Candidate for
Recorder; County of Hamilton

Currently I serve as a Courtroom Bailiff for Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Ted Berry; having served as Judge Berry's Campaign Manager in his 2005 and 2007 elections.

I was sworn-in as State Representative to the 124th Ohio General Assembly on January 2, 2001. While State Representative I served on the Financial Institution, Local Government and Townships, Ways and Means Committees, Economic Development & Small Business, Housing & Urban Development, and the Physician Loan Repayment Advisory Board.

During my tenure in the State Legislature I authored several pieces of legislation ranging from prescription drug access for seniors and women, a bill protecting our children from sexual offenders and predators, legislation to protect against security fraud, cell tower local code adherence legislation, and early voter legislation. I authored a municipal finance accountability bill that was signed into law by the Governor on January 6th, 2003 and demonstrated my determination and effectiveness as a first-term legislator.

I served as Mayor of the City of Forest Park from December 4, 1995 through December 1, 1999, having served on City Council since 1989. As Mayor, I served as Presiding Judge over Forest Park Mayor's Court officiating over traffic and criminal misdemeanor cases, and Chairman of the Inter-Government Relations Committee. As Mayor I pushed for more full-time fire and safety personnel that lowered homeowner insurance premiums to residents and businesses, and was a leader in bringing the "Metro Park and Ride" to Forest Park.

I recommended the city adopt an investment policy for city funds that increased the city's investment revenue, and impaneled a Mayor's Task Force on Tax Review that introduced sweeping "citizen friendly" changes to Forest Park's tax code, and gave residents a taxpayer's "Bill of Rights".

I also served on the Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) of the Hamilton County Development Company, voting to reduce abatements to those businesses that did not live up to their commitments to create jobs in Forest Park, and was lead spokesman in bringing together a multi-jurisdictional collaboration of Hamilton County, Springfield Township, Colerain Township and Forest Park to fund the engineering cost of the Hamilton Avenue Widening Project.

I served as Trustee, Executive Committee member, Finance Chairman and Facilities Chairman of the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and was instrumental in securing sites and funding for new "Head Start" facilities, and served as Trustee to the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Government; serving on the "Transportation Enhancement Policy Task Force" on bikeways, historical preservation, and beautification projects.

I was a member of the Ohio Mayor's Association and the Ohio Municipal League, and Legislative Chairman and Executive Committee member of the Hamilton County Municipal League.

As a member of Forest Park City Council, I chaired the Public Improvements and Facilities Committee during the initial stages of the municipal building expansion and road improvement projects. During my tenure as Chairman of the Community Development Committee, I authored Forest Park's Recycling Ordinance that has kept over 14,000 tons of recyclable trash out of landfills, introduced the Christmas Tree Roundup Program that recycles trees to mulch, and pushed for "citizen friendly" changes in housing code enforcement. As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, I worked to consolidate city debt and reduced interest expense to the city.

I have served on Forest Park's Planning Commission that reviewed development plans, and I worked hard to preserve the quality of life in Forest Park's residential community. I also served on the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Housing Resource Board that reviewed marketing efforts to minorities by real estate professionals, and was instrumental in the formation and a charter member of the Forest Park Historical Society.

Prior to my serving on Forest Park City Council, I served as Chairman of the Forest Park Beautification and Conservation Commission, initiating the city's Urban Forestry Program, and has been very instrumental in Forest Park being named a "Tree City USA". I also served as a member of the Forest Park Economic Development Commission encouraging business growth and expanding employment opportunities to area residents, while continuing my efforts to enhance the city's image.

I received my Real Estate Broker's license in 1981, served as Sales Manager at a Coldwell Banker Sears Financial Center in Florence Kentucky, and I am currently owner of Coates Realty. I received my GRI (Graduate Realtors Institute) in 1988 from the Ohio Association of Realtors and a CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) professional real estate designation in 1991 from the Realtors National Marketing Institute. I former Legislative Chairman of the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors, and Trustee of the Ohio Association of Realtors working on consumer legislation to protect home sellers and buyers. I have received the Ohio Association of Realtor's "Ben Franklin Award" for my writing contribution on real estate industry matters. I am a former Registered Home Builder and Remodeler having built a Homearama Home in 1981.

I am a former Treasurer of the Reading/Sycamore Fraternal Order of Eagles, a former member of the Florence Kawanis and Greenhills/Forest Park Kawanis, and the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce.

I served eleven years in the Kentucky Jaycees; six years at the state level and was acknowledged as an "Outstanding State Chairman" for my environmental programming efforts, and have been recognized as a "Jaycee International Senator" for my leadership, vision, and commitment to the Jaycee organization. I am past president of the St. Matthews Jaycees, a suburb of the Louisville, Kentucky area.

I currently serve on the Hamilton County Democratic Party Executive Committee and the Hamilton County Democratic Party Central Committee as Precinct Executive in Forest Park where I served as President of the Forest Park Democratic Club.

I have been married to my wife Linda for thirty-one years and we have two grown daughters; Stephanie and Jamie.