League of Women Voters of Ohio
Hamilton County, OH November 4, 2003 Election
	Pat DeWine Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Cincinnati

The questions were prepared by the LWV Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. How would you implement your top priority?

We must not tolerate disorder of any type. That is why I have passed new legislation to crack down on absentee landlords, to deal with litter and high weeds, to curb aggressive panhandling, to close problem bars, to get rid of graffiti and to put more police officers on our streets. I will continue to push for aggressive and fair law enforcement, and for zero tolerance of disorder in our neighborhoods.

2. Numerous important issues including transportation, land use planning, housing and economic development for the Greater Hamilton County regions are being deliberated by OKI's Land Use Commission and Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission and Planning Partnership COMPASS; how engaged should local government be in these planning activities? If elected, how would you participate in these planning activities?

I support increased regional efforts to deal with our regional problems. I have worked to consolidate government resources, so that we can more efficiently deliver services on a regional basis. I have also recognized the low home ownership rate in the City and have twice set up funds to address this problem. In December, I created legislation establishing the Housing Development Fund, a public-private partnership that leveraged $100 million for new market rate housing. The fund will rehabilitate abandoned buildings, create new housing across the City and strengthen the City's tax base. Recently, I created legislation that would establish the Cincinnati Arts and Homeownership Fund. With 500 vacant buildings in Over-the-Rhine, this program will provide 100% financing for individuals, including artists, to purchase owner-occupied homes

3. Ohio Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Recycling Coalition conducted a state-specific study and found recycling businesses in Ohio generated $650.6 million dollars in state government revenue. If elected how would you promote recycling and support recycling programs currently in place in your community to reduce solid waste generation?

Cincinnati City Council is facing a very difficult budget year this year. The City's recycling program has been rumored to be a possible area of elimination to help deal with the budget shortfall, as it has in the past. In 2002, I voted not to eliminate this program and do not intend to support an elimination of the recycling program this year. I believe that recycling programs, like the Curbside Recycling Program, do much to reduce solid waste generation in Cincinnati.