| |
I'm running for Mayor because we need thoughtful leadership that can take advantage of opportunities and navigate the challenges in the years ahead. We need leadership that builds a vision and plan for our Village. Leadership that asks thoughtful and difficult questions, encourages input, listens well, communicates with everyone and equips our Village staff.
Here are the areas of focus which will be my key priorities:
- Balancing our budget and planning for significant local government cuts from the State of Ohio.
First, we must start spending less than we take in. We've had deficit spending for 4 of the last 5 years. This must change.
Further, the State of Ohio is eliminating the Local Government Fund and the Estate Tax which represent more than 10% of our current income. I've been consistent from the beginning in saying that raising taxes must be our last resort. In our June 27 budget meeting our current Mayor stated we "need a 3.5-mill operating levy probably next year." Then, in his July bulletin, he wrote there's a "good possibility we will have to put a 2- to 3-mill levy on the ballot in the near future." Yet, in the October Town Crier, he stated "I ... am against raising taxes now ... we should not be asking for increases or new levies." His position is conveniently changing as we approach November.
Further, in our July 25 council meeting, the mayor stated "we could get lucky with our remaining inheritance tax." Luck is not a strategy I'm comfortable with. I doubt you manage your finances based on luck. The thought of handling our community's future this way is unacceptable. Mariemont deserves better.
We must start now by asking any and every question that could lead to more effective ways of serving you. It starts with my next point...
- Bringing our Village operations into the 21st century.
It's costing us (and you!) money and time by continuing to operate in ways organizations did decades ago. In 2009 and 2010, the Village paid over $1,600 each for basic desktop computers which could have been purchased through government buying programs for less than half that amount. The IT infrastructure plan I proposed and won unanimous Council support for in 2011 is a start. We can improve operations and save tens of thousands of dollars by changing the labor intensive and paper intensive processes for tax and waste fee collection. Let's be the exemplar village in the State of Ohio by using more automated and efficient methods. We can and will be more effective with your tax dollars.
- Making Economic Development a priority.
In the Fall of 2010, I proposed and won unanimous support from Council to repurpose one of six Council committees to ensure we begin driving contribution to our tax base. Yet politics has gotten in the way. The Mayor stated he was going to create an Economic Development commission outside of Council. Now a year later, that commission has yet to be created and the repurposed Council committee has been deterred from making progress.
It's time to stop playing politics and act in our Village's best interests. We must create an ability within Council to proactively attract events and businesses which are desired and bring value to our business community and our tax base.
- Together with residents, Council and local businesses, creating and executing a long-range plan for our Village.
We are currently a "planned community without a plan" as a resident recently stated. Since our Village hasn't had a vision and long-range plan for nearly a decade, the Mariemont Preservation Foundation (MPF) stepped up and started this process more than two years ago with its Vision 2021 study. Without a long-range plan, it's nearly impossible to save for, plan for and achieve our long-term needs and goals.
For over 20 years, I've served in senior leadership positions in the financial industry with companies including Fidelity Investments and Paycor. I've owned and operated profitable, small businesses. I've led global teams and managed budgets significantly larger than Mariemont’s. I have the qualifications we need in a mayor. I encourage you to review my LinkedIn profile and judge my experience for yourself.
It's time for new leadership. As your mayor I'll commit to an open process leading to a financial plan and long-term vision for our village within my first 100 days. Please vote for me on Nov. 8 so we can begin the work needed to ensure a prosperous future for our village.
Election Day is only a few days away! Please be sure to vote!
|
