make a living wage instead of worrying every single day.

Some of these issues I can address immediately after I am elected to Congress, while others will take time to move through the legislative process.

Jobs/ Economic Development

I am very committed to economic growth and development, which will result in job creation across Northeast Ohio. If you elect me to Congress, I will work hard to bring back our fair share of federal dollars to provide support to all of our sectors of the economy including Education, health care, the arts, sports, small business, transportation, renewable energy and technology.

We have tremendous opportunities to grow our economy in many sectors across our region combined with enormous challenges to create these jobs and bring about long-term economic security.

Northeast Ohio’s increase in gross region product – the sum of goods and services – has averaged just 2% a year in the last 15 years which is very short of national gains. Manufacturing is still the largest part of our economy, but health care, the arts, the service sector and technology are also vibrant contributors.

As an older industrial city, we have old infrastructure and are constantly challenged to train and re-train our labor force. We are slowly decreasing industries such as steel, automotive and other industrials while increasing science, technical services, technology, alternative energy sources, the arts and medical services. I support the EFCA.

Small and medium size businesses with annual sales between five and fifty million dollars are the backbone of our economy today. We have less than 25 Fortune 500 companies headquartered here which means that we a smaller revenue base, less volunteer hours, fewer philanthropy dollars, and the loss of a property tax base.

In order for us to grow, we have to recognized that we now live in a knowledge economy and that our challenges today are very different than they were fifty years ago. We have tremendous opportunity to use all of our assets in the arts, sports, technology, medicine, business, labor and education to once again reclaim our place as one of the top ten most livable cities in America!

One great opportunity to grow our economy is to create a campaign to invite immigrants to come to Cleveland where homes are affordable and 130 ethnic communities already exist with churches, restaurants, grocery stores and community centers.

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