For years, Cuyahoga County has been rocked by criminal corruption trials that led to the convictions of dozens of Democrat elected officials and community leaders with Commissioner Jimmy Dimora as the kingpin. (Plain Dealer, 1/13)
But Public Official 14 is still in office.
Who was that? It’s Ed FitzGerald
What follows comes from FBI wiretaps of a conversation between Dimora and Public Official 14.
Public Official 14: I heard you were looking for me.
Dimora: Yeah, I was sittin’ here with a friend of mine who’s tryin’ to get a hold of you to talk about your ice rink. He wants to make a proposal to you uh that he thinks will be advantageous to the city and to you if you uh if you wanted to talk to him and I mean the guy’s…
PO14: Is it Neiheiser?
Dimora: Yep.
PO14: I’ve been trying to return his call but I’ve been stuck in negotiations with the unions, but I’d be more than happy to talk to the guy.
Dimora: Ok. Uh, do you want me to tell … I’m sittin’ next to him here but he can’t hear me. Do you want me to tell him you’ll call him next week or…
PO14: Have him call me tomorrow morning at 9:30. I’ll make time. I’ll make time to talk to him.
Dimora: If there’s anything we can do, uh, let us know, you know, uh, any help we can provide.
Following that call, Bill Neiheiser made a sizeable contribution to Public Official 14’s political campaign and soon after got the government contract to manage the local ice rink.
Sound like a coincidence to you? … We don’t think so either. Sign our petition today!