Chairman's Message

Dear fellow Cuyahoga Republican,

With this being our Judicial Salute Issue, I would like to take a few moments to focus on the challenges facing our judiciary. Given that some of our greatest successes in rebuilding our Party these past few years have been victories in local and county judicial races, this focus is appropriate.

Without Kathleen Sutula, Joan Synenberg, Dick Ambrose, Marilyn Cassidy, Ken Spanagel, Deborah LeBarron and Brian Hagan showing us the way to victory in recent years, let alone our very own Justice Terry O’Donnell together with Justice Bob Cupp making it a “perfect 7” on the Ohio Supreme Court, we would have much less to be thankful for as Cuyahoga Republicans today. With two fabulous Justices, Maureen O’Connor and Evelyn Stratton, working hard for re-election this year, we are also fortunate to have the opportunity to re-elect Judge Dick McMonagle to the Common Pleas bench, and to promote Judge Kathleen Sutula to the Probate bench.

In addition, we have eminently capable and well-regarded attorneys challenging in judicial races this year, with Brian Moriarity running strong again for the Appellate Court, and Rob McClelland and Sam Zingale going for Common Pleas. All told we have some very promising opportunities to further improve our local and state judiciary by supporting these candidates and helping ensure their victory in November. When we consider the judiciary, however, we must not underestimate the importance of this year’s race for the Presidency and the impact John McCain will be able to have as President on the future of our US Supreme Court.

We have already seen the impact of the Bush appointees, Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito, and what these appointments mean for the judicial philosophy of the highest court in the land. The further possibilities for change and the representation of our core values could be expanded with the next appointee to come. That historic appointment could certainly be made within the next four years.

We have never been closer to reversing past errant decisions on several key issues, most notably Roe v. Wade and the rights of the unborn. Another with perhaps less notoriety but certainly extremely controversial and offensive to personal rights and liberties is the Kelo decision with its specter of unjustified takings of property by an activist government. Further we see the Court now for the first time in our history truly addressing the individual nature of our Second Amendment rights. In order for us to capitalize on these opportunities, we must keep the White House and work effectively to regain our majority in the US Senate.

As we salute our Judiciary this Spring, we must work together to keep them strong. Join me and the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County in this effort at all levels of what we do in 2008, from McCain for President to the races for Ohio Supreme Court and County judgeships. Together, our grass roots team can convey the message to our friends and neighbors of the importance of victory in November!

Sincerely,

Rob Frost
Chairman, Republican Party of
Cuyahoga County
1500 W. 3rd St., Ste. 120
The MK Ferguson Bldg.
Cleveland, OH 44113
direct 216-621-0077
fax 216-621-1841
email: rfrost@cuyahogacountygop.com