Shirley Smith says her campaign will focus on bolstering health and social services and confronting the glut of abandoned properties in the county.
Smith says as county executive she’ll try to close disparities in health throughout the area.
SMITH: “Just take for instance a person living in the Hough area and a person living in Lyndhurst. That person living in Lyndhurst is probably three to four times healthier than a person living in Hough.”
Smith says she’ll also spell out an agenda on regionalism and job creation as the campaign unfolds.
Smith served as a state representative for eight years before winning election to the state Senate in 2006. Last year in the Senate, she shepherded into law a bill that makes it easier for nonviolent criminal offenders to find jobs.
Among the politicians endorsing Smith are State Rep. Bill Patmon and a host of city council members from Cleveland and East Cleveland. She’s the third Democrat to enter the race.
State Rep. Armond Budish declared last week, supported by current executive Ed FitzGerald and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur. Former county sheriff Bob Reid is also running, and touts a list of suburban mayors who back him.
No Republican candidate has yet launched a bid to challenge Democrats for the seat in November 2014.
