On July 19, 2007, I was going about my life when it all suddenly changed. I died and literally saw the white light.

A pain in my left arm and shoulder developed and I asked my wife, Linda, to call 911. When I arrived at the Hillcrest Hospital I told the doctor “I was going out.”

 

Then serenity came over me and I felt at peace. I had a wife and children that loved me, I had been successful in business, and was truly in a comfortable place. And now I was comfortably dying and truly felt the love of God.

But suddenly I came back. Lights, blips, and on a respirator with a large tube in my throat doing my breathing……with family surrounding me…..Life was back! And several days later I had absolutely no heart damage

I had gotten a second chance at life. Everyone including myself believed it was for a greater purpose. And this life needed to be even more meaningful. So I searched.

And all of the sudden,  last November the people of   Cuyahoga county made a bold move and supported Issue 6 making way for critical structural changes to the county government. But they needed a leader – a single leader who has experience turning failing organizations around; one that is compassionate and fully understands the needs of the people; and a consensus builder that can unite many diverse interests for the greater good.

A few friends started to tell me I should consider running. Immediately I said “no,” but one morning I realized that they may be right. Because this is what I have done for the last 40 years…… The job description did fit my experience.

I spent my youth in poverty on the streets of Cleveland eastside, our family living on public assistance. With determination, I became a turnaround expert, transforming failing organizations into successful, thriving enterprises. My American dream then became other’s dreams when I was able to support charities that benefit thousands of young adults and their families.

So that every voter fully understands why I’m doing this and how I’m uniquely qualified to turn Cuyahoga County around, here are answers to the questions I get most often on the campaign trail:

Why run for office? It’s my personal struggles coupled with my successes that has fueled my passion to take on this challenging campaign.

Why campaign as an Independent? That’s just who I am—I will not follow what the political power brokers would like to tell me to do. I would rather do what’s right for the people. I have voted in one primary in my life and have zealously guarded by Independence and ability to take the best ideas from all sides and apply for the good of all.

Why limit campaign contributions? I’m the only candidate not accepting campaign contributions from Cuyahoga County employees, political parties, political action committees, and no more than $250 from any one individual. I can not be bought or rented. I will go into office not owing anyone, anything—I will work for the people.

Why working for just $1 a year? I am doing this to give back to the community that has been so good to me. Working for just $1 a year and refusing benefits will save taxpayers more than one million dollars over four years. After decades of politicians being in your pockets, I’m happy to keep my hands in my own.

Lastly I’m running my campaign like I plan to run Cuyahoga County—transparent and dedicated to the proposition that “if you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get the same result.”

I am different, dedicated and prepared to lead Cuyahoga County into great times. You see, I’m on borrowed time and grateful for it and will serve you better because of it.

I’m ready to get to work for you, so let’s seize this moment and do something great together for Cuyahoga County.

The story of Ken Lanci’s life is that he has always beaten the odds.

Born into in a housing project on the eastside of Cleveland, Lanci, as a child, spent a half dozen years on public assistance. Clothing and shoes were often hand-me-downs. He remembers family members lying on the floor to hide from bill collectors pounding on the door.

Ken Lanci was industrious at an early age. As a youth, he worked odd jobs to help make ends meet. At 19, he rescued the family print shop from bankruptcy. He had no formal business training. But, he was street smart and had a flair for dealing with people. Today, he fondly remembers the guidance he also received from two very caring mentors, Stanley Yulish and Art Harad.

As an adult, he utilized his skills to turn around other businesses. At last count, there were about three dozen. His successful efforts have saved more jobs and added to the county’s tax base. Take the case of a struggling wine distribution company. In 1987, he wisely chose to close it down and re-establish it as the Northcoast Wine Distributors. Revenues increased 320 percent over the previous firm.

Ken Lanci did not have a college degree and the economic deck was stacked against businesses trying to survive in Cleveland’s struggling economy. Despite these odds, he founded Consolidated Graphics Group Inc. (CGG) in 1996 and started the Consolidated Technologies Group (CTG) in 2008. Today, the companies have 150 employees and $6 million a year payroll with sales approaching $25 million a year. As other firms shut down or migrated out of Greater Cleveland, he stayed put on East 40th Street.

Now, as Ken Lanci, 60, runs for County Executive, both critics and friends say the odds are against him winning. That reaction is music to his ears. Beating the odds is what makes Ken Lanci tick. Ken Lanci says his life experiences, his business acumen and strong work ethic give him the edge in the race to lead Cuyahoga County at a time when citizens are crying out for ethical, independent, proven, and dedicated leadership.

For sure, corruption has degraded the county government. But, federal agents are cleaning up the serious criminal wrongdoing. The unfinished business, however, is to correct the incredibly poor management. Ken Lanci understands effective professional management. He knows how to craft innovative business plans, hire the right people to implement them, avoid financial waste and hold everyone, including himself, accountable. His deep Cleveland roots—those days of hardship on East 110th Street and Woodland Ave. and, later, on E. 117th Street—give him a strong sense of compassion, an excellent quality for county executive.

Never forgetting his roots, he remains today deeply involved in helping youths beat the odds of growing up in troubled environments. One of his favorite charities is OneSight Cleveland, a worldwide program that provides eyeglasses to underprivileged school children to help them succeed in the classroom. Ken Lanci and his wife, Linda, made a substantial donation to bring the program to Cleveland.

In just three years, the Ken Lanci-sponsored OneSight program in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has provided over 3,500 eye exams to students, with 3,000 of them receiving eyeglasses. The total value of the gift, raised from private funds, was over $2 million.

The gift of clear vision has enabled these school children to learn and function on a higher level. Ken Lanci is also deeply involved in Project Love. Together with community leader Arnold Pinkney, he co-chairs the agency’s “Remember The Children Foundation.” Project Love helps teens and adults create a culture of kindness, caring and respect.

His business firms contribute to the community as well. They offer a Graphic Arts internship that provides advanced learning opportunities and paid internships for graphics arts students. The firms have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in printing to dozens of charities the past several years.

Ken Lanci also pays tribute to his heritage as a member and former “Man of The Year” for the Boys’ Town of Italy. This storied program was started in Italy in 1945 by Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing, an Irish priest in the Vatican’s diplomatic service. The Monsignor had assisted anti-Nazi resistance and aided Jewish refugee orphans.

Today, the agency helps children, many of whom suffer from abandonment, family dysfunction, domestic violence, wars and oppressive poverty. This compassion for the under-privileged, this old-fashioned notion that everyone can beat the odds if they are given a compass to find their own way, enables Ken Lanci to connect well with the everyday people of Cuyahoga County.

There are other relevant facets to his professional experience. He served on the board of trustees of Teamsters Local 293 Health & Welfare Pension Board from 1994 to 2005. He also served on the board of directors of Independence Bank where he put his skills to work helping steer companies to solvency and job creation.

The final paragraph of his biography is actually the first chapter in his life—his family. Ken Lanci is a proud family man. He married Linda, his Maple Heights High School sweetheart, 40 years ago. They have three very successful children and four loving grandchildren.

In closing, a leader has to know the way to success so that others may follow. Ken Lanci knows the route well.

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