League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
	James C. Wolf Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Mount Healthy; Ward 3

Questions & Answers

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

I am a lifelong resident of Mt. Healthy and am highly educated in political science and social studies. I have two years of public service experience through my two terms in AmeriCorps and the Ohio InterCorps Council. My community understanding comes from growing up here, and from working in local schools.

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

1) I plan to resurrect park activities such as "Penny Day", "Olympic Day", "Arts & Crafts Day", and campouts. I hope to help bring back "Heritage Days" as well as begin new traditions such as "Mt.Healthy Votes" and a weekly farmer's market. 2) I plan to work with the Business Association,local banks and credit unions to educate the community on the dangers of predatory lending and offer legitimate resources for those who would like to purchase their first home. 3) I plan to work with the youth and minorities of Mt.Healthy to encourage participation in local political parties, and civic organizations.

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

First of all, I would recommend an assessment the accessibilty of all public facilities in Mt.Healthy. If any of our facilities are not accessible to people with disabilities, I would present present an action plan to council on the need for renovation and the resources it would require. I would encourage all of my fellow council members to vote with me in improving the accessibility of these public buildings.

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

Currently, Mt.Healthy offers curbside recycling for most of its residents. Unfortunately, several of our large apartment complexes do not offer recycling to their residents. I would recommend offering subsidies or tax breaks to these landlords in return for their participation in our community's recycling program. Similarly, the school district has no uniform recycling program either. I, as a council person, would encourage concerned students to begin an environmental club to address this need. Grants are available for schools to implement these types of programs, and I would assist students in obtaining these resources.

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

I am encouraged by council's recent purchases of HUD houses which they have turned over to developers. I would strengthen this program by using the city itself as the developer of these properties. In addition, I would launch a "Know Your Rights" campaign in collaboration with the local Business Association, banks, and credit unions, as a way to inform citizens of the importance of homeownership and the financing programs currently available for low-income and first-time home buyers. I then would work with local nonprofits to run free or low-cost seminars on home financing and home repair.