Ed FitzGerald

FitzGerald grew up in Indiana and graduated from high school there. He attended the Indiana University and later transferred to Ohio State University in Columbus. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1990, and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the Cleveland–Marshall College of Law in 1993. During this time, FitzGerald worked as a staff assistant for former U.S. Representative Edward F. Feighan. He also served on the staff of Indiana Secretary of State Evan Bayh.

In 1995, FitzGerald was commissioned as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was assigned to the Organized Crime Task Force in Chicago. He investigated political corruption and mafia influence in Cicero, Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Henry J. |date=May 26, 2013 |title=A closer look at Ed FitzGerald's FBI career |url=https://www.ohiodcca.org/a-closer-look-at-ed-fitzgeralds-fbi-career-2/ |access-date=November 24, 2024 |website=Ohio Democratic County Chairs Association}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=Ed FitzGerald – NewDEAL |url=https://newdealleaders.org/leader/ed-fitzgerald/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |language=en-US}}

In 1998, FitzGerald returned to the Cleveland area and later joined the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office. In 1999, he was appointed to the city council in Lakewood, Ohio, a position he held for nine years. In 2007, he was elected mayor of Lakewood. FitzGerald's administration focused on a community-policing initiative and recession-based financial issues similar to those faced by local governments throughout the country.

On November 3, 2009, the voters of Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland and 59 surrounding suburbs, authorized a new form of county government, in large part because of widespread scandal.{{cite web|last=McCarty|first=James|title=Federal prosecutors recommend Jimmy Dimora be sentenced to at least 22 years in prison|url=http://www.cleveland.com/countyincrisis/index.ssf/2012/07/federal_prosecutors_recommend.html|publisher=Cleveland Plain Dealer|access-date=July 23, 2012}} During the criminal investigation, FitzGerald was identified by the F.B.I. as P.O. 14 (Public Official number 14), but charges were never brought against FitzGerald. Under the new system, in 2010 FitzGerald defeated ten other candidates to become the first county executive of Cuyahoga County.{{cite web|last=Gomez|first=Henry|title=Cuyahoga County executive candidates share ideas for economic development at forum|url=http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2010/07/cuyahoga_county_executive_candidates_share_ideas_for_economic_development_at_forum.html|publisher=Cleveland Plain Dealer|access-date=July 28, 2010}}

Upon assuming office, FitzGerald spearheaded a long list of reforms under the general rubric of "The Western Reserve Plan."{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Jay|title=Cuyahoga County exec FitzGerald looks to lead consolidation of gov't services|url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120201/FREE/120139947|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120020518/http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120201/FREE/120139947|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2013|publisher=Crain's Cleveland Business|access-date=October 22, 2012}} Key components were a strict code of ethics monitored by an inspector general,http://inspectorgeneral.cuyahogacounty.us/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} shrinking the size of government, a sheriff community policing unit,{{cite web | url=http://executive.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_executive/en-US/110523-CommunityPolicingInitiative.pdf | title=Cuyahoga County Office of the Executive }} the largest college savings program in the nation,{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/11/cuyahoga_county_to_set_up_coll.html|title=Cuyahoga County wants to set up college savings accounts for all kindergartners|work=cleveland.com|date=30 November 2012 |access-date=26 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2013/jun/03/ed-fitzgerald/ed-fitzgerald-says-cuyahoga-countys-college-saving/|title=Ed FitzGerald says Cuyahoga County's college savings program is the first to guarantee an account for every child entering kindergarten|work=@politifact|access-date=26 November 2014}} the promotion of regional economic and service cooperation strategies,{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2013/03/cuyahoga_county_to_lead_effort_to_consolidate_emergency_dispatch_centers.html|title=Cuyahoga County|work=cleveland.com|date=26 March 2013 |access-date=26 November 2014}} and a significant economic development fund to promote job creation.{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/ohio/promises/fitz-o-meter/promise/875/establish-an-economic-development-fund-/|title=Fitz-O-Meter: Establish a $100-million economic development fund - PolitiFact Ohio|work=PolitiFact Ohio|access-date=26 November 2014}}

{{main|Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014}}

FitzGerald, a Democrat, was frequently mentioned as a potential gubernatorial nominee for 2014. In 2012, he gave a videotaped response to Governor John Kasich's speech at the Republican National Committee.{{cite web|last=Cleveland Leader Staff|title=Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald Responds to Ohio Gov. John Kasich's Speech at RNC|url=http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/18742 |publisher=Cleveland Leader|access-date=August 29, 2012}} In March 2013, he formed an exploratory committee to consider a campaign for governor of Ohio.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/11/ohio-gov-john-kasich-gets-first-likely-challenger-ed-fitzgerald/?wprss=rss_election-2012|title=Ohio Gov. John Kasich gets first likely challenger: Ed FitzGerald|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=26 November 2014}}

On April 24, 2013, he announced his candidacy for Governor of Ohio.{{cite news|last=Gomez|first=Henry J.|title=Ed FitzGerald kicks off his long-planned bid for governor by banking on his Cuyahoga County base|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/04/ed_fitzgerald_kicks_off_his_lo.html|access-date=27 August 2013|newspaper=Cleveland Plain Dealer|date=24 April 2013}} Senator Sherrod Brown and former Governor Ted Strickland endorsed FitzGerald's candidacy.{{cite web|title=Ted Strickland endorses Ed FitzGerald for governor| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42_81avfe-w}} On May 6, 2014 FitzGerald won the Democratic primary with 83% of the vote.

FitzGerald released a plan for state-funded universal preschool in addition to announcing his support for gay marriage.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/05/fitzgerald_proposes_500_millio.html#incart_river_default|title=FitzGerald proposes $500 million universal preschool plan|work=cleveland.com|date=14 May 2014 |access-date=26 November 2014}} He criticized Kasich for signing into law income tax cuts that save larger sums of money for wealthier Ohioans than poorer ones, while increasing sales taxes, which tax a larger percentage of income from poorer Ohioans than from wealthier ones.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/06/ed_fitzgerald_assails_ohio_bud.html#incart_river_default|title=Ed FitzGerald assails Ohio budget as harmful to middle-class families, the poor and women|work=cleveland.com|date=28 June 2013 |access-date=26 November 2014}} FitzGerald also chided Kasich for a lack of transparency at JobsOhio, the privatized economic development agency that Kasich formed,{{Cite web |url=http://www.nbc4i.com/story/25393739/jobs-ohio-doesnt-have-to-disclose-records-on-taxpayer-money |title=Jobs Ohio Doesn't Have to Disclose Records on Taxpayer Money - WCMH: News, Weather, and Sports for Columbus, Ohio |access-date=2014-05-17 |archive-date=2014-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517124037/http://www.nbc4i.com/story/25393739/jobs-ohio-doesnt-have-to-disclose-records-on-taxpayer-money |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://wosu.org/2012/news/2013/09/09/ed-fitzgerald-calls-for-jobsohio-transparency/|title=Ed FitzGerald Calls For JobsOhio Transparency|work=WOSU News|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122919/http://wosu.org/2012/news/2013/09/09/ed-fitzgerald-calls-for-jobsohio-transparency/|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/03/21/ed-fitzgerald-enquirer-ohio/6713217/|title=Ed FitzGerald to Enquirer: Here's my Ohio|author=CIN|date=21 March 2014|access-date=26 November 2014}} and for signing into law bills that cut early voting days and limit the distribution of absentee ballot applications.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/02/kasich_signs_voting_bills_that.html|title=Kasich signs voting bills that end Golden Week and limit distribution of absentee ballots|work=cleveland.com|date=22 February 2014 |access-date=26 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2014/04/cuyahoga_county_council_gives_final_approval_to_ed_fitzgeralds_voting_rights_law.html|title=Cuyahoga County|work=cleveland.com|date=9 April 2014 |access-date=26 November 2014}}

On November 20, 2013, FitzGerald picked Eric Kearney to be his running mate.{{cite web|url=http://www.fox19.com/story/24035805/fitzgerald-picks-sen-eric-kearney-for-ohio-governors-race|publisher=Fox 19|title=fitzgerald-picks-sen-eric-kearney-for-ohio-governors-race|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212233539/http://www.fox19.com/story/24035805/fitzgerald-picks-sen-eric-kearney-for-ohio-governors-race|archive-date=2013-12-12}} On December 10, Kearney stepped down from the ticket due to increasing controversy surrounding back taxes he and his wife owed.{{cite web|publisher=WKYC|url=http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/politics/2013/12/10/running-mate/3963361/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131210222539/http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/politics/2013/12/10/running-mate/3963361/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 10, 2013|title=Democrat ends bid to be Ohio's lieutenant governor}} FitzGerald later selected Sharen Swartz Neuhardt, an attorney from the Dayton area, to be his running mate.{{citation|last=Navera |first=Tristan |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2014/01/17/kasich-challenger-picks-dayton-lawyer.html |title=Kasich challenger picks Dayton lawyer as running mate |publisher=Dayton Business Journal |location=Dayton, Ohio |date=January 17, 2014 |access-date=January 24, 2014}}

On August 1, 2014, FitzGerald was asked to explain an October 13, 2012 incident in which he was found in a parking lot at about 4:30 am in a car with a woman, who was not his wife. FitzGerald dismissed the allegations as baseless and "disgusting." It was later verified with the Westlake Police Department that it was indeed Fitzgerald in the vehicle with the woman.{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=Phillip|title=Ed FitzGerald's name recognition is about to get a boost in Ohio, for the wrong reasons|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/08/01/ed-fitzgeralds-name-recognition-is-about-to-get-a-boost-in-ohio-for-the-wrong-reasons/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=3 August 2014}} It was also learned that FitzGerald did not have a valid driver's license at the time of this incident, and had not had one for approximately ten years.{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/08/05/witness-saw-fitzgerald-driving-alone.html|access-date=7 August 2014|title=Witnesses saw FitzGerald driving alone|publisher=The Columbus Dispatch}} In November 2012, FitzGerald did obtain a permanent driver's license in Ohio.{{cite web|url=http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2014/08/06/ed-fitzgerald-lacked-drivers-license-4-years/|title=Ed FitzGerald lacked driver's license for decade|work=Chronicle-Telegram|access-date=26 November 2014}}

FitzGerald was defeated by incumbent Republican Gov. John Kasich in the November 4, 2014 election losing 86 of Ohio's 88 counties including his own home county of Cuyahoga. He only received a majority in Athens and Monroe counties.

{{Endorsements box

| list =

;Individuals

• Sherrod Brown, United States Senator (D-OH){{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2013/11/15/U-S-Sherrod-Brown-comes-to-Toledo-to-endorse-FitzGerald-for-governor.html|title=U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown comes to Toledo to endorse FitzGerald for governor|last=Troy|first=Tom|work=Toledo Blade|date=November 15, 2013|access-date=November 17, 2013}}
• Michael B. Coleman, Mayor of Columbus{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/04/09/Mayor_Coleman_endorses_Fitzgerald_for_governor.html|title=Mayor Coleman endorses FitzGerald for governor|last=Drabold|first=Will|work=The Columbus Dispatch|date=April 9, 2014|access-date=May 2, 2014}}
• Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/01/ed_fitzgerald_collects_endorse.html|title=Ed FitzGerald collects endorsement from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson; announcement on new running mate 'coming very soon'|last=Gomez|first=Henry J.|work=The Plain Dealer|date=January 16, 2014|access-date=March 2, 2014}}
• Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Representative (D-OH-9){{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/frontpage/2013/08/15/Kaptur-endorses-FitzGerald-in-governor-s-race-1.html|title=Kaptur endorses FitzGerald in governor's race|last=Troy|first=Tom|work=Toledo Blade|date=August 15, 2013|access-date=November 18, 2013}}
• Ted Strickland, former Governor of Ohio{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/07/ohio_governors_race_former_gov.html|title=Ohio governor's race: Former Gov. Ted Strickland passes torch to fellow Democrat Ed FitzGerald|last=Gomez|first=Henry J.|work=The Plain Dealer|date=July 29, 2013|access-date=November 18, 2013}}

;Newspapers

• The Plain Dealer{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/ed_fitzgerald_in_the_democrati.html |title=Ed FitzGerald in the Democratic primary for Ohio governor: endorsement editorial|work=The Plain Dealer|date=April 25, 2014|access-date=April 30, 2014}}

;Organisations

• Service Employees International Union{{cite web|url=http://mediatrackers.org/ohio/2014/01/06/democrats-early-union-endorsements|title=Ohio Democrats Enjoy Early Labor Union Endorsements|last=Hart|first=Jason|work=mediatrackers|date=January 6, 2014|access-date=March 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824052059/http://mediatrackers.org/ohio/2014/01/06/democrats-early-union-endorsements|archive-date=August 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}
• Ohio AFL–CIO{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/10/ohio_afl-cio_backs_ed_fitzgera.html|title=Ohio AFL-CIO backs Ed FitzGerald for governor|last=Gomez|first=Henry J.|work=The Plain Dealer|date=October 7, 2013|access-date=November 18, 2013}}
• Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
• Ohio Education Association{{cite web|url=https://www.ohea.org/ohio-education-association-endorses-fitzgerald-for-governor|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140303094519/https://www.ohea.org/ohio-education-association-endorses-fitzgerald-for-governor|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2014|title=Ohio Education Association Endorses FitzGerald for Governor|work=Ohio Education Association|date=November 4, 2013|access-date=March 2, 2014}}
• Ohio Federation of Teachers
• United Automobile Workers{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/01/ed_fitzgerald_collects_endorse.html|title=Ed FitzGerald plays up UAW endorsement, John Kasich heads to Cleveland: Ohio Politics Roundup|last=Gomez|first=Henry J.|work=The Plain Dealer|date=February 13, 2014|access-date=March 2, 2014}}
• United Food and Commercial Workers
• Fraternal Order of Police{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/07/fraternal_order_of_police_endo.html|title=Fraternal Order of Police endorses Ed FitzGerald|last=Gomez|first=Henry J.|work=cleveland.com|date=July 29, 2014|access-date=July 29, 2014}}

}}

*Independent candidate Don Scipione received 11,897 votes (2.89%) and Green Party candidate David Ellison received 6,193 votes (1.5%)

FitzGerald is the seventh of eight children and is of Irish Catholic ancestry. He and his wife Shannon have been married for twenty one years and are the parents of four children.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002135929/http://www.edfitzgeraldforohio.com/ |date=October 2, 2017 |title=Ed FitzGerald for Ohio}}
• [https://www.gledp.com/ Great Lakes Economic Development], FitzGerald's consulting firm
• [http://www.politifact.com/ohio/promises/fitz-o-meter/ Fitz-O-Meter: Tracking the promises of Ed FitzGerald] at PolitiFact

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzgerald, Ed}}

Category:1968 births

Category:20th-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:Candidates in the 2014 United States elections

Category:Cleveland State University College of Law alumni

Category:County executives in Ohio

Category:Federal Bureau of Investigation agents

Category:Law enforcement officials from Chicago

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of places in Ohio

Category:Ohio Democrats

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Category:Ohio city council members

Category:Ohio lawyers

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)