The League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area asked questions on the issues of all candidates for this office.
1. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the township?
Services that should be considered basic and essential for the township include all Professional Safety Services. Fire Departments, Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic, and Police/Public Safety are my top priority for the residents of Columbia township. Waste collection and maintenance services are also necessary and provide a great value to the township and its residents.
2. How would you balance the Township Budget?
I would analyze the cost/benefit of all proposed expenses. If a legitimate need is presented and accepted by the board, I will make sure that alternative measures are sought out before simply placing the burden on the residents in the form of a levy. By aggressively seeking new business and pushing for development in key commercial ares, we can maximize our economic potential.
3. What actions will you take to support clean air?
The actions I would take in an effort to support clean air would be promoting programs such as Tree City, USA. I would encourage making our communities more walkable, support bike paths, parks, and community gardens.
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Answers to questions presented by: Rob Dowdy, The Community Press 10/20/2011
I have Operations Management experience in the mechanical/industrial engineering industry, restaurants industry, and retail industry. I am currently employed by Starbucks Coffee Company. Through the close relationships I have developed in my area of Columbia Township, I have had many opportunities to serve my immediate neighbors in different facets and would like to offer my service in a greater scope and measure.
I wish to serve as a Columbia Township trustee to expand my involvement in the community; to equally represent the residents with a proactive mindset, and to make sure that Columbia Township remains a great place to live in the future. To do this, we need trustees with a long-term mindset, who also have the time and the energy to listen to the residents, to stay educated on all the issues facing us, and to look into and propose solutions to these issues. I have the time, the energy and the desire to do these things wholeheartedly, and that is why I am running for Trustee.
I hope to make Columbia Township a quiet and peaceful place to live, while maintaining a competitive tax rate as compared to surrounding municipalities. Utilizing business growth and opportunities is important to maintain our competitive advantage and overall economic health. We have to work hard to maintain a balance of bringing in the revenue needed to keep Columbia Township an excellent place to live and yet not create an overbearing tax burden that weighs down the residents and or drives out businesses. With the loss of so much state funding, this will be a hard balance to keep, but I hope to help accomplish such a balance during my term on the Board.
I am committed to serving this position with integrity. I will bring positivity, action, and high accountability to the board of trustees. Attendance to the regularly scheduled and special meetings is very important, and you will see me manage my schedule appropriately to never miss a beat. I also intend to make sure that I am accessible to the residents in order to know what they are thinking and to help steer the township in the right direction.
Making sure the residents have safe neighborhoods to raise their families in is extremely important. Keeping essential services such as fire, EMS, and police are my top priority. We need to make sure we have budgeted the appropriate amount of funds to keep these basic services before approving any nonessential expenditures. The budget is very important to balance, especially with funding cuts from the state about to take place. Taking the time to analyze the cost/benefit of each proposed expense and making the necessary decisions to best utilize the townships resources while getting the most value out of every taxpayers dollar. |
Campaign Questions
Q: Why are you running?
A: I wish to serve as a Columbia Township trustee to expand my involvement in the community; to equally represent the residents with a proactive mindset, and to make sure that Columbia Township remains a great place to live in the future. To do this, we need trustees who will make a solid commitment, who also have the time and the energy to listen to the residents, to stay educated on all the issues facing us, and to look into and propose solutions to these issues. I have the time, the energy and the desire to do these things wholeheartedly, and that is why I am running for Trustee.
Q: What makes you the best candidate?
A: I have the passion,desire, and perseverance to serve this township and the individuals within it. If I were to get elected I have the ability to engage myself on a larger scale and assist in ushering this township into the future.
Q: What specific services are you willing to cut?
A: The clear goal is not to cut the services that make our township such a wonderful place to live, but investigate how these services can operate more efficiently and reasonably. To do this well, we must take into account the demands and availability of resources. After these necessary measures have been taken, I would consider scaling back our less essential services, such as our means of waste disposal by renegotiating our contract with Rumpke and also taking a very close look at the funds that are being spent on the various projects within the maintenance department. This reconsideration would allow for funds to be utilized in other areas of greater priority.
Q: Are you willing to raise taxes to keep or expand services?
A: I am not willing to raise taxes, unless we find ourselves in a situation where the safety of the residents within the community is in jeopardy, as I believe in the stability of our police and fire/EMS officials. I do not believe at this time it is necessary to begin asking the residents to contribute more money to the township. I would like to keep and expand services by using wisely the resources we currently possess.
Q: Are you willing to merge or consolidate services with neighboring entities?
A: The township already shares equipment with neighboring entities while sill performing excellent service. I have no reason to believe that consolidating services in a declining economy would ever be a bad idea.