Ilene Shapiro

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 and is currently serving a four-year term that ends in December 2024. 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.[2]

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
SpouseRobert
Websiteco.summitoh.net

Business Career

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.[2] Shapiro was the head of Shapiro Consulting, a business consulting firm.[3]

Summit County Council

Council Member at-Large

Shapiro was elected to Summit County Council in 2006 as an at-large councilmember.[4] She served as the chair of the planning and economic development committee for her seven years.[3]

Council President

Shapiro was elected council president in 2014.[3]

Interim County Executive

As President of County Council, Ilene Shapiro was next in line for County Executive. When Executive Russ Pry died in 2016, she was named Interim County Executive on August 1, 2016.[5] 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.[6] During her first few weeks as County Executive, Shapiro sought to continue the initiatives started by the late Russ Pry.[7]

2016 Election

In 2016, most Democrats in Summit County won their elections against their Republican rivals.[8] Shapiro faced Bill Roemer (R) in the general election. Shapiro won 58.94% of the vote compared to Roemer's 41.06%.[8] Her term ends December 31, 2020.

Shapiro ran a campaign focused on economic development, workforce training, and diversity inclusion.[6] Her campaign planned to continue and expand upon the work of Russ Pry.

County Executive

Economic Development

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.[9]

Veterans Services

Executive Shapiro announced the creation of Summit Liberty House, a shelter for veteran women in Summit county, at the 2018 State of the County.[10] The project was completed in September of 2019.[11]

Opioid Crisis

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.[12] 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.[13] Executive Shapiro then directed the creation of the Opiate Abatement Advisory Council (OAAC) to oversee the immediate and future distribution of the funds.[14]

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.[15]

2020 Election

In 2020, Shapiro faced John Chapman (R) in the general election. Shapiro won 58.04% of the vote compared to Chapman's 41.96%.[16]

Awards and recognition

Shapiro received the "Women in Business Advocate" from the U.S. Small Business Administration and received the Athena Award from ATHENA International prior to her time as County Executive.[2]

References
  1. "Summit County Executive Russ Pry, 58, has died". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  2. "Ilene Shapiro, first businesswoman to take control of county government, sworn in". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  3. 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.
  4. "Summit County General Election November 07, 2006". www.summitcountyboe.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  5. Bhatia, Kabir (August 11, 2016). "Summit County Democrats Vote Thursday Night on Replacement for Pry". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  6. 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.
  7. Rudell, Tim (October 21, 2016). "Candidates for Summit County Executive Talk Economic Development, Public Safety". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  8. "11/08/16 General Election". www.summitcountyboe.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  9. Bounds, Brandon (March 26, 2019). "Summit County Launches New Website to Help with Economic Development". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  10. Rudell, Tim (August 31, 2018). "Summit County's Executive Believes Good Progress Has Been Made in 2018". www.wksu.org. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  11. Goist, Robin; clevel; .com (September 26, 2019). "Summit County opens first house for homeless women veterans and their children". cleveland. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. www.summitcountyboe.gov https://www.summitcountyboe.gov/ElectionResults/Results/elect110320G.htm. Retrieved April 11, 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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