COSE Puts Interviews With Clevelands Mayoral Candidates Other Election Information Online

Friday, September 23, 2005

The Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), the small business arm of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, today posted information on its web site to help Cleveland voters learn more about the candidates vying to lead the city. A special page on COSE’s Web site, www.cose.org/election , contains audio from candidate forums, completed candidate questionnaires and a white paper containing small business priorities and action items for the next mayor.

“We have always worked hard to educate our members about the issues and positions of candidates in key races,” said Jeanne Coughlin, President of The Coughlin Group and chairman of COSE. “Clearly, the outcome of Cleveland’s mayoral race is critically important not only to our 3,000 members located in the city of Cleveland, but also to the city’s residents and stakeholders. We’re hoping to help voters become as well informed as possible about the ideas of the candidates in this race.”

In September, COSE hosted a series of candidate forums designed to allow members direct contact with the candidates and give candidates the opportunity to share their positions on issues of concern to small business. All candidates were invited to the forums, which concluded today. “Most of the debates preceding the primary have become contests of sound bytes,” said Steve Millard, executive director of COSE. “We have recorded and are made available on our website an hour of conversation with each candidate that will help our members and other Cleveland voters get a better feel for each candidate and their view on the issues.”

Also posted on COSE’s web site is the organization’s white paper, which outlines its members’ views on a number of key issues in Cleveland’s mayoral race. The white paper reflects the top priorities identified by COSE members in a recent survey. Those priorities are:

  • Improving the Cleveland Schools
  • Revitalizing the city’s downtown and neighborhoods
  • Making it easier for small businesses to do business in the city
  • Modernizing the city’s tax structure

The white paper identifies action steps designed to better engage small business in the city and make their needs higher priorities for City Hall. The action steps include creating the cabinet-level position of small business ombudsman and establishing a small business advisory council to advise the mayor on and advocate for small business needs.

“Small businesses are cornerstones of Cleveland’s neighborhoods,” said Bob Aber, owner of Cleveland based Aber Companies and chairman of COSE’s Local Government sub-committee. “They’re tax payers, job creators and voters, and they’re making it clear to the mayoral candidates and the eventual winner that they are willing to work closely with City Hall to make an even greater impact in Cleveland.”

COSE, the small business arm of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, serves as a one-stop resource for its members by providing: group-purchasing programs that reduce the cost of doing business; education and development programs for small- and mid-sized businesses; advocacy on legislative and regulatory issues affecting the business community; a wide range of resources focused on helping firms grow; and economic development partners that can address business concerns.

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