League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Hamilton County, OH November 3, 2009 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of Blue Ash

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. 1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit) Answer from Tom Adamec: My business experience, community leadership, and years of civic involvement make me an ideal candidate. As a P&G manager for 26 years and community leader in civic and school organizations, I successfully led others while achieving high goals, eliminating waste, and improving operations. Answer from Clayton Werden, III: I see a need for change. I have listened to citizens from different neighborhoods and realize that there needs to be dialog between Council and Citizens, which I will do. I am a staunch supporter of our Veterans and owe them my unwavering support as I do the citizens of Blue Ash. Answer from Lee E. Czerwonka: It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Blue Ash as Council Representative at Large for the last 5 years. 2 years Vice Chairman Blue Ash Planning Commission. Member State Auditors Regional Advisory Board. Chairman Parks & Recreation Committee. Member Hamilton County Municipal League. Answer from Greg Cohen: There should be no qualifications to be a council member of a community other than a love for the community and a willingness to listen to the people. I am a trial lawyer with the ability to understand municipal law and skilled at spirited debate without resorting to malice. 2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit) Answer from Clayton Werden, III: First, the Veterans Memorial needs to be protected from future councils through an ordinance which would let the citizens choose. Second, we need to have a third party organize land owners and developers to create a friendly downtown atmosphere. Finally, I would get Residents to suggest to Council what their neighborhood needs and is lacking, and then improve the conditions. Answer from Lee E. Czerwonka: Council plans on starting our downtown streetscaping plan in early 2010. This will include new street lighting. The new lighting will also help give Blue Ash it's own definition and character and help revitalize our downtown. During these uncertain economic times we continue our proactive approach making sure that our businesses are stable and able to thrive, which in turn helps make Blue Ash the best local economy in the region. When our businesses are stable and thriving we are able to improve the city's infrastructure and services. Answer from Tom Adamec: I will work with Council Members and Administration to: support a well balanced community of parks, residential, and business areas through long-term strategic planning, strategies that attract new businesses, new facilities that provide value, and projects that improve the vitality of our commercial areas. promote systems that eliminate waste and cost while preserving services through development of long-term cost control and budget planning systems. promote systems that report progress towards reaching our goals. promote systems that engage and involve residents and seek out new ideas and approaches from our community. Answer from Greg Cohen: I will immediately demand the end of the practice of declaring an "emergency" on almost every matter before Council. I will propose a notice and comment process which would require the publication of all pending legislation followed by debates and public comment at a council session not to happen sooner than 40 days from the publication. I will review unnecessary expenditures and search out waste. 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) Answer from Tom Adamec: Blue Ash has a balanced budget and healthy balance sheet, but the uncertainty of the national economy means Council and the City administration should prudently: Include expectations and goals for every department and employee to seek out, recommend, and reduce costs or losses while improving the quality and services. Support actions in our economic development department that attracts new business to our city. Support accelerating work on future planned facilities projects to take advantage of current low market place construction and purchasing costs. Answer from Lee E. Czerwonka: Our administration and Council continue a conservative long term approach to budgeting. Our Blue Ash budget is balanced because we have planned for economic downturns where in comparison other local communities are struggling. Blue Ash is a leader and an example in the region of what a balanced municipality should be. We continue to add amenities and services for our residents and businesses when our budget allows. Answer from Clayton Werden, III: The Airport could be utilized better therefore bring in more tax revenue to Blue Ash. Answer from Greg Cohen: My first action will be to find a way to mke the Blue Ash Mayor's Court revenue positive rather than run at a deficit. This can be done by becoming a Magistrate's Court with greater powers and eliminating unnecessary court employees. My second action would be to request an outside review of certain city departments to search for savings. The Blue Ash Police would be a good place to start because it currently appears to be extraordinarily top heavy. A chief, two captains and three lieutenants seem excessive to command six sergeants and twenty six patrol officers It is an absurb waste of valuable resources. 4. What steps should the local government take to ensure that the quality of rental property meets minimum legal standards? (100 word limit) Answer from Clayton Werden, III: Enforce the codes and regulations fairly and by doing this the standard of property and life will enhance. Answer from Lee E. Czerwonka: I would like us to create rental standards or guidelines for all rental properties similar to other communities that would require regular inspections of the individual properties (Building Dept., Fire Dept., Police Dept., Health Dept.)The owners would be subject to inspection fees. This would force the owners to ether take care of their property or sell it for owner/occupancy. Thus reducing the number of rental units and increasing property values. Answer from Greg Cohen: Blue Ash currently has highly effective standards in place. These include boundary restrictions, trash abatement, parked car restrictions and occupancy restrictions. Health Code restictions are a County function. The City can be more effective by instituting annual fire, health and building code inspections at a modest fee to landlords. Answer from Tom Adamec: Review standards for current housing for health, safety, and appearance and adjust if necessary with ordinances. Put in place an inspection and compliance program that requires rental housing to meet the housing standards required by new ordinances. Implement a fee structure for rental housing that pays the cost of the rental inspection and compliance program. Remedy all issues according to the compliance program. 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.