CINCINNATI -- Whoever is elected to Cincinnati City Council on Nov. 3 will need to be ready to make extremely tough decisions soon after they’re sworn in on Dec. 1.
That’s because the city is facing a $51.5 million budget shortfall for 2010. City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr., has already warned that mass layoffs are a possibility. Another key issue is deciding how to fund the Cincinnati pension plan for current and future retirees.
During the 2009 budget debate, councilmembers were divided on a spending plan. Laketa Cole, David Crowley, Greg Harris, Roxanne Qualls and Cecil Thomas sided with Mayor Mark Mallory. Jeff Berding, Chris Bortz, Leslie Ghiz and Chris Monzel found themselves in the minority. As a result of that debate, Democrats withdrew their endorsement of Berding.
Nineteen people are seeking nine seats in 2009.
There will be at one new councilmember chosen. That’s because Democrat David Crowley, the current Vice-Mayor, is term-limited and can’t seek another two years in office.
However, the remaining
eight incumbents are seeking re-election:
* Charter Committee: Chris Bortz, Roxanne Qualls
* Democrat: Laketa Cole, Greg Harris, Cecil Thomas
* Republican: Leslie Ghiz, Chris Monzel
* Independent: Jeff Berding
Challengers include…* Charter Committee: Kevin Flynn
* Democrat: Tony Fischer, Nicholas Hollan, Laure Quinlivan, Bernadette Watson, Wendell Young
* Republican: Amy Murray, Charles Winburn, George Zamary
* Independent: Anita Brockman, LaMarque Ward
Councilmembers can serve four consecutive two-year terms. Their annual salary is $60,645.55, a sum that set by the Ohio Legislature at three-fourths of what county commissioners make.
Here’s a listing of the candidates and their three top priorities they provided to the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area.
JEFF BERDING (Independent) (stripped of endorsement by Democratic Party after 2009 budget vote)
Occupation: Councilmember; Director of Sales & Public Affairs – Cincinnati Bengals
Background: Headed effort to pass sales tax hike to build Paul Brown Stadium; MBA from Xavier University; Undergraduate degree from Miami University
Priorities: 1) Keep police and firefighters on the streets to make the city safe
2) Economic development and quality jobs for Cincinnati
3) Prevent foreclosures and keep families in their homes
CHRIS BORTZ (Charter Committee)Occupation: Councilmember; General Counsel for Towne Properties
Background: Former teacher; Strongly supports GO Cincinnati development initiative
Priorities:1) Economic development
2) Regional cooperation/consolidation
3) Public safety
ANITA BROCKMAN (Independent)Occupation: Educator/Business Professional
Background: MBA; 2008 Instructor of the Year; 2009 Unsung Hero Award Recipient
Priorities: 1) Youth development
2) Public safety
3) Economic development
LAKETA COLE (Democrat)Occupation: Councilmember
Background: Finance Committee Chair; Aide to former Mayor Dwight Tillery and former Councilmember Paul Booth
Priorities:1) Neighborhoods
2) Jobs
3) Increased access to City Hall
TONY FISCHER (Democrat)Occupation: ESL Teacher
Background: Decorated U.S. Army combat veteran; Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
Priorities:1) Public safety
2) Vibrant neighborhood business districts
3) Strong local economy
KEVIN FLYNN (Charter Committee)Occupation: Attorney
Background: UC Law School Adjunct Professor; Drake Center Board Chairman: LaSalle High School and McAuley High School Boards
Priorities:1) Public safety
2) Budget
3) Economic development
LESLIE GHIZ (Republican)Occupation: Attorney; Councilmember
Background: Lives in North Avondale; Former Chief Labor Negotiator for the city
Priorities:
1) Making Cincinnati a safer place to live and work by reducing the crime rate
2) Increasing quality of life by creating and retaining jobs
3) Serving the important role of watchdog for how tax dollars are spent
GREG HARRIS (Democrat)Occupation: Public Policy Officer – Knowledge Works Foundation (2005-Present); Councilmember
Background: Former Executive Director – Citizens for Public Renewal (2000-2004)
Priorities:1) Streamline government
2) Combat blight
3) Protect the environment
NICHOLAS HOLLAN (Democrat)Occupation: Red Cross Community Outreach/Disaster Services Coordinator
Background: Westwood Civic Association Board; United Cerebral Palsy Board (2008-2009)
Priorities:1) Renewed investment in Cincinnati Children
2) Public safety
3) Neighborhood revitalization
CHRIS MONZEL (Republican)Occupation: Engineer; Councilmember
Background: Lives in Spring Grove Village; Degree in aero-engineering
Priorities:
1) Reducing crime and improving the quality of life in all neighborhoods
2) Fiscal responsibility – balancing the city budget without laying off police or firefighters
3) Responsive city government working smarter by eliminating waste and inefficiency
AMY MURRAY (Republican)Occupation: Business Owner – The Japan Consulting Group
Background: 14-years as P&G Global Business Manager; Past President - Hyde Park Community Council
Priorities: 1) Economic development – keep existing companies and attract new business
2) Public safety – stronger council support for police and fire divisions
3) Advocate for the taxpayer – lower taxes and responsible spending
ROXANNE QUALLS (Charter Committee)Occupation: Councilmember
Background: Former Cincinnati Mayor; Director of Citizen Action (1983-1991); Loeb Fellow at Harvard University (2001)
Priorities:1) Focus on the fundamentals of making every neighborhood safe, clean, green and beautiful and by maintaining the quality of public assets
2) Build on strengths – invest in transit, strengthen pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods, leverage future I-75 investment
3) Transform the built, natural and social environment of the city to successfully compete globally and respond to global climate changes
LAURE QUINLIVAN (Democrat)Occupation: Video Producer/Small Business Owner
Background: Former WCPO-TV I-Team Investigative Reporter & Peabody Award Winner
Priorities:1) Watch taxpayer money – increase accountability
2) Promote Cincinnati to the rest of the world to bring jobs
3) Bring streetcars for economic development
CECIL THOMAS (Democrat)Occupation: Councilmember
Background: Retired Cincinnati Police Officer; Former Executive Director of Cincinnati Human Relations Commission; President, Sentinel Police Association; Lifetime FOP member
Priorities: 1) Improving public safety and police-community relations
2) Growing employment opportunities through education and economic development
3) Clean environment – green growth – revitalizing neighborhood business districts
LaMARQUE WARD (Independent)Occupation: Manager for Cincinnati Job Corps
Background: Founder of Cincinnati Dream Academy; Jail Minister
Priorities:1) Community and police relations
2) Youth engagement
3) Community inclusion
BERNADETTE WATSON (Democrat)Occupation: Retired
Background: Detroit Regional Census Center Partnership Specialist; Co-Chair, Cincinnati Democratic Committee; President, Avondale Community Council
Priorities: 1) Health, environmental and quality of life issues
2) Employment opportunities
3) Development of Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods
CHARLES WINBURN (Republican)Occupation: Consultant
Background: Former Cincinnati Councilmember; UC Graduate
Priorities:1) Jobs first
2) Safety now
3) Attracting business and encouraging growth and development to all 52 Cincinnati
neighborhoods
WENDELL YOUNG (Democrat)Occupation: Retired
Background: Former Cincinnati Police Officer; President, Sentinel Police Association; Past President of Cincinnati Chapter of NAACP
Priorities: 1) Budget control – preserve public safety/city services – economic development & job creation
2) Preservation of thriving neighborhoods and improving undeserved neighborhoods
3) Preservation and improvement of environment through Green Initiatives
GEORGE ZAMARY (Republican)Occupation: Attorney
Background: Ohio University Summa Cum Laude (1995); Capital University Law School (1998)
Priorities:1) Fiscal responsibility
2) Clean and safe neighborhoods
3) Revitalization of Cincinnati’s tax base
