Keep Democrat Russ Pry County Executive!

Dear Summit County residents,

Thank you for visiting the official online home of my campaign for Summit County Executive. I hope you are able to learn more about my candidacy and if you have any more questions, feel free to email me at russ@russpry.com. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to get to know where I stand on the issues and my plans for the future of Summit County.

As County Executive, I have had many successes since July. My ability to cooperate with business leaders, community activists and public officials has made it possible to achieve great things for Summit County.

First and foremost, I am proud to have been part of the team that enabled Goodyear to stay in Summit County, an incredible victory for our area. The Goodyear deal that our team worked so hard to forge will keep over 400 businesses, 2,900 employees and 378 million dollars in income in our community.

Working with the Summit County Veterans Administration and County Council, we also led the way for a much needed new Veteran’s facility. The County recently purchased land for the site, and the new building is under design. The new facility is scheduled for construction in late 2008.

In addition, I have created an "Economic Development Task Force" and brokered deals with the Summit County Agricultural Society. We signed a new Lease and Operating Agreement for the Summit County Fairgrounds, resolving lingering issues that involve the operation of the County owned land located at the county Fairgrounds.

I look forward to having a thoughtful discussion on the issues facing Summit County and hope you will support my campaign at this critical crossroads to Summit County's future.

Sincerely,

Russ Pry

Akron Beacon Journal Endorsed!

For Summit County executive

Our choice: Russ Pry in the Democratic primary

Published on Sunday, Feb 03, 2008

Russ Pry has brought new energy and focus to the job of Summit County executive. Ask members of the County Council. They wrangled unproductively with Jim McCarthy. They've enjoyed improved lines of communication with Pry, and that isn't because the new guy gives way to their demands. Pry knows how to take a stand and to work well through disagreements.

Now, six months in office, Pry is seeking election to a four-year term. He faces Joe Finley, a former Akron city councilman, in the Democratic primary.

We recommend the election of Russ Pry on March 4.

Pry was something of a surprise choice to succeed McCarthy, who retired last summer. Pry, an attorney, spent years working behind the political scenes, the past decade as the county Democratic Party chairman. He has served on the Akron-Summit County Library board and the county elections board. He was the law director for Boston Heights and a Mogadore councilman, first elected three decades ago. Even allies wondered how easily he would take to the larger realm of the executive's office.

The transition has been impressive — beyond the success with council members. Pry has been willing to listen and learn. He also has taken effective action. He has contributed to the improved atmosphere at Summit County Children Services, the agency succeeding at the ballot last fall. He stepped into the fray at the county domestic relations court, brokering better relations between the two judges.

Most telling, Pry has been an active presence in economic development, beginning to reorganize the county's underachieving operation, joining efforts to develop an Academic Health Center, a cooperative venture of the hospitals and universities to promote research and development. By almost all accounts, the Goodyear project would not have come together without his participation.

Pry understands that a strong six months hardly translates into enduring record. His performance so far certainly warrants election in this primary.

Joe Finley attracted more support than expected in his run for Akron mayor last fall. Yet he remains a candidate largely reliant on the negative. He contends Pry is a creature of Democratic powerbrokers. What Finley lacks is a concept of the leadership that Russ Pry already has displayed in the job.

Summit Credit Rating Praised

'Stable' financial outlook could result in lower cost for the interest on bonds

By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Friday, Jan 25, 2008

Summit County is keeping its solid credit rating.

Standard & Poor's affirmed the county's ''AA'' rating and the county government's ''stable'' financial outlook.

AA is the second-highest rating issued by the rating agency. The only higher rating is AAA.

''It's outside confirmation that the county is conservative when spending tax dollars and borrowing funds,'' said Linda Phelps, county finance and budget director.

Credit ratings help investors analyze risks when buying municipal bonds that pay for major community projects. Any drop could result in local governments paying a higher rate of interest on bonds.

''The AA rating is a very strong rating,'' said Jeffrey Panger, a credit analyst with Standard & Poor's. ''Not a lot of counties that have higher ratings.''

Standard & Poor's cited the county's strong financial position, conservative financial practices and below average debt as reasons for the strong rating. The agency also noted the county's solid tax base and recent decision by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to build a new world headquarters in Akron.

The Goodyear decision was an important factor in the rating because of the company's major impact on employment and tax revenue in the county, Panger said.

The agency also noted that the county used $2.5 million in reserves to plug an operating deficit last year and there are plans to use $4.6 million in reserves this fiscal year, so the outlook isn't all rosy. But the county planned well enough with its reserves to get through this lean economic time, Panger said.

''The long-term picture is very positive for Summit County,'' County Executive Russ Pry said.

The ratings for other large counties in Ohio are: Franklin (AAA), Cuyahoga (AA+), Montgomery (AA) and Lucas (A+). Those ratings have not been updated since 2005. Meanwhile, Akron's rating is AA-.

Also this week, Moody's, another rating agency, dropped the financial outlook for the University of Akron from stable to negative because of concerns over the school's debt. The agency did not adjust the school's rating, though.

For more details about the rating system, go online to http://www.standardandpoors.com.

Goodyear stays in Summit County

Read about Russ's involvement in keeping Goodyear in Summit County!

"The challenges facing larger cities often are underappreciated. Look at state lawmakers curbing the powers of cities to act. Against such a backdrop the role of Russ Pry gains deeper perspective. He represents all of Summit County. His presence affirms more than the obvious about keeping Goodyear. It points to our shared stake in the health of the city."

-Akron Beacon Journal

Listen to Russ on Akron News Now!

State of the County Address

Russ on WAKR with Ray Horner.

Russ explains why he is the best person for the job on Akron News Now.

Russ gives a press conference on the partnership of how to use the fairgrounds - a deal years in the making.

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