In 2009, Cuyahoga County voters approved changing their form of county government, and that transition will take place in 2010.

But any county officials in Lake and Geauga counties don't see change-of-government "reform" coming their way like it did in larger Cuyahoga and Summit counties and their respective county seats of Cleveland and Akron.

That's as state Rep. Matt Dolan, R-Russell Township, says he plans to move out of Geauga County and into Cuyahoga County to run countywide next year for the newly created position of county administrator.

Among close watchers is Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy. He is one of two vice chairs of the Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration looking at all 88 counties.

According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections records, it wasn't average citizens who pushed for the Cuyahoga reform, but activists funded by Republican groups opposing the current Democrat majority in the county.

"I don't see any impact of either urban county on outer counties like Lake and Geauga," said Troy, who is a Democrat. "The Cuyahoga voters' decision points out that if there is reform out there, you want to be part of it and shape it. You don't want it thrust upon you.

"In both cases in Cuyahoga and Summit, the changes were driven by substantial issues of public corruption," he added.

"We don't have that out here. But why didn't the promoters shape it as a nonpartisan form of government? It remains a partisan process and a lot of cities and counties have gone a long way from partisanship."

But while large counties see changes in their governments, Troy thinks smaller counties should be looking at their own situations.

"It's maybe 1.3 million people living in Cuyahoga County, and now they've eliminated their elected coroner," Troy said.

"But area counties still send their big autopsy cases to Cuyahoga. And why do the other much smaller counties have a coroner, like Vinton County (13,281 residents)? It makes more sense to consider making that a regional office, although any coroner will argue against it.

"And do we need 88 sheriffs in all the small counties? Lake County's got 11 elected nonjudicial offices serving 232,800-some residents. Why do five or six small counties about the size of Willowick (14,361 residents) need the same 11 elected officials?"

But many officials don't expect such governmental changes in Geauga and Lake counties.

"I don't see anything like the Cuyahoga change happening in smaller counties like us," said Geauga County Commissioner Mary Samide, a Republican. "There is a lot of accountability we have, and the taxpayers are pretty close to us. We're running a pretty tight ship, and we're all honest.

"I don't see us changing. And I don't see how it helps a bigger county that you did have three county commissioners and now you've 11, each like in one special ward."

Geauga County Engineer Robert L. Phillips and Lake County Auditor Edward H. Zupancic, both Republicans, agree with Troy that indictments by federal and county prosecutors led many Cuyahoga residents to believe they were living with a crime wave around them.

"It was a change of government driven by corruption in Cuyahoga. Summit County also has a charter change of government driven by corruption. If things were moving along fairly smoothly, would either county be looking to change?" Phillips said.

"I don't think they were making all the right choices in Cuyahoga. But it's up to them."

Zupancic agreed.

"Summit County made the change about 20 years ago and there hasn't been any rush toward that charter form of government. The changes there and in Cuyahoga are mainly the result of investigations," Zupancic said.

"That being said, we're in a different economic climate now. There is some talking of consolidating services like schools and fire districts to save some money. I think we can just wait and see if any changes translate into savings.

"But I just don't think anybody else around Ohio is going to jump in to change governments."

Rita McMahon, the nonpartisan appointed city manager of Painesville and president of the Lake County Mayors and City Managers Association, said she hears no local talk of such changes.

"I think some of the issues of general concern in Cuyahoga are not in existence in Lake County," she said.

"I think some improper activities actually drove the ballot issue there.

"I think some of the current common issues are more efficiency and cost effectiveness at the local level," she added.

"But it doesn't mean to eliminate the form of government we currently have. I think we are looking at doing things smartly and jointly. There's a lot more cooperation already between local governments. It doesn't mean to throw the baby in the bath water, so to speak."