ROCKY RIVER, OHIO: I have acquired more than 200 signatures - and 200 signatures are required to be validated by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to place me on the ballot for Mayor of Rocky River for Tuesday November 6th, 2007.  Also …  

 

• I will cease collecting said signatures at 4:30 P.M. Saturday July 14, 2007. 

 

• I will then file my said petitions with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections before the deadline of Friday July 20, 2007.

  

• I thank all who have signed my petition and who have helped me collect signatures as well.  I especially thank Thomas J. Spagnoletti, my treasurer who without his assistance none of this would have been possible.

 

• I also thank residents for their kindness, patience upon meeting me, and I also thank residents who upon meeting me have invited me into their homes and made me feel welcome while asking me about Rocky River and telling me of their concerns about Rocky River as well.

 

The Rocky River voters who signed my petition want me to have a chance to run for Mayor of Rocky River in the November 6th, 2007 Rocky River Municipal Election. 

 

• They say, they have read my letters in the newspaper. 

 

• They also told me I have worked hard in the city for them and because of that they say I deserve to run for Mayor of Rocky River.   Why?

 

• (1.) They know in 1993 I organized an opposition to the Regional Minimum Security Jail that was proposed for Rocky River and stopped it.  (2.) They know in 1995 I helped stop the city of Rocky River from privatizing Rocky River city services which included garbage pick-up and street plowing etc.  (3.) They know in 1998 I helped stop Rocky River city hall’s attempt to pass a ‘criminal trespass law’ for almost anyone walking on a Rocky River ‘private or a public lawn (like a city park)’ without permission.  

 

• They also know I stood toe to toe in opposition to elected Officials from the Federal, State, County and Regional Governments on issues that ‘would have greatly affected residents from Rocky River’.  Some of these toe to toe encounters of mine with ‘elected officials’ were unreported and unknown to the general public while the general public continued just to enjoy the city of Rocky River - that good residents took the time to protect and preserve for everyone’s enjoyment. 

 

• Once I was even told by an elected official from another city to stay out of a certain issue that was taking place in another city where there was tremendous ‘resident and political opposition’.  Of course I laughed in his face and said “NO WAY!”  I also helped stop that issue that residents did not want as well.

 

• They know I ‘Founded and was First President’ of the Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corporation (a Non-Profit Corporation) in 1988 that still operates and helps the needy in Lakewood, Ohio.  

 

• They know I work at Cuyahoga County Probate for the last 25 years as a ‘public servant’.

 

• They know that the Cuyahoga County Probate Court chose me as their employee for 2007 to be honored by the Cuyahoga County Bar Foundation last February 9, 2007 to receive the Franklin Polk Public Merit Award, for my 25 years of public service at Probate Court, along with court employee honorees from other courts that received the award as well.

 

• They also know that I received special recognition from other government officials regarding my receiving the Franklin Polk Public Merit Award in 2007, such as from (1.) Ted Strickland, Governor of Ohio – (2.) Stephanie Tubbs Jones, U. S. Congresswoman - (3.) Marc Dann, Attorney General of Ohio – (4.) Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio – (5.) Tim Hagan, Jimmy Dimora and Peter Lawson Jones, Cuyahoga County Commissioners.  I am honored they recognized me for receiving the Franklin Polk Public Merit Award for my 25 years of public service for the Bar Association, The Probate Court and for the Citizens of Cuyahoga County.  To serve and to be recognized for that service is the greatest honor I have received so far in my life.  I would also like to bring that ‘public service’ of mine to Rocky River city hall so I can serve Rocky River residents.

 

• They also say they are not happy with the current administration.

 

• They are puzzled with the needless construction of the new swimming pools and new city buildings and the wasteful spending of citizens’ tax dollars for such city facilities.   

 

• Finally they say it is good to have competition in the Rocky River Mayor's Race and they especially want to know what each 'mayoral candidate' stands for and what they would do for residents if elected.  They don’t want to hear that a candidate just wants to ‘continue to maintain the city’ nor ‘keep the tradition’.   Residents want change. 

 

• I hear and know what change residents want from Rocky River city government such as Lower Taxes, Less City Government, a Refund Check at the end of the year for money not spent, a more responsive city government, jobs, safer neighborhoods and preserved neighborhoods.  They told me they have not received it yet from city hall and I assured them as Mayor of Rocky River I would. 

 

• Residents also told me they have noticed Rocky River’s decline.  I already noted that said decline in Rocky River in my past writings.  It is even more evident to me as I walk through Rocky River’s neighborhoods as I see still more homes for sale and more vacant homes as well.

 

• Finally, I feel the campaign for Mayor of Rocky River in 2007 will not be about personalities, it will be about city issues that matter to residents and voters will have a clear choice for Mayor as well.

In closing, if voters want additional money in their pocket for groceries, house payment and gasoline for their vehicle(s) – in order to encourage them to come to and stay in Rocky River, they know what they have to do.

Fred I. Sokol - Resident – Rocky River, Ohio - 440-521-5452 + scrdhrt2@cox.net  + www.votesokol.com

 

CC: Rocky River City School District, Rocky River City Government, Rocky River Chamber of Commerce, WestLife , West Shore Sun, Plain Dealer Newspaper. Westlaker Times, Fred Sokol’s Weekly E-Mail Recipients +  www.votesokol.com     

 

Paid by: Vote Sokol Committee - Thomas J. Spagnoletti, Treasurer - 1459 Prospect Avenue, Rocky River, Ohio 44116