February 9, 2007
DIRECTOR OF OHIO’S LARGEST COUNTY
BOARD OF ELECTION RESIGNS
Michael Vu, director of the Cuyahoga County (OH) Board of Elections, has resigned, effective March 1, 2007. Vu’s resignation leaves a vacancy at the helm of the Board of Elections in Ohio’s largest county, which is notorious for widespread election administration problems. After the May 2006 primary election, the Cuyahoga County Election Review Panel issued a report citing numerous deficiencies in the county’s primary election process, including problems with pre-election preparation, conduct during the election, and post-election counting of ballots. (For more information on Cuyahoga’s 2006 election problems, see “Cuyahoga County Report on May 2006 Election Administration Problems” in Democracy in Action Newsletter, August 2006)
The incoming director will lead the preparation and execution of all Cuyahoga County elections. Budget management, staffing, training, and election planning are all duties within the scope of the director’s responsibilities. As such, Vu’s replacement will have the authority and opportunity to turn around Cuyahoga County’s election process and make it a model for efficiency, accuracy, and fairness of elections.
Vu will stay on through June 2007 to assist in the transition period once the new director is selected. Deputy Director Gwendolyn Dillingham will leave her position effective the end of February 2007. Both the director and deputy director positions command a six figure salary and both are two-year terms.
The Cuyahoga County Election Board is responsible for appointing the next director. Its members—Robert Bennett, Edward C. Coaxam, Jr., Sally D. Florkiewicz, and Loree K. Soggs—have announced a search committee to screen and recommend candidates for the director position. Following are the search committee members:
- Captain William Wilkins, Chairman—Former Director of Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, 1995 to 2000
- Erskine Cade—Senior Vice President, Key Corporation
- Jimmy Dimora—Chairman, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
- Rob Frost—Chairman, Republican Party of Cuyahoga County
- Judy Gallo—United Labor Agency/Greater Cleveland Voter Coalition
- Stan Miller—Executive Director, Cleveland Branch NAACP
- Dr. Norman Robbins—Professor, Case Western Reserve University
- Deborah Sutherland—Mayor of Bay Village/Mayors and Management Association
Advancement Project encourages community organizations and residents who are concerned about voter protection to urge the Cuyahoga County Election Board and search committee to publicly disclose the criteria the committee will use to evaluate candidates for this critical position, and to conduct an aggressive search to locate the most qualified election director for the county.