CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New Cuyahoga County Council President Dan Brady announced council committee assignments for 2015 on Friday.
Brady, a Democrat who lives in Cleveland's Edgewater neighborhood, named both Republicans and Democrats to lead major committees. That includes naming Westlake Republican Dave Greenspan, one of council's most outspoken and conservative members, chair of council's budget and finance committee.
The finance committee's former chair, Democrat Dale Miller of Cleveland's Bellaire Puritas neighborhood, was named chair of the council operations and intergovernmental committee, previously led by Greenspan.
Brady also said he will introduce legislation to create a new community development committee that will be chaired by Democratic councilman Anthony Hairston.
This new committee will implement the county's $50 million demolition program, approved in October, and otherwise oversee the county's various community development initiatives. Hairston, from Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, was appointed and then elected to an unexpired term last year.
Council committees review and amend legislation, which can be drafted by the county executive or other council members, before making recommendations for eventual passage.
In a statement, Brady said: "It is my intention that these committee appointments be made in a thoughtful and timely manner to help ensure a seamless transition in County government. These committee appointments will continue to reflect the political diversity of County Council by capitalizing on the strengths of our individual members."
Brady named councilman Chuck Germana, a Parma Democrat, chair of the public works, procurement and contracting committee. That committee's previous chairman, Pernel Jones, a Democrat and council's vice-chair, was assigned to lead the health, human services and aging committee, previously chaired by Brady.
Jones is a resident of Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood.
Democratic councilwoman Yvonne Conwell, who unsuccessfully challenged Brady for council president, will remain chair of the human resources, appointments and equity committee. She is a resident of Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood.
Councilman Jack Schron, a Chagrin Falls Republican who lost to Democrat Armond Budish in last November's county executive race, will remain chair of council's economic development and planning committee.
Councilman Mike Gallagher, a Strongsville Republican, will remain chair of council's public safety and justice affairs committee. Democratic councilwoman Sunny Simon, of South Euclid, will remain chair of council's education, environment and sustainability committee.
Brady, who was chosen as president by his colleagues on Jan. 2, will chair council's committee of the whole, made up of all members of council.
The only council member who will not chair a committee in 2015 is Shontel Brown, who in November was elected to the seat vacated by C. Ellen Connally.
Brown, a Democratic former Warrensville Heights councilwoman, however will be vice-chair of the education, environment and sustainability committee.
Committee meetings will begin the week of Jan. 20.