League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
	Leslie Ghiz Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Cincinnati

Questions & Answers

1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

I was the chief negotiator for the city, and have been through the budgeting process from the bottom up and know the ins and outs of the city administration. My continuous community service has given me the ability to formulate policy ideas that are well-suited for the whole of Cincinnati.

2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)

I would like to propose having council and committee meetings at night, so that the average person can be a part of council, or participate from the audience. I would also like to see a ballot initiative to reduce council salaries by half. I intend to find creative ways to work with the police department to increase walking beats within the city, to increase police visibility. I will work to bring back managed competition to not only save the city money, but to enhance the skills of our city workers. Finally, I want a full time position for housing court.

3. What steps would you take to ensure that all public facilities are accessible to people with disabilities? (100 words limit)

In the event all public facilities are not accessible to people with disabilities, I will work with the administration to see that they are made to be accessible. This includes ramps and elevators if necessary.

4. What specific steps will you take to expand recycling services in your community? (100 words limit)

I would love to see recycling be split into glass, paper and plastic, and to see it continue with pick-up every week. This takes budgeting, and I will work to find the money in the budget to cover the cost or recycle pick-up.

5. What steps would you take to provide affordable housing for all residents of your community? (100 words limit)

I will work with CMHA, with private housing entities, and with citizens to find a happy median to affordable housing. Included will be tax credits for all Cincinnati homebuyers, first time or not. It is extremely important to this city to increase homeownership, and one way to do this is to decrease the tax burden. We have been sorely lacking in this department for far too long.