Tom Ganley
Encyclopedia
Thomas D. Ganley is a Northeast Ohio business man and Republican
politician in Ohio
. Originally a candidate for the Ohio Senate Republican nomination on February 17, 2010 he announced he would drop out of the primary and switched races to run against Betty Sutton
in Ohio's 13th congressional district instead, leaving Rob Portman
as the only Republican candidate.
in Bedford, Ohio
. As a member of the first graduating class of the school, he became the first inductee into St. Peter Chanel High’s Hall of Fame in Bedford, Ohio.
Ganley grew up in a middle class home in Garfield Heights, Bedford, Ohio. His father was a mechanic on Brunswick automatic pin setting machines and his mother was a waitress. Although his parents were not well educated, they stressed education for their son.
in 1968.
After purchasing that first dealership, Eastway Rambler, Tom in 1975, purchased an AMC-Jeep store in North Olmsted
. In 1978 Ganley became the owner of Ganley Lincoln-Mercury in Middleburg Heights, Budget Rent-A-Car at Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Ganley Dodge of Bedford. In 1979 he added Ganley Oldsmobile in Lakewood, which, eventually became Ganley Subaru-Suzuki. During the recession of 1980-1981 Ganley consolidated the growth of his various businesses. In 1982, he added Budget Rent-A-Car of Akron, and in 1983 Ganley added Parma Imports and in 1984 Ganley Dodge West was added.
Ganley has expanded his dealerships into Summit and Stark counties and has established the Ganley name in Greater Columbus with the establishment of a Mitsubishi dealership. The company continues to grow and now includes Chevrolet, Ford, and Chrysler as well as dealerships selling imports such as Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, and BMW.
In 2005, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro took legal action against one of Ganley's dealerships, Ganley Ford West Inc. of Cleveland, for allegedly deceptive and unfair business practices in its advertising. Two days after Hurricane Katrina
, the dealership had advertised special deals on cars moved out of Louisiana. After complaints from the Better Business Bureau
, the Petro initiated an investigation and found that Ganley never even received a shipment of cars from Louisiana.
Ganley has been sued more than 400 times in connection with his auto dealerships for complaints including age discrimination, gender discrimination and deceptive business practices
. In April 2011, Ganley agreed to pay $300,000 to current and former black employees to settle a 2007 racial discrimination case.
Ganley formally announced his candidacy for the United States Senate
(Ohio) on July 1, 2009. In making his announcement Ganley stated "I am a businessman, not someone who ever thought about being a professional politician, but maybe that's what's needed in Washington now--someone who understands financial responsibility and what it takes for a business and a country to be competitive. Someone who has built a business from scratch. Someone who knows how to create jobs. Someone who has met a payroll and knows his employees are dependent on him.".
Ganley had talked openly earlier this year of his desire to enter the race for the United States Senate in order to give Ohio voters a clear choice. -
Although Ganley has never served in elected office, he believes that he can win the Senate seat being vacated by George V. Voinovich. Ganley said "I have a great passion to see this through to a conclusion, to a victory." Ganley, because of his involvement in the business community in Ohio, has name recognition in northern Ohio. He has said that America needs businessmen in Washington, D.C. and that he believes the time of the career politician may be ending. Mr. Ganley has hired a campaign manager, Jeff Longstreth, the 2008 Midwest director of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
's GOP presidential campaign.
. Ganley filed petition with the Summit County elections board to run for the House seat, immediately making the contest a toss-up.
On July 13, 2010, the National Republican Congressional Committee
(NRCC) announced that Tom Ganley had advanced to the top level of the Young Guns Program of the NRCC. According to the NRCC "Ganley has proven his ability to build a winning campaign and achieve substantial fundraising goals."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
has launched attacks against Ganley, accusing him of being a dishonest car salesman who is attempting to buy his way into Congress. However, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Stephen Loomis responded to that charge by pointing out that Ganley is a major supporter of police charities and regularly donates his private plane to bring out-of-town family members to the funerals or bedsides of fallen local police officers. Loomis was quoted as saying “Don’t let them beat him up too badly about having a corporate airplane because he uses it selflessly. It is unfair if they are trying to portray him as some kind of corporate, egomaniac, big money guy.”
Ganley easily won the Republican Primary election on May 4, 2010. Shortly before the primary election in May, Ganley received several important endorsements, including Ohio’s Morning Journal newspaper.
Ganley also received the endorsement of prominent Republican conservatives, including former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
Sutton defeated Ganley 60.3% to 39.6% in the November 2, 2010 general election.
after his refusal to pay and Ganley was messaged he was to be killed. Ganley was provided money by the FBI to pay off the mob, and had his phone tapped, and cameras and recording equipment installed in his offices. After Ganley became known to be cooperating with the FBI, the mafia put a $1,000,000 contract on Ganley and his family. The FBI provided Ganley with an armored, bullet and bomb proof car, and moved agents into his home for his protection. One of those agents was Joseph Pistone, the subject of the 1997 Johnny Depp
and Al Pacino
film Donnie Brasco
. Ganley's cooperation led to conviction of over 20 Cleveland mafia figures. For his work in the fight against the Cleveland mob Ganley was awarded the Louis E. Peters Memorial Service Award, the highest honor the FBI can bestow upon a civilian.
Ganley appeared on the Fox News Network show “Huckabee” as a guest of former Governor Mike Huckabee to talk about his involvement in the FBI operation against the Cleveland mafia. Appearing with him on that show was FBI special agent Bob Friedman. Ganley said “If I didn’t back down to the mafia when they were threatening my entire family I am certainly not going to back down in Congress.”
.
and attempted rape
. The lawsuit alleges that Ganley propositioned and groped the woman, whom he met at a Tea Party
rally, when she approached him about volunteering for his campaign. She later amended the complaint to include employment discrimination
, based on her claim that Ganley wouldn't give her a job because she refused his sexual advances. Ganley's attorney said that the charges amounted to extortion
and that they were motivated by politics. The woman, a Republican Tea Party activist, sought more than $25,000 in damages. On 15 March 2011 a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury indicted Ganley on seven counts, including three counts of gross sexual imposition, one count of kidnapping, one count of abduction, one count of soliciting and one count of menacing by stalking. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor dropped the charges in July 2011 after the victim expressed a desire not to go to trial.
. Three of the children are still employed by the family business.
and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. In May 2001 he was named President and CEO of Crime Stoppers of Northern Ohio. This organization funded, in part, by Mr. Ganley, as well as private donations, offers cash rewards for crime tipsters.
Ganley was named "Man of the Year" by the Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs Association for his leadership and outstanding support of law enforcement in the Cleveland area. Other special recognition awards were received from the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate for outstanding accomplishment, the "Gold & Silver Award" from the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Community and the honor of being the Cleveland Police Historical Society's Man of the Year. Tom also received the Louis E. Peters Memorial Service Award in 2007. This award is the highest honor the FBI can bestow on a civilian.
Ganley has also remained active in the business community. He represents metropolitan Cleveland's franchised new car dealers on the National Automobile Dealers Association
. He serves on the Association's Regulation Affairs Committee and as Mercedes-Benz Chairman of the Industry Relations Committee. Previously, he has served on the Government Relations Committee.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Originally a candidate for the Ohio Senate Republican nomination on February 17, 2010 he announced he would drop out of the primary and switched races to run against Betty Sutton
Betty Sutton
Betty Sue Sutton is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes most of the western and southern suburbs of Cleveland, and includes North Royalton, Akron, Lorain, Elyria, Strongsville, Avon and Cuyahoga Falls.-Early life and...
in Ohio's 13th congressional district instead, leaving Rob Portman
Rob Portman
Robert Jones "Rob" Portman is the junior United States Senator from Ohio. He is a member of the Republican Party. He succeeded retiring Senator George Voinovich....
as the only Republican candidate.
Early life and education
Tom Ganley is an Ohio native. St. Peter Chanel High SchoolSt. Peter Chanel High School
Saint Peter Chanel High School is located in Bedford, Ohio, a southeast suburb of Cleveland. It is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.-Building:...
in Bedford, Ohio
Bedford, Ohio
Bedford is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,074 at the 2010 census. It is an eastern suburb of Cleveland.-Geography:Bedford is located at ....
. As a member of the first graduating class of the school, he became the first inductee into St. Peter Chanel High’s Hall of Fame in Bedford, Ohio.
Ganley grew up in a middle class home in Garfield Heights, Bedford, Ohio. His father was a mechanic on Brunswick automatic pin setting machines and his mother was a waitress. Although his parents were not well educated, they stressed education for their son.
Business career
Ganley began selling motor vehicles as a part-time job while still a student at Chanel High School in Bedford, Ohio. He purchased his first new vehicle dealership in Euclid, OhioEuclid, Ohio
Euclid is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders Cleveland. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 48,920...
in 1968.
After purchasing that first dealership, Eastway Rambler, Tom in 1975, purchased an AMC-Jeep store in North Olmsted
North Olmsted, Ohio
-Business:Moen Incorporated, a fixture and faucet company, is headquartered in North Olmsted. CommutAir, a regional airline, has its operations center in North Olmsted....
. In 1978 Ganley became the owner of Ganley Lincoln-Mercury in Middleburg Heights, Budget Rent-A-Car at Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Ganley Dodge of Bedford. In 1979 he added Ganley Oldsmobile in Lakewood, which, eventually became Ganley Subaru-Suzuki. During the recession of 1980-1981 Ganley consolidated the growth of his various businesses. In 1982, he added Budget Rent-A-Car of Akron, and in 1983 Ganley added Parma Imports and in 1984 Ganley Dodge West was added.
Ganley Automotive Group
Tom Ganley now oversees the largest automotive group in Ohio, comprising 32 dealerships, employing over 1000 people.Ganley has expanded his dealerships into Summit and Stark counties and has established the Ganley name in Greater Columbus with the establishment of a Mitsubishi dealership. The company continues to grow and now includes Chevrolet, Ford, and Chrysler as well as dealerships selling imports such as Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, and BMW.
In 2005, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro took legal action against one of Ganley's dealerships, Ganley Ford West Inc. of Cleveland, for allegedly deceptive and unfair business practices in its advertising. Two days after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, the dealership had advertised special deals on cars moved out of Louisiana. After complaints from the Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
, the Petro initiated an investigation and found that Ganley never even received a shipment of cars from Louisiana.
Ganley has been sued more than 400 times in connection with his auto dealerships for complaints including age discrimination, gender discrimination and deceptive business practices
Unfair business practices
Unfair business practices encompass fraud, misrepresentation, and oppressive or unconscionable acts or practices by business, often against consumers and are prohibited by law in many countries. For instance, in the European Union, each member state must regulate unfair business practices in...
. In April 2011, Ganley agreed to pay $300,000 to current and former black employees to settle a 2007 racial discrimination case.
Other business interests
Ganley has extended his business interests to include one of the largest independently owned auto financing companies in the nation as well as an insurance company. He also sits on the Board of Directors of Independence Bank.2010 U.S. Senate campaign
Ganley formally announced his candidacy for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
(Ohio) on July 1, 2009. In making his announcement Ganley stated "I am a businessman, not someone who ever thought about being a professional politician, but maybe that's what's needed in Washington now--someone who understands financial responsibility and what it takes for a business and a country to be competitive. Someone who has built a business from scratch. Someone who knows how to create jobs. Someone who has met a payroll and knows his employees are dependent on him.".
Ganley had talked openly earlier this year of his desire to enter the race for the United States Senate in order to give Ohio voters a clear choice. -
Although Ganley has never served in elected office, he believes that he can win the Senate seat being vacated by George V. Voinovich. Ganley said "I have a great passion to see this through to a conclusion, to a victory." Ganley, because of his involvement in the business community in Ohio, has name recognition in northern Ohio. He has said that America needs businessmen in Washington, D.C. and that he believes the time of the career politician may be ending. Mr. Ganley has hired a campaign manager, Jeff Longstreth, the 2008 Midwest director of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
's GOP presidential campaign.
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
On February 18, 2010 Ganley made the decision to end his bid for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate from Ohio and instead devote his energy to running for Congress in the 13th District of Ohio against incumbent Betty SuttonBetty Sutton
Betty Sue Sutton is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes most of the western and southern suburbs of Cleveland, and includes North Royalton, Akron, Lorain, Elyria, Strongsville, Avon and Cuyahoga Falls.-Early life and...
. Ganley filed petition with the Summit County elections board to run for the House seat, immediately making the contest a toss-up.
On July 13, 2010, the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
(NRCC) announced that Tom Ganley had advanced to the top level of the Young Guns Program of the NRCC. According to the NRCC "Ganley has proven his ability to build a winning campaign and achieve substantial fundraising goals."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
has launched attacks against Ganley, accusing him of being a dishonest car salesman who is attempting to buy his way into Congress. However, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Stephen Loomis responded to that charge by pointing out that Ganley is a major supporter of police charities and regularly donates his private plane to bring out-of-town family members to the funerals or bedsides of fallen local police officers. Loomis was quoted as saying “Don’t let them beat him up too badly about having a corporate airplane because he uses it selflessly. It is unfair if they are trying to portray him as some kind of corporate, egomaniac, big money guy.”
Ganley easily won the Republican Primary election on May 4, 2010. Shortly before the primary election in May, Ganley received several important endorsements, including Ohio’s Morning Journal newspaper.
Ganley also received the endorsement of prominent Republican conservatives, including former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
Sutton defeated Ganley 60.3% to 39.6% in the November 2, 2010 general election.
Role in taking down the Cleveland Mob
In the 1980s after the Cleveland mafia attempted to extort Ganley for $500,000 Ganley began to cooperate with the Cleveland division of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
after his refusal to pay and Ganley was messaged he was to be killed. Ganley was provided money by the FBI to pay off the mob, and had his phone tapped, and cameras and recording equipment installed in his offices. After Ganley became known to be cooperating with the FBI, the mafia put a $1,000,000 contract on Ganley and his family. The FBI provided Ganley with an armored, bullet and bomb proof car, and moved agents into his home for his protection. One of those agents was Joseph Pistone, the subject of the 1997 Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
and Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
film Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco (film)
Donnie Brasco is a 1997 crime drama film directed by Mike Newell, starring Al Pacino, Johnny Depp and Michael Madsen. It is loosely based on the real-life events of Joseph D. Pistone, an FBI agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family, one of the Mafia's Five Families based in New York City...
. Ganley's cooperation led to conviction of over 20 Cleveland mafia figures. For his work in the fight against the Cleveland mob Ganley was awarded the Louis E. Peters Memorial Service Award, the highest honor the FBI can bestow upon a civilian.
Ganley appeared on the Fox News Network show “Huckabee” as a guest of former Governor Mike Huckabee to talk about his involvement in the FBI operation against the Cleveland mafia. Appearing with him on that show was FBI special agent Bob Friedman. Ganley said “If I didn’t back down to the mafia when they were threatening my entire family I am certainly not going to back down in Congress.”
.
Sexual assault lawsuit
On September 30, 2010, a 39-year-old Cleveland woman filed a lawsuit against Ganley in civil court, accusing him of sexual assaultSexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
and attempted rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. The lawsuit alleges that Ganley propositioned and groped the woman, whom he met at a Tea Party
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
rally, when she approached him about volunteering for his campaign. She later amended the complaint to include employment discrimination
Employment discrimination
Employment discrimination is discrimination in hiring, promotion, job assignment, termination, and compensation. It includes various types of harassment....
, based on her claim that Ganley wouldn't give her a job because she refused his sexual advances. Ganley's attorney said that the charges amounted to extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and that they were motivated by politics. The woman, a Republican Tea Party activist, sought more than $25,000 in damages. On 15 March 2011 a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury indicted Ganley on seven counts, including three counts of gross sexual imposition, one count of kidnapping, one count of abduction, one count of soliciting and one count of menacing by stalking. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor dropped the charges in July 2011 after the victim expressed a desire not to go to trial.
Personal life
Ganley and his wife Lois have been married for 45 years and are the parents of four children, Denise, Thomas, Robert and Kenneth. The Ganleys also have eight grandchildren. Of the Ganley’s four children, all have worked in the family business “The Ganley Automotive Group”, headquartered in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. Three of the children are still employed by the family business.
Community Involvement
Ganley has served as the spokesperson for "Buckle-Up Cleveland," an automotive safety initiative, sponsored by the Cleveland Police DepartmentCleveland Division of Police
The Cleveland Division of Police is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Since 2005, Michael McGrath has been the chief of police.-Pre-World War II:...
and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. In May 2001 he was named President and CEO of Crime Stoppers of Northern Ohio. This organization funded, in part, by Mr. Ganley, as well as private donations, offers cash rewards for crime tipsters.
Ganley was named "Man of the Year" by the Cuyahoga County Police Chiefs Association for his leadership and outstanding support of law enforcement in the Cleveland area. Other special recognition awards were received from the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate for outstanding accomplishment, the "Gold & Silver Award" from the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Community and the honor of being the Cleveland Police Historical Society's Man of the Year. Tom also received the Louis E. Peters Memorial Service Award in 2007. This award is the highest honor the FBI can bestow on a civilian.
Ganley has also remained active in the business community. He represents metropolitan Cleveland's franchised new car dealers on the National Automobile Dealers Association
National Automobile Dealers Association
The National Automobile Dealers Association, founded in 1917, represents nearly 17,000 new-car and truck dealers, both domestic and international, with about 37,500 separate franchises...
. He serves on the Association's Regulation Affairs Committee and as Mercedes-Benz Chairman of the Industry Relations Committee. Previously, he has served on the Government Relations Committee.
External links
- Tom Ganley for U.S. Congress official campaign site
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org