CLEVELAND, Ohio — Some Cuyahoga County Councilmembers are calling for Prosecutor Michael O’Malley and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne to work together to end the dispute over whose attorneys should handle the county’s legal work – but they also signaled they’re ready to take the issue to voters to preserve the law director’s authority, if necessary.
Council President Dale Miller and Councilmember Sunny Simon, both veterans of county reform, defended the current division of legal duties, with the law director advising them and executive staff on contracts and legislation while the prosecutor handles litigation and weighs in on other stuff when requested. The structure has worked well for the county, they say, but they’re open to slight adjustments if the parties were to come to a new agreement that resolved the issue without shackling the law department.
If not, Simon said she’s willing to propose a charter amendment to clarify the roles once and for all…