Ed FitzGerald set to announce bid for Ohio governor

[Cirque du So-What]

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald will officially kick off his campaign for governor this afternoon at a downtown Cleveland hotel.

And while Republicans already are trying out attacks based on FitzGerald's brief and inconsequential cameo in a federal county corruption probe, the former Lakewood mayor's tenure as the first county executive also will be closely scrutinized in coming months.

Here's a look at the highlights of the FitzGerald era.

<snip (highlights in linked article)>

Source: Plain Dealer research
With Plain Dealer Reporters Henry J. Gomez and Laura Johnston.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/04/ed_fitzgerald_set_to_announce.html

This will be interesting as it develops.

[Still Sensible]

1. At first glance, he looks like a

pretty weak candidate.

[NEOBuckeye]

2. He would have been much better off

Running for re-election as Cuyahoga County Executive. He would have faced less formidable opposition, and two full terms would have made him a much stronger candidate for higher office. FitzGerald faces an uphill battle downstate where most people don't know what a County Executive is and think Kasich is actually doing okay as governor. Cordray or Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman at least would have thicker resumes to stand on and could present an alternate vision for the state's future. I would love to see Kasich tossed out of office, but barring a major scandal, it isn't likely at all to come at FitzGerald's hands.