Jane Campbell for mayor--yes, says Crain's

I attended the mayoral debates a few weeks ago (see earlier post) and saw no reason to change my mind that Jane Campbell is a calm, competent, caring candidate for re-election. Might as well say it again today because some bigger guns are behind her as well. Here is an electronic copy of Jane's endorsement by Crain's:

CRAIN'S ENDORSEMENT

Jane, again

Jane Campbell may lack the dynamic persona of the previous occupant of the mayor's office in Cleveland. However, she has proven to be a more competent administrator than her predecessor, and we believe she has grown in the job during her initial four years in the post. We urge Cleveland voters to give her the opportunity to build on her experience by re-electing Mayor Campbell to a second term on Nov. 8.

Unlike former mayor Mike White, who gave off an aura of infallibility and would bristle at any suggestion that he might not have handled a particular issue or problem in the proper manner, Jane Campbell is honest enough to admit that she doesn't know it all and has learned a lot in her first term in office. And, she acknowledged in a meeting last week with Crain's editorial board, "I suspect in a second term I'll learn even more." It is only from a willingness to learn that growth can come, which is why we believe Jane Campbell is a better mayor now than four years ago.

For instance, early in her term the mayor seemed to operate by the philosophy that the best way for the city to promote economic development was to get out of the way of business and let it happen. However, in more recent times the mayor's office has taken a more activist role in contacting hundreds of businesses and trying to see what the city can do to keep them and their valuable jobs in Cleveland.

Mayor Campbell also has created a more inviting atmosphere than her predecessor for companies and developers to do business in the city. A prime example is the experience of developer Scott Wolstein, who is pursuing plans for a $230 million residential and retail redevelopment project on the East Bank of the Flats. Mr. Wolstein has stated that he and his late father, Bart, met resistance from the previous administration when it came to plans they concocted for the Flats land. By contrast, Mr. Wolstein said he has been "blown away" by the cooperation he has received from all levels of city government for advancing his Flats East Bank plan.

This endorsement doesn't mean we're entirely pleased with the mayor's performance over the last four years. We have been critical of her failure to be a vocal champion of a clearly defined economic development vision for Cleveland. We also don't share her desire to bring casino gambling to the city.

Nonetheless, we believe the improvements her administration has made in the inner workings of city government and the job knowledge she has gained that can be used to the city's advantage over the next four years give Jane Campbell the edge over her opponent, City Council President Frank Jackson.

We believe Mr. Jackson, like Mayor Campbell, is an earnest public servant who wants what's best for the people of the city of Cleveland. However, we don't find in Mr. Jackson's economic development platform much that is substantially different or better than programs and initiatives that already are in place or in progress under the current administration.

Rather than switch captains of the ship simply for the sake of change, we would prefer to stay with a pilot who can build upon four years of experience at the helm. It is why we endorse Jane Campbell for mayor.

Well said, Crain's.

You go, girl.