League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 6, 2007 Election
	Merrie Lynn (Stewart) Stillpass Answers Questions Candidate for Member Council; Village of Amberley

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)

Educated as professional urban planner and currently serve on Amberley Village Council. Committee assignments include chair of Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, the Amberley Village Beautification Committee, and Public Buildings and Parks Committees. Serve as member of the Streets, Public Utilities and Sewers, Law and Land Development Committees.

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

Ongoing, responsible, "big picture" governance is required to look at constant challenges facing budgets, infrastructure, growth and services. Work with the existing businesses and institutions, redevelopment of the North Site and Losantiville School to provide opportunities for sustainable methods of revenue enhancement.

Beautification Committee programs such as sign consolidation, plantings, education and Tree City USA recognition, improves the "view from the road" and "curb appeal" people look for when buying houses or translating to property values.

The new JCC and Pleasant Ridge School enhance the quality of life creating places for all Amberley residents to attend age appropriate programs.

3. State three actions that you recommend to promote regional cooperation, and explain how you would implement each action? (150 word limit)

As a professional urban planner, I recognize the importance for regional cooperation. I plan to continue to support Amberley Village's Mayor Chuck Kamine who serves as the chair of the First Suburbs Consortium of Southwest Ohio. This organization of government elected and appointed officials represents mature built-out communities in the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area with the mission to initiate and promote public policies that maintain the vitality of our communities. Smaller suburban bedroom communities such as Amberley rely on the health of the region's economy, transportation networks, and cultural and recreational venues. With my assistance, Amberley has initiated meetings with surrounding political jurisdictions to discuss issues such as redevelopment and infrastructure, tax base, safety concerns and issues and celebrated successes. By working together on some of the issues positive change can occur. The dialogue raises public and political awareness of the problems, possibilities and solutions.

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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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