Lee Weingart

County Executive-elect Chris Ronayne has a long history in local politics, including stints as chief of staff for former Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and president of University Circle, Inc.

Education hasn’t been widely discussed during recent candidate forums for Cuyahoga County executive candidates, but the county does play a significant role in funding and running some programs around education, workforce development and pre-kindergarten learning. The two executive candidates give their thoughts on education policy.

Both Ronayne and Weingart want to bring down jail population dramatically and reuse one of the existing jail buildings.

Lee Weingart is making a big bet this election season: that Cuyahoga County – which often overwhelmingly votes blue – will elect its first Republican County Executive.

Cuyahoga County residents will vote for a new County Executive next month. Republican Lee Weingart is facing off against Democrat Chris Ronayne. Ideastream is profiling both candidates ahead of the election, and recently caught up with Ronayne on the campaign trail.

Democratic candidate Chris Ronayne and Republican hopeful Lee Weingart met at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel at noon, answering questions from county residents in a conversation moderated by Ideastream Public Media.

The Akron curfew was reinstated Thursday night in anticipation of ongoing protests over the weekend; Community activists are speaking out about Akron police responding with unwarranted aggression to peaceful protesters; and more stories.

Basheer Jones, a former Cleveland City Council member and 2021 mayoral candidate, announced his support for Weingart on Thursday on a street corner in Hough, the neighborhood he once represented on council.

There have been three elections for Cuyahoga County executive since voters overhauled county government more than a dozen years ago. No Republican has won. Lee Weingart is hoping to become the first. He’s been running for county executive for a year already, raising money and building connections.

Two candidates for Cuyahoga County executive are each beginning their election year with more than $400,000 on hand in what will likely become a million-dollar race to lead county government.