Cuyahoga County Executive Candidate Don Scipione - Independent


Biographical information on this page has been gathered from The Plain Dealer and the candidate's Web site. It is provided solely as a service for visitors to our site. As such, the Greater Cleveland Partnership cannot and does not attempt to independently verify or make any claim to the accuracy or completeness of the information.

  • B.S., Physics, Carnegie-Mellon University
  • Ph.D., Experimental Elementary Particle Physics, University of California, San Diego
  • Acme Express, Inc. (software development company) – Founder and president, 1982-present
  • Notre Dame College, associate professor, 1981-86
  • Leaseway Transportation, project manager, 1981-82
  • UCSD, research assistant and research physicist, 1966-80
  • Plain Dealer profile
  • Campaign Web site
  • 90.3 WCPN ideastream interview
  • Campaign Five-Point Plan

Questions from the GCP


The Greater Cleveland Partnership asked each of the County Executive candidates to respond to the questions below. The answers are posted as provided, without edits.

Economic development is important to the GCP. How would you forge better public/private relationships in moving the county forward?

We need all public partners to work together as a team rather than individuals. I want the Economic Development Commission to take on the responsibility of grading public and foundation funded economic development organizations. Annually, they should be graded on how well their mission fits into the overall strategic economic development plan and how well they play as part of the team. To the private sector, I pledge to reduce County taxes as a result of my plan to save $200 million per year by rebuilding the way county government does business. Two hundred million dollars per year: for tax relief and investment in jobs and prosperity.

What are your plans for implementing the recommendations offered by the County Government Reform transition teams?

The transition plans will be reviewed in partnership with County Council. The transition team recommendations will serve as a baseline plan for rebuilding how services are delivered. 

How do you see the role of the County Executive in working with state and federal lawmakers?

We need to get every dollar possible from state and local government consistent with our responsibilities to the community and our strategic plan for jobs and prosperity. We must engage state and federal agencies to prevent poor and money-wasting decisions like ODOT spending $425 million to cut 30 percent of the city’s access closing the Prospect and Carnegie InnerBelt ramps; imposing un-funded mandates; and requiring use of inferior software systems.

Did you support Issue 6? In 75 words or less, explain why or why not?

I am the only candidate that was a leader of Issue 6. I joined the campaign when it was a rickety cart. I served as its Treasurer, built its website, and ran the Yard Sign and Get out the Vote campaigns. No other candidate was among the 54,000 voters who signed the Issue 6 petition, bothered to endorse it, or donated a nickel to the campaign. I believe in the Chart; I helped write it!