League of Women Voters of Ohio
Hamilton County, OH November 7, 2006 Election
	Phil Heimlich Answers Questions Candidate for County Commissioner; County of Hamilton

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

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

As a former prosecutor and city council member, and now county commissioner, I have a strong track record of supporting law enforcement, eliminating wasteful spending and taking on tough problems. I have also built an excellent working relationship with Mayor Mallory, allowing the city and county to cooperate on important issues.

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

I intend to work very hard this fall for passage of the jail proposal that Sheriff Leis and I introduced, which is on the November ballot. I will continue to work closely with Mayor Mallory on issues like development of The Banks. Because of our efforts in setting up the Banks Working Group, a master developer for the project is expected to be named by Sept. 15. I will continue my support of the county's managed competition efforts, which are reviewing every county service for potential savings for taxpayers.

3. What funding source do you recommend to pay for additional county correctional facilities, and why do you favor that particular source? (150 word limit)

For almost twenty years county commissioners ignored our jail problem. The new jail that law enforcement experts recommend will cost $225 million to build. To raise the money, Sheriff Simon Leis and I proposed a quarter of a penny increase in the county sales tax, coupled with a property tax rollback. Because of our commission's work in reducing and eliminating property taxes, this jail proposal will not increase taxes above the rate of inflation.

In August, all three commissioners voted to place the proposal on the November ballot. If approved, the sales tax will last no longer than 10 years. My opponent has said he supports this proposal.

A sales tax increase with a property tax reduction is the most fiscally responsible way to fund a new jail because 45% of the county's sales tax revenue comes from people who do not live in Hamilton County.

4. How can the County and City of Cincinnati law enforcement work collaboratively? (150 word limit)

First, the county can best help our police officers by building a new jail to give them the tools to get all criminals off the streets. Sheriff Leis and I have proposed a plan to do this that has been endorsed by Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher and the Fraternal Order of Police.

In the short term, we have taken decisive action to stop early releases at the Justice Center by sending up to 300 prisoners a night to Butler County.

Our county has been funding $100,000 per year for off-duty Cincinnati Police officers to target drug and gun crimes in Over-the-Rhine. This results in hundreds of arrests per year.

We are also experimenting with placing satellite probation offices in neighborhoods to keep better track of convicted offenders. We currently have these offices in Madisonville and East Walnut Hills and are now establishing one in Over-the-Rhine.

5. Property quality is becoming a concern in Hamilton County's older suburbs. How can the County help these communities maintain and revitalize an aging housing stock? (150 word limit)

Property quality is becoming a concern in Hamilton County's older suburbs. How can the County help these communities maintain and revitalize an aging housing stock? (150 words)

To combat the deterioration of neighborhoods and promote higher quality housing for residents of all income levels, we have started an initiative called Project Impact in which our officials are working directly with leaders in the "first suburbs" to provide economic development tools for those communities. This pilot program has already begun in Cheviot. Our planning and zoning department is also working with Elmwood Place and Lincoln Heights to create master re-development plans. We intend to expand this effort throughout the county.

6. What role can the County play in ensuring a wide variety of quality housing options affordable to Hamilton County residents of all income levels? (150 word limit)

The county can make it easier for people to build and refurbish homes in Hamilton County. Last year, we appointed a task force made up of private sector experts to determine how to best accomplish that. As a result, we have reformed our building department by streamlining their processes and cutting red tape to make it easier to get building permits approved. We are also working with the Homebuilders Association to expand sewers into undeveloped areas of the county which will open up large amounts of vacant land to build new neighborhoods with modern homes.

The commissioners recently renewed and expanded the county's Home Improvement Loan Program (HIP) which allows county homeowners to get bank loans at below-market rates to make major improvements to their homes.

7. What should the residents of Hamilton County expect from a County Commissioner? (150 word limit)

The residents of Hamilton County should expect a commissioner to take on tough issues and produce results, regardless of what is politically popular. I did that by working with Sheriff Leis to develop a plan to build a new jail to solve the problem of jail overcrowding that has been neglected for over 20 years. We put a stop to early releases at our current jail by signing an agreement with Butler County to send up to 300 prisoners a night there. We stopped the waste at Drake Hospital and preserved that facility by developing an agreement with the Health Alliance that eliminated over $50 million in taxes every five years.

Our citizens should expect a commissioner to keep his promises. When I took office in 2003, county spending was climbing at 2.5 times the rate of inflation. I pledged to stop that practice and have kept that promise.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 3, 2006 08:07
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