Local bloggers have been busy collecting info on potential Cuyahoga County executive candidates.
Two more names popped up this week: South Euclid Mayor Georgine Welo and a local businessman named Ken Lanci.
- Welo
Welo, 51, is a Cleveland native and has been mayor of the East Side ‘burb since 2003. The Democrat began her political career there in 1991 when she won a seat on council. A biography of Welo, with plenty of touchy-feely detail, can be found here
Lanci owns two local companies, Consolidated Graphics Group and Consolidated Technologies Group (CTG). On his campaign web site Lanci touts himself as a troubleshooter for failing organizations. He vows not to accept campaign contributions of more than $250, and if elected, to take only $1 of the proposed $175,000 salary.
Local political blog OhioDaily and others have noted Lanci’s 2008 campaign contributions to Sarah Palin, but the Plain Dealer writes that Lanci has also given to Dems like former Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt and Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher.
Lakewood Mayor Ed Fitzgerald threw his hat into the race just before Christmas. Primaries are scheduled for September with a general election to follow in November. — Damian Guevara
This article appears in Dec 30, 2009 – Jan 5, 2010.
Ken Lanci is a relative of Anthony Liberatore of the La Casa Nostra. His brother Tom Lanci was convicted of planning the killing of Danny Green, a teamster official. Tom Lanci was also convicted with Liberatore on R.I.C.O. charges.
Liberatore’s outward respectability was only a cover for his burning commitment to take over the mob leadership. Liberatore maneuvered to strengthen his influence in the unions and high underworld circles with the help of Tommy Lanci, a lifelong friend whom he called his nephew. Lanci, 35, a high roller with an interest in a travel agency (sepcializing in gambling junkets) and Diamond’s men’s stores, had no criminal record and was not even a footnote in intelligence files. But he had befriended a variety of mob figures, both black and white, and he and Liberatore were inseperable, rarely making the slightest move without consulting each other. Their role in the Greene murder, however, would not surface until long after those originally arrested in the plot were jailed and awaiting trial. It was only when ex-convicts Louis (Little Tony) Aratari and Ronald (Vic Guiles) Guilliani were arrested this past winter that the spellbinding story that linked Lanci and Liberatore to Greene’s demise was unraveled.
Ken Lanci’s campaign has responded to the two previous posts concerning Ken Lanci’s younger brother, Tom:
“Ken Lanci denies that he is related to Anthony Liberatore,” says Joe Wagner, a spokesman for Lanci. “As for his brother Tom, his position is that he loves his brother, but he committed a wrongdoing and paid the price. This was all thirty-three years ago. What’s the relevance to the county executive campaign? What’s the point?”
Thomas Lanci, according to news archives, was a member of the Cleveland Mafia and considered an underling of Liberatore. He was convicted of federal racketeering charges in the early 1980s in connection with the 1977 car bombing death of Danny Greene.
– Damian Guevara
Ken Lanci was FORCED to resign from the Board of the Independence Bank by the FBI.
Now just why would that be? Maybe the relationship with the mob was NOT purely his brothers?
tattler, either identify yourself and back up your accusations, or stop making them here.
“…says Joe Wagner, a spokesman for Lanci. ‘This was all thirty-three years ago. What’s the relevance to the county executive campaign? What’s the point?'”
Ironic questions from fired PD hatchet man Joe Wagner. Wagner spent years ruining people’s reputations with accusations of things that happened years ago, and have no relevance. But he cries foul when his new employer is the target of a similar attack.
Mr. Lanci seems to be a worthy candidate, and may make a fine Executive, but he should employ a spokesman with less baggage.
Wagner retired from the PD. He was not fired.
tattler has been booted from the site for continuing to make unsupported accusations.
Unless any of you posters have evidence of wrongdoing by ken lanci ( which it is obvious that you do not ), your comments as to him being related to Thomas Lanci are totally irrelevant. In fact, I believe that he should be given credit for having taken a completely different path from his older brother – despite the influence an older brother can have – and making a success of himself in the legitimate business world.