Ilene Shapiro Easily Wins Full Term as Summit County Executive

Since Summit County elected its first County Executive in 1981 -- Democrat John Morgan -- no Republican has ever won the office. The string remains unbroken. Democrat Ilene Shapiro won over Republican Bill Roemer by a nearly 40,000 vote margin out of 228,000 votes cast.

She had been appointed to the office in August to finish the term of long-time Executive Russell Prey who died of cancer.  Asked if winning her own four year term makes the job look different to her, she said no.

"When they came to my home and swore me in, the magnitude of the job came with that because people come in and need help every single day, and that continuity of government has to stay in place to serve the people we're elected to serve."

Shapiro had been on County Council for ten years, with the last four as President.