League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 6, 2007 Election
	Ken Richter Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Sycamore Community School District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What are your qualifications for office? (50 word limit)

My success in leading profitable organizations around the world for Avon Products uniquely prepared me to transfer applicable team building approaches to current board work for the Sycamore School District. Over the past four years my expertise has been enhanced through various training opportunities by the Ohio School Boards Association.

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

Build and Enhance District Relationships Since taking my "Oath of Office" in January 2004, my efforts have been and will be to get every employee to understand that all of us Serve the Whole Community and Its Children. Recognize "TEAM SYCAMORE" as a team of residents, parents, teachers, administrators and board members.

Execute "Our Contract with the Community" Maintain our capped expense level and continue to discuss, monitor and exhibit our spending trend lines.

Transfer Relevant Business Expertise to the District Serve committees such as Health Care, Executive Advisory and the Diversity Council to ensure engagement and education of staff.

3. What is your position on amending the Ohio Constitution with regard to the funding of public schools? (150 word limit)?

There is no doubt that many are frustrated by school financing in Ohio and have attempted to find the solution in a Constitutional Amendment which they euphemistically labeled "Getting it Right for Ohio". This effort has been led by the Ohio School Boards Association to which I am a proud member. Since November of 2006, I have tracked the OSBA and their efforts to gain signatures and to use logic of just "trust us" and we will fix school funding with a Constitutional Amendment.

The OSBA cause is noble and there is also no doubt that some reform is needed. However, what is the cost in taxpayer dollars and cost in fundamental democratic freedoms? Limited space does not allow me to elaborate at length, but here are two primary concerns: Do we need more layers of bureaucracy in Columbus? How much funding do they say is the correct level?

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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.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 4, 2007 17:44
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