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The two candidates for Cuyahoga County executive -- Democrat Armond Budish and Republican Jack Schron -- have spent most of their adult lives in the private sector, not running for public office until reaching middle age. And the offices they have held have been legislative.
As a result, each brings to their first run for an executive position experiences and strengths built on roles more as collaborators than initiators of policies. And each casts the results of bipartisan, executive-led governments as legislative accomplishments they shepherded.
Nonetheless, each wants to use his first time in a top government job to advance similar goals, though specific strategies and spending levels might differ.
It's an uphill battle for Schron in a county where voter registration tilts 3-1 to Democrats, and his opponent has deeper pockets. Still, Schron's incumbency on Cuyahoga County Council gives him a familiarity with county government that Budish can't match.
In separate interviews with Crain's editorial board, each put job creation and economic development at the top of the list of priorities. Those areas consume only a small part of the county's annual spending, but they are key discretionary dollars, unlike the bulk of county spending that goes for mandated services. The $2.5 billion, 2014-2015 county budget allocated only 1.7% to development. More than 37% goes to social services, and nearly 36% is carved out for the courts, health and safety, and roads and bridges.
Schron believes his 30 years building a family business, Jergens Inc., gives him the leg up in job creation. Jergens manufactures and sells specialty fasteners, hoists, vices and clamps for manufacturers.
"Everybody says you should create jobs" by supporting financially the expansion plans of businesses, Schron said. "But you need to have somebody who has actually demonstrated they can walk in,...