The 2010 Cuyahoga County executive election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the
County Executive
A county executive, county manager or county mayor is the head of the executive branch of government in a United States county.
The executive may be an elected or an appointed position. When elected, the executive typically functions either as a ...
of
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County ( or ) is a large urban county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the Canada–United States border, U.S.-Canada maritime border. As of the 2020 U ...
. This was the first held under the newly ratified
Charter of Cuyahoga County, which replaced Cuyahoga's 200 year old
Board of County Commissioners
A county commission (or a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials (county commissioners) collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States; such commissions usually comprise ...
with an executive and legislature, establishing the office of County Executive.
The
Democrats nominated the mayor of
Lakewood Ed FitzGerald
Edward FitzGerald (born July 10, 1968) is an American businessman, attorney, and entrepreneur who previously served as a law enforcement officer and public official in the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Early life
FitzGerald was born ...
, while the
Republicans nominated former
Ohio State Representative Matt Dolan
Matthew John Dolan (born January 12, 1965) is an American attorney and politician who has served as a member of the Ohio Senate from the 24th district since 2017. He previously served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to ...
. This was the only Cuyahoga County executive election to date with more than two candidates on the ballot, with the
Green Party
A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence.
Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation ...
nominating architect David H. Ellison, and businessmen Ken Lanci and Don Scipione as well as former Cuyahoga County Commissioner
Tim McCormack
Tim McCormack is a politician from Euclid, Ohio. He has served as Commissioner, Auditor, as well as Euclid City Councilman, Ohio House of Representatives, and United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the Unit ...
running as
independents.
FitzGerald defeated Dolan by approximately 50,000 votes with 45.7% of the vote to Dolan's 30.3%, making it the closest County Executive election in Cuyahoga's history, and the only to be won by a plurality of the vote.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
*
Ed FitzGerald
Edward FitzGerald (born July 10, 1968) is an American businessman, attorney, and entrepreneur who previously served as a law enforcement officer and public official in the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area.
Early life
FitzGerald was born ...
, mayor of
Lakewood (2008-2010)
Eliminated in primary
* James F. Brown, bus driver
* Terri Hamilton Brown, executive director of the
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is a governmental organization responsible for the ownership and management of low-income housing property in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The organization was founded in 1933, making it the first hou ...
(1998-2011)
* Dianna Lynn Hill
Primary results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
*
Matt Dolan
Matthew John Dolan (born January 12, 1965) is an American attorney and politician who has served as a member of the Ohio Senate from the 24th district since 2017. He previously served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to ...
, former
Ohio State Representative from District 98 (2005-2010)
Eliminated in primary
* Paul Casey, high school wrestling coach
* Victor S. Voinovich Sr., real estate broker
Primary results
Green primary
Candidates
Nominee
* David H. Ellison, architect
Primary results
Independents
Candidates
* Ken Lanci, businessman
*
Tim McCormack
Tim McCormack is a politician from Euclid, Ohio. He has served as Commissioner, Auditor, as well as Euclid City Councilman, Ohio House of Representatives, and United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the Unit ...
, former
Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County ( or ) is a large urban County (United States), county located in the Northeast Ohio, northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the Canada–United States border, U.S.- ...
commissioner (1997-2004)
* Don Scipione, businessman
General election
Results
References
{{2010 United States elections
Cuyahoga County executive
Cuyahoga County executive
2010 executive