Mayor FitzGerald's record of public service is extensive. Upon graduating from Ohio State University, he served as a staff member for the U.S. House of Representatives. After working his way through night law school, FitzGerald served as a Special Agent with the FBI. As a Special Agent, FitzGerald was recognized by the FBI Director for heading up a wide-ranging investigation into organized crime and political corruption in Chicago.

FitzGerald then served as a supervising Prosecutor for Cuyahoga County, and successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases ranging from drug dealing to homicide. In 2003, FitzGerald left the prosecutor's office and expanded his civil practice, representing clients in civil matters throughout Northeast Ohio, in both trial courts and the 8th District Court of Appeals.

Mayor FitzGerald is a third generation Lakewood resident, his grandparents having moved to Lakewood in 1929. Ed and his wife Shannon are raising their four children together in their Lakewood home.

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HISTORY OF THE OFFICE
According to local historian Margaret Manor Butler in her book, History of the City of Lakewood, what is now known as "Lakewood" roughly conforms to what was once known as Rockport Township, later organized into the Hamlet of Lakewood so that its citizens, "might make improvements and provide conveniences for all its citizens through the wishes of the majority." The citizens' request to incorporate and a charter were granted on August 31, 1889, and Mayor Ira E. Canfield held the title of Mayor from 1889 until 1891. His official title was president of the board of trustees and chief executive officer of the hamlet, in which capacity he served for three years.

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (MAYOR), HAMLET OF LAKEWOOD:
• IRA E. CANFIELD 1889-1891
• CLAYTON L. TYLER 1892-1897
• OTTO C. BERCHTOLD 1898-1899
• JACAB H. TEGARDINE 1900-1901

Under the control and supervision of hamlet officials, Mayor Clayton Tyler directed the installation of major improvements, including a water system, sewers and electric lights. During Mayor Tyler's six years in office - 1892 through 1897 -- he also established Lakewood's boulevard system. On May 4, 1903, the Hamlet of Lakewood was organized into a village, boasting about 2,500 inhabitants. Mayor Joseph J. Rowe bridged the transition, serving as Mayor from 1902 until 1905

OFFICE OF MAYOR, VILLAGE OF LAKEWOOD:
• JOSEPH J. ROWE 1902-1905
• BERNARD MILLER 1906-1909

The Village of Lakewood grew to a citizenship of about 12,000 by Jan. 1, 1910, when it was organized into the City of Lakewood. The incorporation date was February 17, 1911. The first Mayor of the City of Lakewood was Nelson C. Cotabish, a large property holder in Lakewood and head of the sales department of the National Carbon Company. In 1910, Mayor Cotabish approved the acquisition of the first motor-driven fire equipment in northeast Ohio. An astute businessman, he also arranged for the City to buy a home at Warren Road and Detroit Avenue to serve as City Hall, selling 100 feet of this site a few years later for a profit of $40,500, almost three times the total purchase price of the property.

OFFICE OF MAYOR, CITY OF LAKEWOOD:
• NELSON C. COTABISH 1910-1911
• JOHN B. COFFINBERRY 1912-1913
• CLAYTON W. TYLER 1914-1917
• BYRON M. COOK 1918-1919
• LOUIS E. HILL 1920-1923
• EDWARD A. WIEGAND 1924-1932
• AMOS I. KAUFFMAN 1932-1955
• FRANK P. CELESTE 1956-1963
• ROBERT M. LAWTHER 1964-1976
• WILLIAM E. BLACKIE 1977
• ANTHONY C. SINAGRA 1978-1990
• DAVID R. HARBARGER 1990-1995
• MADELINE A. CAIN 1996-2003
• THOMAS J. GEORGE 2004-2007
• EDWARD FITZGERALD 2008

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GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE MAYOR
The Mayor of Lakewood is the chief elected official of the City and serves as its principal representative and spokesperson. The powers of the Mayor are established by charter, specifically by Article II of the Second Amended Charter (Sec. 1-10), approved by Lakewood voters on November 7, 2000. The position of Mayor is full-time (Art.II, Sec. 9), and the salary of the Mayor is established by ordinance adopted not less than thirty days prior to the final date for the filing of nominating petitions by candidates for the office of Mayor (Art.II, Sec. 5).

In addition to serving as the chief executive officer, the Mayor also serves as the Public Safety Director, the chief conservator of the peace within the City. Article II, Section 6, which enumerates the "General Powers and Duties of Mayor," establishes that the Mayor supervises the administration of the affairs of the City and sees that all ordinances of the City are enforced. The Mayor may recommend that City Council adopt "such measures as the Mayor may deem necessary or expedient," and the Mayor is entitled to introduce ordinances and resolutions and take part in the discussion of all matters that come before City Council (Art.II, Sec. 10). Performance of the Mayor's powers and duties are conferred or required by the Second Amended Charter, by ordinance or resolution of Council, or by general law.

SELECTED SECTIONS, SECOND AMENDED CHARTER OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD (ADOPTED NOVEMBER 7, 2000) ARTICLE II. THE EXECUTIVE SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS The executive and administrative powers of the City shall be vested in the Mayor, directors of departments, and other administrative officers provided for in this Charter or by ordinance.
SECTION 2. RESIDENCY, TERM AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MAYOR The Mayor shall be elected for a term of four (4) years, commencing on the first day of January next following his or her election, shall have been for at least one (1) year immediately prior to the date of taking office both a resident of the City and a qualified elector of the City, and shall continue as both a resident and qualified elector of the City during his or her term of office.
SECTION 3. MAYOR EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR The Mayor, subject to the provisions of this Charter, shall be ex officio the Director of Public Safety and, as such and to that extent, shall exercise all powers and perform all duties delegated to and conferred upon the Director of Public Safety by this Charter, by ordinance, and by general law.
SECTION 4. MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT POWER The Mayor shall appoint, with approval of Council, and may remove, if and when the office is created, the Director of Public Safety, and shall appoint and may remove the Director of Public Works, the Director of Law, the Director of Finance, the Director of Planning and Development, the Director of Human Services and the Health Commissioner. The Mayor shall make all other appointments under the provisions of this Charter not herein otherwise provided for by general law or ordinance; such appointees shall serve until removed by the Mayor or until their respective successors are appointed and qualified.