League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
	Robert J. Wilking Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Cincinnati

Questions & Answers

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

I have been a full-time employee in the private sector since 1980. I have served on committees for various organizations, including the United Way, UpDowntowners and Xavier University. I have familiarized myself with the City's Charter, budget and Municipal Code.

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

Battling crime--My plan is to use my vote on Council to support the next Mayor's initiatives, as long as I believe the Police Department is behind them. Regional planning--I wish to use my position on Council to work with Hamilton County to to seek ways that services can be combined and/or shared, and work towards overcoming transportation barriers. Improving communication--have Community Councils sessions that explain in general terms Police policies and procedures. In addition, find ways to use the Internet as a tool for Community Council members and citizens to learn what other Councils are doing.

3. What steps would you take to ensure that all public facilities are accessible to people with disabilities? (100 words limit)

1) Attempt to create a coalition with other Councilmembers who share the same concern 2) Identify what facilities are currently not accessible 3) Identify what needs to be done to make them accessible. 4) Find out from the City Manager why these certain facilities are not accessible. 5) Work with the Administration in coming up with workable solutions. 6) Find the money in the budget to implement it.

4. What specific steps will you take to expand recycling services in your community? (100 words limit)

I would work with other Council members who share the need for recycling in retaining weekly curbside pickup and collection of yard waste. Beyond that I would work with Rumpke to determine if additional items can be added to the recycle stream, improving communication with what citizens can do with large items, such as sofas and mattresses, and possibly increasing the number of drop-off sites.

5. What steps would you take to provide affordable housing for all residents of your community? (100 words limit)

The trend now with providing affordable housing is to move away from huge apartment complexes and more into creating mixed income neighborhoods, with the emphasis on home ownership. The Mills of Carthage and Villages of Daybreak are two that come to mind. I would work with other Councilmembers to include this concept in the City's budget, as well as working with developers and neighborhood Councils in identifying areas that are good sites for future development of this type.