Ken Lanci has thrown his hat in the ring to become the first Cuyahoga County Executive. Lanci is a wealthy businessman who owns two companies located in Cleveland. He currently employs 150 employees with a payroll of $6 Million.

He writes about his candidacy:

Thanks to the landslide vote for reform in November, you and I now have the freedom to improve the way Cuyahoga County Government functions. I want to help lead that effort.
My name is Ken Lanci and I am a candidate for County Executive in 2010.
As I prepare to launch my candidacy for County Executive, I have a choice. I can choose to focus on the well-publicized failings of those officials who abused our trust or I can concentrate on a positive approach to fixing the County Government. I find myself often repeating a line from Yogi Berra: "If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you’ll continue to get what you’ve always got." That's why we're going to run a new kind of campaign.
I’m going to look past my disillusionment with those who confused public service with self-entitlement; my candidacy and platform will reflect lessons that I have learned in life and in business. I have the skills and experience to turn around County Government. It’s what I’ve done for more than 40 years, and together, we can do it for Cuyahoga County.

* When elected, I will work for $1 a year.
* I won’t be aligned with any political party---this is no time for partisan politics.
* I will refuse donations from Political Action Committees and County Employees.
* I will not accept more than $250 from an individual campaign donor.

I look forward to a great campaign for the future of our community and I hope to hear from you during the campaign. Together, we have the independence to professionalize our County Government! Please visit my website often in the coming months where I will share my vision of a responsive, compassionate and effective County Government, a government that works for the people---all the people.
Sincerely,

Kenneth A. Lanci

Here is Lanci's press conference from earlier today: