The 14 candidates are now under review by the Cuyahoga County Council. If chosen, they would work as independent contractors. FitzGerald expects to submit additional names to Council in the near future.

CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald is moving forward with a plan to reform the county’s system of appraising property for foreclosure sale by the sheriff. The plan will depoliticize a process previously dominated by individuals chosen by disgraced former Sheriff Gerald McFaul.

For the first time, candidates are being considered only if they had at least five years of appraisal experience and a license in appraisal work from the Ohio Department of Commerce. Some 14 candidates have been identified to do appraisal work for the Sheriff’s Office as part of a structured RFQ (“request for qualifications”) process.

In the past, sheriff’s appraisers have fallen short of these standards, both here and elsewhere in Ohio. This led to accusations of favoritism. 

“We are setting the bar higher than it has been set before here in Cuyahoga County,” FitzGerald said. “Too often, questions have been raised about how these appraisers are selected. The goal here is to reward competence and make sure this work is being done right.”

The appraisers are needed to estimate the value of property to be sold at auction as part of a sheriff’s foreclosure sale. The appraisals establish minimum bids. A state law that dates back to the early 19^th century only requires that sheriff’s appraisers be “disinterested freeholders” (meaning property owners) living in the county where they do the work.

The 14 candidates are now under review by the Cuyahoga County Council. If chosen, they would work as independent contractors. FitzGerald expects to submit additional names to Council in the near future.