The last remaining Republican on Cuyahoga County Council is getting some reelection help from U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno.
The GOP senator is set to headline a fundraiser in mid-October for Council Member Mike Gallagher, a critic of Democratic Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.
Moreno isn’t the only Cleveland political player backing Gallagher. Business owner and political donor Tony George is hosting the reception at his restaurant Summer House. Building trades leaders Dave Wondolowski and Terry Joyce are also listed as hosts on an invitation seen by Weekly Chatter.
Gallagher said he and Moreno started talking after Cleveland.com ran a story about Ronayne holding a fundraiser for Gallagher’s Democratic opponent, Courtney Scheff. The story quoted Ronayne calling Gallagher a “captain of chaos” who thwarted progress.
Scheff is a Navy veteran and former prosecutor. She’s mounting a challenge in a Republican-leaning district that encompasses North Royalton, Strongsville, Berea, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township.
Gallagher is trying to play Ronayne’s criticism to his advantage. His campaign website links to the Cleveland.com story, saying, “Read How the County Executive Wants Mike Off the Council.” A video on the website — labeled “Mike responds to executive attack” — reminds viewers that Gallagher opposed extending a 0.25% sales tax for 40 years to pay for a new jail.
“I don’t pay attention to my opponent,” Gallagher told Weekly Chatter. “I’m paying more attention to Ronayne.”
CMSD examines standardized testing after state flags irregularities
Earlier this month, three schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, alongside a dozen charter schools in the city and nearby suburbs, were alerted to irregularities in their spring standardized tests. State officials flagged over 50 schools statewide for issues such as exams where a high number of answers were switched from wrong to right.
The three CMSD schools – Clark, Paul Dunbar and Robinson G. Jones Elementary – are among the district’s highest performing schools. Until this week, district officials haven’t said much beyond assuring the public they were cooperating with state officials.
At this week’s school board meeting, CEO Warren Morgan said the district’s investigation found that testing protocols were not followed in some cases. But Morgan said the district doesn’t believe such issues caused the irregularities flagged by the state.
State officials gave districts until Sept. 18 to respond. CMSD met that deadline and is currently waiting to hear back, Morgan said at the meeting. If teachers or administrators manipulated the tests, they risk losing their licenses and students’ scores could be invalidated.
Going forward, CMSD plans to scrutinize its testing rules even at the schools that state officials didn’t single out.
“To build upon the comprehensive review that our district assessment team has done at those three schools,” Morgan said, “I’ve also directed an independent third party to evaluate the district’s overall testing procedures.”
– Franziska Wild
County judge wrestles – verbally
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Antonio S. Nicholson is seeking to retain his seat on the bench this November. Appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine in June 2025 to fill a vacancy, Nicholson, a Republican, faces Democrat Fallon Marie Radigan.
Nicholson recently earned the endorsement of The Plain Dealer editorial board, which noted his legal experience and commitment to the job but flagged what it described as his heated temperament at times.
His temperament was on full display early last month during a meeting of Cuyahoga County’s bench attended by more than two dozen judges. During the meeting, he and Judge Brian Mooney got into an argument that included a call from Nicholson to step outside (yes, that means what you think.) Judge John J. Russo, a former presiding judge, intervened and urged Nicholson to leave the building to cool off, according to two witnesses. Mooney, who is said to have baited Nicholson, did not return calls for comment, nor did Russo.
Weekly Chatter did reach Nicholson, who dismissed questions about the incident as nonsense.
“How did you find out?” he said during a phone call. “Nothing happened.”
He continued: “I’m cool. I’m fine. If you want a nice story, go interview the person you talked to, publish your story, and then I’ll look at your story.”
When pressed on details of the incident, Nicholson began reciting his biography, including noting his former high school and college wrestling accolades.
“I hope you are recording this,” he said.
Nicholson wouldn’t break character, talking over the questions and forcing Weekly Chatter to tap out – and end the call.
– Mark Naymik
Issue 11 health and human services campaign underway
Supporters of Cuyahoga County’s upcoming health and human services tax levy are eager to see a public campaign pitching voters on the request, which supports such things as foster care, senior services and universal pre-K.
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry hosted an event Sept. 30 to educate the public about the levy, which appears on the November ballot as Issue 11. It will cost owners of a home valued at $200,000 nearly $400 a year, about $175 more than the existing levy collects. The event also featured Issue 10, which supports people with developmental disabilities and would cost owners of a $200,000 home about $160 per year.
“I know there’s a [Issue 11] campaign, but I don’t see any signs here for us to take home,” said Gail Long, a longtime community advocate for services for low-income people. “I want to know, if you want to make a contribution, how do we make it and where do we send it?”
Long, who got a yard sign in LMM’s lobby later that evening, and others might find some relief in knowing that voters will be hearing and seeing more about the levy this month because the campaign has reserved broadcast television air time, a Federal Communication Commission disclosure by WKYC shows.
— Celia Hack
