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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Qualification,
Priorities,
Economic,
Rental property
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)
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Answer from Lisa M. Curtis:
I am a proactive person and I am ready to take on the challenges that face the city of North College Hill. I am a problem solver and in my current profession I help to run a hospital unit and keep communication and information flowing seamlessly throughout Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Answer from Mike Poast:
I am simply a concerned citizen, no better than any other man or woman. When you drive through our downtown, you have to wonder what happened. When you attend a council meeting you have to question if there is ever any disagreement, any debate. When you learn that we only ....
Answer from Marcia LaShaun (Johnson) Weaver:
I believe that I am qualifed for this position because I am willing to do the work. I am committed and connected to North College Hill and my contributions will help to ensure that North College Hill remains a safe, productive and inviting community.
Answer from Patrick A. Hartzel:
I moved to North College Hill in 1997 and went to its council meetings and became involved in the Republican Club.
Since 2000, I have been President of NCH Republican Club, and joined the Citizens on Patrol in 2002. I also serve as acting chairman of the Board of Zoning appeals.
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2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)
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Answer from Marcia LaShaun (Johnson) Weaver:
I will begin with my top priority which is a balanced budget. Having a balanced budget enables our City to effectively plan for the future. This budget allows the City to be financially responsible in regards to staffing. This will take collaboration from the administration, departments and Council; however, with this collaboration we will be better able to make informed responsible desicions. I also would like to be instrumental in revitalizing the North College Hill Pride in our homes, recreation, businesses and schools....
Answer from Patrick A. Hartzel:
Communication is a means of passing information from one place to another. All problems are caused or solved through media. I will work with all committees to stay informed, and, by using current technology, I will relay that information to our citizens. I believe there are room,and a way to find funds in the current budget,and to hire one more police officer and a paramedic for the fire department. Other departments will have to be cut in order to do this and priorities will have to be set.
Answer from Mike Poast:
I am, along with my fellow candidates, committed to carving the unnecessary spending out of the budget and enlivening the business district to enable the hiring of more full-time police officers.
I am, along with my fellow candidates, committed to never forgetting in whom the political power in NCH lies. That I work for the people who deserve the truth and deserve to have greater access to me so that they do not need to schedule their whole life around seeing me, but that I am accessible more often than just around election season.
I am, along with my fellow ....
Answer from Lisa M. Curtis:
I will address these priorties by making sure all citizens of NCH are kept informed of legislation and ideas I have. Accountability will be encouraged and welcomed because the most important part of government is the citizens it is responsible to. I will work to keep taxes fair and make filing them an automated and easy process. The public will be given North College Hill financial reports so that they will know where their tax dollars are going. Finally, public safety issues will be addressed by finding ways to get more officers on the street.
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3. What two actions would you promote to enhance city revenue or decrease city expenditures in order to balance the city budget, given the current economic conditions? (100 word limit)
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Answer from Lisa M. Curtis:
I would enhance our revenue by making the tax collection and payment processes automated and easy to navigate. Use of online service to pay and file taxes as well as keeping the public informed on what we are spending their money on is one of my top priorities. This would not only enhance our revenue but also decrease expenditures by using more automation. We could also sell the Clovernook School property recently aquired in a land swap deal with the school district instead of trying to maintain a very old building.
Answer from Marcia LaShaun (Johnson) Weaver:
Thankfully, our City budget is and has been balanced and I think the plan to keeping our budget balanced will be to keep track of our expenditures and make sure that the items are a necessary item. I would also like to see our income from tax revenues increase. I think one way to have this done is to better be able to track the citizens living and or working in North College Hill. The new renters registration from Hamilton County will help with the tracking.
Answer from Patrick A. Hartzel:
I would find a way to make sure all citizens living in North College Hill were paying their share of the earnings tax. Try to attract higher earning individuals and improve our surroundings. Reduce spending in areas of waste and out of priorities policy. Look for alternative ways to get things done without added expense to get the same results. Look at all dollars coming into and going out of all funds.
Answer from Mike Poast:
There are many examples in any government of wasteful spending, NCH is no different. I wonder if the people's money were treated as carefully as elected officials, I am sure, treat their own if many of the decisions they have made would have happened. A greater respect for the limited resources of the city is needed.
When you enhance safety and create a business-friendly environment commerce flourishes and revenues flow.
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4. What steps should the local government take to ensure that the quality of rental property meets minimum legal standards? (100 word limit)
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Answer from Lisa M. Curtis:
The city needs to hold property owners responsible for their rental units. Current laws permit the city to hold the owners responsible and need to be enforced. I would look at this area if elected to see what could be done to improve the current process.
Answer from Marcia LaShaun (Johnson) Weaver:
I believe that North College Hill is headed in the right direction by acessing the rental registration process in Hamilton County. This gives us contact information for the homeowners and this information can be used as a communication piece to connect the City with the owner and subsequently with the renter.
Answer from Mike Poast:
If there are laws that are being broken the appropriate county or State officials should be informed about it. If there are no teeth in the current laws, or said officials will not enforce their laws, new local laws should be considered, debated, written and passed.
Answer from Patrick A. Hartzel:
There are laws already on the books to enforce code volitions. What needs to change is the agreements and timing of actions and penalties. The owner, landlord, and renters have to respond to the city as do all citizens. A review needs to be accessed and acted upon.
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.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
