For the first time in over two hundred years, the voters of Cuyahoga County decided it was time to change their government by casting an overwhelming 66 to 34 percent vote in favor of Issue Six.  Most people ask, “What is Issue six, and what happens now that it is passed?”  

Issue Six will eliminate the County Commissioners and replace them with one county executive and eleven council members. Such a division of power among twelve people will make it easier to prevent one individual from gaining too much power.  While there is one executive official, the eleven council members can still override the decision of the executive official by a vote of eight of the eleven council members. This allows the checks and balances system to work more efficiently.  

Now that Issue Six has been passed, it sets into motion a wide range of changes.  By March, the three county commissioners must choose three county officials to serve as the “Transition Advisory Group.”  These three individuals will design a budget for the new government and recommend ways to smooth the transition to a new government.  In September, the candidates for county prosecutor, executive official, and the eleven council members will campaign for office in a primary election.  In November, the officials will be elected, and the new county government will take over in 2011.