State Senator Michael J. Skindell To Run For Mayor Of Lakewood; Pledges To End Backroom Deals, Save Lakewood Hospital

State Senator Michael J. Skindell, now a candidate for Mayor of Lakewood.

Pledging to put an end to backroom deals like the one which engineered the proposed closing of Lakewood Hospital, State Senator Michael J. Skindell filed petitions to run for Mayor of Lakewood. Skindell's entry marks the Lakewood contest as one of the top local races for 2015. Skindell has proven to be a powerful vote-getter in the city which sent him to Columbus with big margins in the past twelve years. Previous to that he was a Lakewood Councilman at Large for five years.
 
"Public office is a public trust. The present Mayor has repeatedly violated that trust by attempting to close Lakewood Hospital, which is viable and which I pledge to keep open. The Mayor has the obligation to protect the people's interests. He or she must insist that those who choose to do business with the city will not be allowed to dodge their obligations and waste public assets for corporate gains," Senator Skindell said.
 
"One of the most sacred responsibilities of a public official is to be honest and above board. Anyone who looks at the deal to close Lakewood Hospital knows that the Mayor has been anything but that. While honest people can have honest disagreements over public policy, the debate must be in the open. The attempt to close Lakewood Hospital was done behind closed doors and the mayor continues to shield relevant discussions and documents from public view. It is an outrage that the people of Lakewood have to sue the city to get information about their community hospital," Skindell said.
 
"I am pleased to join with our citizens who are fighting for Lakewood by fighting against the closure of Lakewood Hospital. As Mayor, I will work to put Lakewood Hospital on a path to serve the healthcare needs of our community long into the future and keep the hospital as an economic engine of our city. Lakewood Hospital is a critical link to the cherished public services, such as police, fire, senior and youth services, that make our community strong."
 
"As Mayor, I will bring transparency to city government. I will oppose backroom deals that are delivered to the public in a black box. During my entire career in public service I have always fought for open government."
 
Senator Michael Skindell has a distinguished record of service to the people. He has represented Lakewood in the state legislature, currently serving as a State Senator since 2011 and having previously served as State Representative for eight years. As a legislator, he has served on the important Finance and Appropriations committees in both the Ohio House and Senate. He was successful in advocating for more than $400,000 in funding for Lakewood's Beck Center and funding for renovations at Lakewood Park. He has been a strong advocate for the state funding to help rebuild the public schools in Lakewood.
 
Skindell has been a leading advocate for seniors, working families and consumers. In 2007, he worked to get an addition into the state operating budget that provided for the first foreclosure prevention program established in Ohio. As part of House Bill 119, Cuyahoga County was given the authority to use interest and fees from delinquent taxes for steps aimed at foreclosure prevention. On the environmental front, he was named the 2004 Environmental Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Environmental Council and he has continued to be champion for Lake Erie.
 
Michael Skindell served the city of Lakewood for five years as a Councilman At Large. As a Lakewood Councilperson, he was successful in passing legislation to protect buildings that have architectural or historical significance to the city. As an attorney, Skindell also served as an Assistant Attorney General with the state of Ohio, fought for the health and welfare of seniors by providing legal representation to the Director of Health and before administrative agencies and state and federal courts.
 
Skindell graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Political Science from Walsh College in 1983. He received a Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1987.
 
Michael Skindell is a member of the executive committee of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, the Lakewood Democratic Club and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. He was an alternate delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention. For further information, contact: Senator Michael Skindell at (216) 798-1035.

Mike Deneen

Mike Deneen has extensive experience covering sports and community stories for the Lakewood Observer. Mike has been a Senior Industry Analyst for the Freedonia Group in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1998. He has appeared on CNBC’s Closing Bell, NPR’s MarketPlace and has been quoted multiple times in The Wall Street Journal. He has made multiple guest appearances on ESPN Cleveland radio. Mike also writes for Inside Northwestern, a website that covers Northwestern Wildcat Athletics. You can reach him on Twitter at @MikeDeneen1 

Read More on City
Volume 11, Issue 12, Posted 5:52 PM, 06.09.2015