Dems seek to move past scandal

September 11, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Democratic officials in Ohio’s most populous county sought to distance the party from a damaging political scandal Friday while Republicans promised an honest alternative in the November elections.

County Auditor Frank Russo, a Democrat, resigned Thursday after being charged with accepting more than $1 million in bribes including a free trip to Las Vegas, gifts and home improvements in return for steering county contracts, hiring cronies and lowering tax assessments.

His attorney, Roger Synenberg, wouldn’t comment Friday.

Democratic chairman Stuart Garson said the $1 million bribery case against Russo wasn’t surprising after a two-year probe. He called Russo’s resignation a “welcome relief.”

“Our party has moved beyond this scandal and will not engage, tolerate nor defend the wrongful and selfish actions of a few officeholders and their subordinates who have disgraced themselves and violated their public trust to all of us,” Garson said.

Amid the investigation, voters backed a ballot proposal to switch from a three-commissioner government to an executive elected countywide and 11-member council elected by district, providing an opening for suburban Republicans routinely shut out of county elective office.

The new government takes office in January, and both parties claimed the mantel of reform.

“It’s going to take a new mentality and face in county government to clean up the culture that Frank Russo created,” said former state Rep. Matt Dolan, the GOP candidate for county executive. “It’s going to take someone that is not tainted by a connection to the current structure to lead that transformation.”

Since the investigation of the Democratic-controlled county government began two years ago, more than 30 people have been charged and most have pleaded guilty.

The charges against Russo leave county Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, a former Democratic chairman, as the top target still under investigation by the FBI. He hasn’t been charged and denies wrongdoing.

The city and county are important to Democrats. Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat seeking re-election, won 61 percent of the vote statewide in 2006 but 74 percent in Cuyahoga County.

The Democrats’ nominee for county executive, Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald, “is committed to turning this county around, ensuring honesty and transparency in government and helping our region thrive,” Garson said.

Dave Yost, the Delaware County prosecutor and GOP nominee for auditor of state, said that if elected he would review the Russo matter and seek restitution.