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Cuyahoga County Executive Candidates Debate Accountability

(L to R) Democrat Armond Budish, moderator Nick Castele, Republican Peter Corrigan debate county issues at the City Club of Cleveland [Mark Urycki / ideastream]
Incumbent County Executive Armond Budish, moderator Nick Castele and challenger Peter Corrigan stand at podiums during a Tuesday debate at the City Club of Cleveland

The two men who want to be Cuyahoga County Executive next year debated Tuesday at the City Club of Cleveland. Incumbent Democrat Armond Budish is being challenged by Republican businessman Peter Corrigan.  

A number of questions revolved around problems with the county this year — the death of an abused 4-year-old girl and the six inmates who died at the county jail. Budish said he named expert panels to investigate.  

On the jail issue, Corrigan said he would use his business expertise to get to the bottom of it.

“I’m not appointing some council or panel to figure out what’s going on,” Corrigan said. “I’m going there, my face is gonna be in front of the correction officers. I want to be part of the solution. These people don’t even know who he is.”  

On the county’s new anti-discrimination code to protect LGBT residents, Corrigan said it would be a stop sign for businesses thinking of moving to Cuyahoga County. Budish argued that businesses support it.

“I don’t think of this as a business matter. This is human rights,” said Budish. “People should not be rejected from a job or housing simply because they are gay or lesbian.” 

Budish would not commit to a tax hike to help fund the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Agency, while Corrigan said he would not accept one, saying the county already has the state’s highest sales tax rate.