Last chance! Council candidates in their own words

[Betsy Voinovich]

Hi all--

If you have been extremely busy during this fall season and you didin't get a chance to attend any candidate forums and you haven't had a moment to sit down and ponder the different Council candidates or the different County issues, this is your LAST CHANCE.

Each candidate answered each question in his or her own words, same questions, same word count, so that you can compare them.

Freshen up that cup of coffee (or tea) follow the links below and take a moment to get to know our council candidates, read about our County Charter issues and then...

VOTE!!!

Betsy Voinovich


Follow the links to each candidate.

Here's the first one (in random order)

Candidate Questionnaire O'Leary Responses
by Sam O'Leary

Name: Sam O’Leary
Occupation: Law Clerk
I currently reside in Ward 2.

1) What is the primary motivation behind your decision to run for At-Large council? (100 words)

Lakewood has been hit with a one-two punch: stagnating property values, combined with unprecedented cuts to the Local Government Fund at the state-level. Without swift and continued action, these broader economic conditions could present an existential budgetary crisis.

I am running because I want to see Lakewood continue to be the phenomenal and unique community that I grew up in, which means working to attract more shops, businesses, renowned eateries, and hundreds of families and professionals. We need to make economic development a priority, but it must preserve our greatest asset: our authentic neighborhoods, and safe, walkable streets.

Read the rest here:
http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... -responses



Ryan Nowlin Responses to Candidates' Questions
by Ryan Nowlin

Name: Ryan P. Nowlin

Occupation: Attorney at Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond PLL/Member of Lakewood City Council

I currently reside in Ward 3.

1) What is the primary motivation behind your decision to run for At-Large council? (100 words)

I have been honored to serve the city of Lakewood since my appointment to Council in January, 2011. I want to help keep Lakewood on the right track, and I hope to have the opportunity to do so over the next four years.

Read the rest here: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... -questions

Response to Candidate Questions for Lakewood City Council At-Large
by Anthony Davis

Name: Anthony Davis

Occupation: Public Contact Representative, United States Department of Labor

I currently reside in Ward 3.

1) What is the primary motivation behind your decision to run for At-Large council? (100 words)

I’m not interested in a political career. If elected, I would serve one-term with a promise not to seek re-election. I’ve watched City Council closely over the last six years and believe they need a new energy and direction. Their dynamics have changed somewhat in recent years, but their groupthink and sleepy go-along to get-along attitude have diminished the progressive spirit Lakewood needs to stay competitive. I want to give voters an independent candidate who is outside of the city’s traditional power structure, and has the tools to challenge the status quo, reduce citizen apathy, and lift residents’ expectations.

Read the rest here:http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2013/10/15/response-to-candidate-questions-for-lakewood-city-council-atlarge

Bullock Council at Large Questionnaire Answers
by Tom Bullock

City Councilperson Tom Bullock

Name: Tom Bullock

Occupation: Ohio Representative, The Pew Charitable Trusts; Lakewood City Councilperson, Ward 2

I currently reside in Ward #2.

1) What is the primary motivation behind your decision to run for At-Large council? (100 words)

I have five years’ experience on City Council and a proven record of delivering results. I’m running for Council at Large in order to serve the entire community as a problem-solving neighborhood ambassador.

This means:

continuing my hands-on problem-solving in neighborhoods to keep Lakewood safe, clean, and family-friendly;
improving housing quality and investing in our commercial corridors; and
making Lakewood a model walking, green city known for locally-owned artisan businesses.

Read the rest here:http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2013/10/15/bullock-council-at-large-questionnaire-answers

At-Large Candidates Questions - Response by Cindy Marx
by Cindy Marx

Cindy Marx, Candidate City Council At-Large

Name: Cindy Marx

Occupation: Practice Manager, Raj Plastic Surgery, LLC

I currently reside in Ward #4.

1) What is the primary motivation behind your decision to run for At-Large Council? (100 words)

I hope to focus on building an environment within the community that promotes a strong sense of civic pride by her residents, homeowners and property owners that contributes to her reputation as a safe and great place to live and raise a family while embracing her unique diversity of artists, entrepreneurs and independent businesses. Lakewood’s housing stock is one of her most valuable assets. Lakewood is a diverse community experiencing a renaissance that requires an active government to encourage economic development while preserving her distinctive neighborhoods and her unique housing resources.

Read the rest here: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... cindy-marx

Pros and Cons of County Charter Amendments
by Pam Smith

LWV VOTERS’ GUIDE EXPLANATIONS OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS

MORE TIME FOR CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

Issue 2 -- PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT

CUYAHOGA COUNTY

A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage

Shall Article II, Section 2.03(2) Powers and Duties of the Charter of the County of Cuyahoga be amended to extend the term during which Council may act on Executive appointments, and add an interim appointment provision?

League Explanation: Charter language currently provides the County Council with a 30-day window to confirm or reject Executive appointments. Certain appointments also require confirmation hearings and three readings at consecutive Council sessions, while the Council meets only twice each month. The amendment extends that 30-day deadline to 60 days.

PRO: The 30-day deadline has proven difficult and sometimes impossible to meet, if hearings were involved or if the appointee was out of town or forced to miss a session for unavoidable reasons. Some confirmations require more extensive vetting or discussion than others.

CON: Council needs to continue doing its business quickly and efficiently.

Read the rest here: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... amendments

Pros and Cons of County Tax Issues
by Pam Smith

VOTERS GUIDE EXPLANATIONS OF COUNTYWIDE TAX LEVY ISSUES

2013 GENERAL ELECTION

Issue 1: PROPOSED TAX LEVY (REPLACEMENT AND INCREASE)

COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage

A replacement of 2.9 mills of an existing levy and an increase of 1 mill, to constitute a tax for the benefit of Cuyahoga County for the purpose of supplementing general fund appropriations for health and human or social services at a rate not exceeding 3.9 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 39 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five years, commencing in 2013, first due in calendar year 2014.

League Explanation. The Cuyahoga County Council by unanimous vote requests the replacement of the existing 2.9 mill Health and Human Service levy and an increased of 1.0 mills to support critical safety net services and shore up a fund projected to exhaust its reserves by 2015. The five-year 3.9 mill levy would collect about $106 million, or $27 million more than the current tax. It would cost a taxpayer $136 per year for every $100,000 assessed value and would replace millions of dollars of revenue lost because of declining property values, state and federal cuts. The health and human services levy is the smaller of two county taxes that support the MetroHealth Medical Center, elderly and child-protection services, Meals on Wheels, mental illness and addiction treatment programs and other county services.

PRO: The tax increase is needed to continue the level of support that Cuyahoga County voters have expected and to stop drawing down the human services reserve in order to balance. Cuyahoga voters have shown a long tradition of caring about the quality of life of our citizens in the support of the range of health, human, and social service needs.

CON: Human services programs should be evaluated for their effectiveness. Only after proof of effectiveness should these programs continue to be funded at present levels.

Read the rest here: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... tax-issues


and VOTE!