Ilene Shapiro

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Ilene Shapiro
Executive of Summit County, Ohio
Assumed office
August 1, 2016
Preceded byRuss M. Pry
ConstituencySummit County, Ohio
Personal details
Born1947
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Occupation
  • Politician
  • entrepreneur
  • businesswoman
Websitehttps://co.summitoh.net/

Ilene Shapiro (born 1947) is an American businessperson and politician. She has served as the Executive of Summit County, Ohio, since August 1, 2016. Her predecessor Russell M. Pry died in office on July 31, 2016.[1] She was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Shapiro is currently serving a four-year term that ends December 31, 2024 and is running unopposed for re-election in 2024.[2] Previously, Shapiro was a member of Summit County Council for ten years and Council President for three years. Prior to her time in public service, Shapiro was a businesswoman.[3]

Business Career[edit]

Before her time on County Council, Shapiro was a businesswoman and a small business owner. She was an executive at First Merit Bank and the Summa Health Foundation. She later became an entrepreneur, and created a beauty supply company and consultancy firm based in Akron.[3] Shapiro was the head of Shapiro Consulting, a business consulting firm.[4]

Prior to her time as County Executive Shapiro received the "Women in Business Advocate" from the U.S. Small Business Administration.[3] Shapiro was a founder of the Women's Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation.[5]

Summit County Council[edit]

Council Member at-Large[edit]

Shapiro was elected to Summit County Council in 2006 as an at-large councilmember.[6] She served as the chair of the planning and economic development committee for her seven years.[4] In 2007, she was recognized with a Women of Professional Excellence Award Women's Network Inc..[5] In 2008, Shapiro received the Northeast Ohio Athena Award from ATHENA International.[5] In 2011, the Akron Urban League named Shapiro a Pioneer at their annual Pioneer and Protege's recognition event.[5]

Council President[edit]

Shapiro was elected council president in 2014.[4] In 2015, Shapiro received the Harold Stubbs Award for Government.[5]

County Executive[edit]

Interim County Executive[edit]

When Executive Russ Pry died in 2016, she was named Interim County Executive on August 1, 2016 due to her position as President of County Council.[7] The Summit County Democratic Party then voted and selected her to complete the remainder of Pry's term and to replace him on the ballot in November 2016.[8] During her first few weeks as County Executive, Shapiro sought to continue the initiatives started by the late Russ Pry.[9]

2016 Election[edit]

In 2016, most Democrats in Summit County won their elections against their Republican rivals.[10] Shapiro faced Bill Roemer (R) in the general election. Shapiro won 58.94% of the vote compared to Roemer's 41.06%.[10] Her term ended December 31, 2020.

Shapiro ran a campaign focused on economic development, workforce training, and diversity inclusion.[8] Her campaign planned to continue and expand upon the work of Russ Pry.

Tenure[edit]

Shapiro made economic development and workforce training a priority of her first term in office. The county is attempting to attract businesses-small and large- to the region. In March 2019, the county launched its new Economic Development Tool, Summit4Success. A website aimed at increasing business relocation to Summit County. This website also allows for individuals to connect with economic development employees of the county.[11] Executive Shapiro announced the creation of Summit Liberty House, a shelter for veteran women in Summit county, at the 2018 State of the County.[12] The project was completed in September of 2019.[13]

Shapiro's tenure included a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. In the first year after her election, Shapiro created an Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion to review the County's initiatives and practices relating to employment, purchasing, representation, and community engagement.[14] In 2019, Shapiro announced that the County would seek to become an AARP Age-Friendly Community, and in 2023 began offering the Age-Friendly Seal of Approval program to certify businesses and institutions in the county as age-friendly.[15] In 2020, Shapiro supported a County Council resolution, sponsored by Councilwoman Veronica Sims, declaring racism as a public health crisis and creating of a special review committee to review county practices.[16]

Shapiro was named a Women of Note 2019 by Crain's Cleveland Business.[17] In 2022, she received the Greater Akron Chamber's H. Peter Burg Award[18] and the Victim Assistance Program Bernard Rosen Community Service Award.[19]

Opioid crisis[edit]

In October 2017, Executive Shapiro announced plans to sue the companies that make and distribute addictive painkillers. She declared a state of emergency in the county and said the opioid epidemic has cost taxpayers $112 million from 2012 to 2017.[20] In 2019, Summit County and Cuyahoga County reached a settlement with several large pharmaceutical companies for $260 million; Summit County received $104 million in total.[21] Executive Shapiro then directed the creation of the Opiate Abatement Advisory Council (OAAC) to oversee the immediate and future distribution of the funds.[22] Summit County and the OAAC have since awarded numerous grants, including $5.3 million for a data sharing platform championed by Shapiro, Unite Us, $1.4 million for care coordination for residents leaving the Summit County Jail,[23] $1.5 million to Cleveland Clinic Akron General's Recovery's in Reach Program,[24] and $1.5 million to Summa Health's First Step Program.[25]

The OAAC has also awarded $1.25 million to the Akron Community Foundation's Opioid Healing Fund to provide small grants to organizations working to combat the opioid epidemic in Summit County.

In addition to the lawsuit responding to the crisis, Executive Shapiro facilitated the gifting of land that was once the Edwin Shaw rehab hospital to two nonprofits that aim to combat the opioid crisis, Restore Addiction Recovery and Hope United.[26]

COVID-19 pandemic[edit]

Shapiro declared a state of emergency on March 13, 2020 after Summit County Public Health reported the County's first confirmed coronavirus case and immediately requested additional funding for the Foodbank from Summit County Council.[27] As County Executive, she oversaw the spending of $94 million in CARES Act funding and $104 million in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding.[28] Shapiro directed the allocation of money to local small business grants, arts organizations and nonprofit grants, reopening and technology funds to the county's public school districts, funding for first responders, funding for the Foodbank, and emergency assistance for rent, mortgage, and utilities.[28] The County also used funding to make technological upgrades, including a virtual courtroom platform and investment in broadband infrastructure.[28]

Electoral history[edit]

Summit County Council[edit]

The three At-Large candidates with the most votes are elected, as indicated by asterisks (*).

2006 General Election, County Council At-Large[29]
Party Candidate Votes Pct
Democrat Ilene Shapiro* 93,667 19.96
Democrat Pete Crossland* 91,111 19.42
Democrat Jon Poda* 90,195 19.22
Republican Michael T. Callahan 71,078 15.15
Republican Lynn C. Slaby 70,179 14.95
Republican David P. Drew 53,046 11.30
2010 General Election, County Council At-Large[30]
Party Candidate Votes Pct
Democrat Ilene Shapiro* 75,913 18.28
Republican Bill Roemer* 69,592 16.76
Democrat Jon Poda* 68,814 16.57
Democrat Pete Crossland 68,162 16.41
Republican Gloria J. Rodgers 67,169 16.18
Republican Amy Schwan 65,614 15.80
2014 General Election, County Council At-Large[31]
Party Candidate Votes Pct
Democrat John A. Donofrio* 67,046 19.43
Democrat Ilene Shapiro* 59,512 17.24
Democrat Sandra Kurt* 58,184 16.86
Republican Bill Roemer 57,517 16.67
Republican Debbie Walsh 54,493 15.79
Republican Gary Hagen 48,359 14.01

Summit County Executive[edit]

Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2016[32] Ilene Shapiro 138,466 58.94 Bill Roemer 96,455 41.06
2020[33] Ilene Shapiro 153,173 58.04 John E. Chapman 110,746 41.96

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Summit County Executive Russ Pry, 58, has died". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "Akron Beacon Journal Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts". subscribe.beaconjournal.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Ilene Shapiro, first businesswoman to take control of county government, sworn in". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Conn, Jennifer (August 2, 2016). "Summit County Council President Ilene Shapiro takes over as interim executive, area leaders remember Russ Pry". cleveland.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Summit County Executive". www.summitdjfs.org. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Summit County General Election November 07, 2006". www.summitcountyboe.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  7. ^ Bhatia, Kabir (August 11, 2016). "Summit County Democrats Vote Thursday Night on Replacement for Pry". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Bhatia, Kabir (August 15, 2016). "New Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro Looks Back at Russ Pry, and Ahead to November". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  9. ^ Rudell, Tim (October 21, 2016). "Candidates for Summit County Executive Talk Economic Development, Public Safety". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "11/08/16 General Election". www.summitcountyboe.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  11. ^ Bounds, Brandon (March 26, 2019). "Summit County Launches New Website to Help with Economic Development". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  12. ^ Rudell, Tim (August 31, 2018). "Summit County's Executive Believes Good Progress Has Been Made in 2018". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  13. ^ Goist, Robin; clevel; .com (September 26, 2019). "Summit County opens first house for homeless women veterans and their children". cleveland. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "Summit County Executive Creates Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion" (PDF).
  15. ^ Maria Lindsay (June 1, 2023). "County offering 'Age Friendly' designation". Akron.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Mills, Emily. "Summit County declares racism a public health crisis". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "WOMEN OF NOTE 2019".
  18. ^ Walsh, Molly. "Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro receives Greater Akron Chamber's H. Peter Burg Award". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Victim Assistance to hold its annual Mardi Gras Gala virtually March 5". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Schultze, M. L. (October 25, 2017). "Summit County Declares an Opioid State of Emergency, Prepares to Sue Drug Companies and Distributors". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  21. ^ Hoffman, Jan (October 21, 2019). "$260 Million Opioid Settlement Reached at Last Minute With Big Drug Companies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  22. ^ Goist, Robin; clevel; .com (October 10, 2019). "Summit County to create task force to decide how to spend settlement money from opioid lawsuit". cleveland. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  23. ^ "Opiate Abatement Advisory Committee |". Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Regional, Ohio (October 19, 2023). "Cleveland Clinic Akron General Recovery's in Reach Program Gets New Funding". Cleveland Clinic Newsroom. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  25. ^ Mills, Emily. "Using opioid settlement dollars, Summit County funding addiction programs in county ERs". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  26. ^ Schultze, M. L. (October 25, 2017). "Once a Rehab Center for TB, Edwin Shaw Site Gets a Role in Battling the Opioid Epidemic". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  27. ^ Lin-Fisher, Betty. "Summit County has first confirmed coronavirus case". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c "State of the County: Shapiro highlights pandemic work, announces she'll seek reelection". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  29. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections 2006 General Election Results".
  30. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections 2010 General Election Results".
  31. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections 2014 General Election Results".
  32. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections 2016 Election Results".
  33. ^ "Summit County Board of Elections 2020 Election Results".
Political offices
Preceded by Executive of Summit County, Ohio
2016–present 		Incumbent
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