Prepared for Candidate Forum
INTRODUCTION
My husband, Tim, and I moved to Glendale in 1984. Here we raised our two children, Erin and Brian. Both attended local schools & were valedictorians of their graduating class, both graduated from The United States Military Academy at West Point, and both served as officers in the United States Army. Erin, now a civilian, married Ravi, a newly-retired career marine. Major Brian Kilgore, after 3 deployments to Iraq, is in Boston with his new wife, Sarah, studying at Harvard to earn a graduate degree in International Studies.
Tim, an architect, served the village for 11 years as a member of our Glendale Planning and Historic Preservation Commission, as well as has worked with many residents as they planned additions or renovations on their homes.
I have taught for 27 years, 15 for Landmark Christian School, the last 12 at Miami University and for the graduate departments at Indiana Wesleyan University and The College of Mount St. Joe. For 30 years I have volunteered at church teaching Sunday school, over 20 teaching junior high. For the past 10 years my husband and I have volunteered as coordinators of the local admissions efforts for the United States Military Academy at West Point.
My involvement with the community includes participating as youth sports coach and referee and membership in Glendale Heritage Preservation, Centennial Garden Club, Lunch & Learn, Kindervelt, Glendale Literary Club, Monday Class, the Economic Development Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce.
My involvement representing Glendale in county-wide organizations includes participating on the First Suburbs of South West Ohio Executive Committee,
Hamilton County Municipal League Executive Committee, Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, Planning Partnership, & Hamilton County Watershed.
I am completing my second term as councilwoman & was selected by council to serve as vice mayor in 2007. AND I feel privileged to serve residents of the Village of Glendale.
BUDGET
My experience is with small, not-for-profit entities such as private Christian school, administrating a church-related day care, and with small programs at universities, is relevant to the financial circumstances of the Village + where we are blessed with volunteers and private contributions, but where we do not have an income tax or the tax revenues of a large commercial base.
As informed residents you have followed council and are aware of the village needs and the financial challenges it will encounter in the near future. You are also aware of my record as a fiscal conservative.
Our revenue is generated through Resident Property Tax, Estate Tax, Local Government Fund, Tangible Property Tax, rentals, & fees: a portion of which will evaporate.
We have experienced tight budgets in the past. For the 8 budget cycles that I have been involved in we have tightened our belts each time and what remains is a very streamlined budget. We are at a point where services that are non-essential are being examined such as the elimination of backdoor garbage pick-up.
Everyone needs to, & will, pull together and work on ways to live within our means & resist or postpone raising taxes. I am convinced that regional efforts to consolidate purchases of materials and services will help to control escalating costs & am working toward that aim.
QUALIFICATIONS
I am a resident, for 27 years, living both outside & inside the historic district. I am keenly aware of the differing needs of all areas of our village.
I have taught for 27 years, at times supervising 150 students a day and negotiating with faculty, staff, parents, & community members and people from all walks of life.
I have earned a masters degree from Xavier University in Learning Exceptionalities; Gifted Education and a Ph.D in Educational Leadership, basically Organizational Leadership.
While for the past 8 years I have participated and contributed in Glendale I have also been involved and built networks with Hamilton county communities promoting Glendale as a wonderful village in which to live and advocating for cost efficient shared purchasing of goods & services.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
I was Chairman of the Fire Committee during the period of time that the fire department was decommissioned and re-commissioned, chairing the intense committee meetings during the process to re-establish the department. At that time. Glendale was faced with a breakdown of [mutual aid] arrangements with other communities
The cathartic process our community has undergone while re-instituting fire protection and safety services results in a better version of what we had: a new vision that equates a renewed commitment.
As mother of daughter and son soldiers, both graduates of West Point, with my son serving 3 tours in Iraq, NO ONE HAS GREATER RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO WEAR A UNIFORM AND SERVE.
I appreciate the service of our volunteer Fire Dept. AND I appreciate the service from the fire departments of surrounding communities that are critical to the protection of Glendale. For protection of Glendale, we must work amiably & cooperatively with each other.
QUIET ZONE (an example of fiscal responsibility)
I appreciate the desire for a Railroad Quiet Zone. The costs discussed are those from 5 years ago & only address an initial installation cost ignoring yearly maintenance and hidden costs. For me this is a social justice issue spreading the burden on financing this project across the shoulders of all the residents, including working class and poor, to the main benefit the wealthier few. I encourage use of private funding, grants that may become available in the future) to pay for a Quiet Zone. I would support a vote by residents on the issue but I would not vote for the issue, because it would raise our taxes for a marginal benefit, and one that disproportionately benefits only a portion of Glendale. I speak as an owner of one of the closest homes to the railroad tracks on Sharon Road, someone most affected by train traffic.
SQUARE
I was chair of the Streets Committee during the negotiating phase & Dr Aronstein was chair during the construction phase of the Square improvements. Our former administrator, Mr. Cordes, successfully applied for an OKI Road Improvement Grant. Council set aside $156,506, our share of a project totaling over $500,000 of improvements to our square. The project evolved, Mr. Cordes procured other funds resulting in Glendale investing about $105, 000 and receiving about $800,000 from State and federal funding sources. The final appearance of our newly renovated square is the result of input of Council and Administration, staff, committees, & focus groups and represents a true community effort.
TEA PARTY
As I have walked door to door campaigning in Glendale, a number of residents have remarked upon an email campaign that includes criticism of my membership in the Tea Party. Let me be very clear: I embrace the principles of the Glendale Tea Party:
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Limited Government
- Free Markets
Which of those principles do we not want to apply to Glendale?
I have heard the national criticism of some of the Tea Party movement in general, and believe it is misplaced and mistaken. I understand there are issues that divide us in national debate, but they should not divide us here, within Glendale.
I ask people - who oppose me simply because I believe in some basic Tea Party principles - to examine me and your other neighbors in Glendale who are in the Tea Party, to consider my heart - and to question the motives of people who essentially believe the principles of the Tea Party, but criticize me for being a member.
LANDMARK PROPERTY
As with development, or for that matter any issues or concerns, in any portion of the village, having lived outside the historic district on Chester Road for 27 years, and soon in an historic home on Sharon Road, I have a balanced, unique perception of the needs and what is of benefit to the entire village and all its residents. To date two developers had expressed interest; both went into foreclosure.
As a member of Landmark, I can speak with authority of the integrity of the pastor to find a way to develop that property that will compliment both the church and our community. I have an excellent working relationship with Mat Holman and we will work together toward that aim.
SHARONVILLE/PRINCETON SHARON ROAD DEVELOPMENT
Most residents are aware of the newly unfolding reports of a small commercial district along the north side of Sharon Road at the current band practice field. I oppose this development because I believe his property was transferred to the school district many years ago for educational purpose, not for commercial development & that it will adversely affect Glendale. I will attempt to stop it, and if unsuccessful, to control it as Mayor.
This is a complicated and multi-faceted issue involving Sharonville and the autonomous power of a school district and how their project affects a portion of our northern border. I pledge to commit the time and efforts to be a presence of influence and negotiation.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The village has met the criteria to become and remain a nationally recognized Historic District. This status is not at risk. We enjoy the community of well preserved historic homes and well maintained neighborhoods and the peace and safety that a tight knit community provides.
RESIDENT CONCERNS
As I canvas the community I hear concerns expressed regarding the need for improvements in our aging infrastructure, concerns regarding increased costs to residents; such as desires to avoid tax increases and to revisit fire safety and `water & sewage' costs.
ISSUE 2
Issue 2 is not relative to the governance of our village as we do not have unionized employees. One area that it does affect us directly is regarding Princeton School District. I believe the School Board, as elected representatives of the taxpayer, should have greater ability to cut spending than is currently possible. I want to reduce the need for the school district to come to us to raise our taxes, especially when those levies are in conflict with the interests of the Village (such as inadequate funding of Glendale Elementary improvements; and the planned commercial development of school property that will adversely affect Glendale.)
On principle, I believe in employment and pay based on merit, not seniority, and automatic increases. I do not believe that workers should be forced to pay union dues. I trust that some features of the law can be modified to have less impact on police and firefighters.
ISSUE 3:
The Ohio Health Care Freedom Amendment allows Ohioans to take control of our own health care choices rather that federally mandated health insurance. It is an Ohio constitutional amendment barring laws that require anyone to participate in a health-care system.
LEADERSHIP
My definition of leadership includes ethically accomplishing for the greater good, identifying needs, addressing these systematically, efficiently, & thoroughly to completion, without self-promotion or flourish, and mentoring to empower others to leadership.
CLOSING
The most important village asset is its residents. I envision a self-sufficient, vital Glendale with amenities that support and attract young families, regional efforts to purchase materials and goods to control escalating costs, maintaining Glendale as the respite of calm in an otherwise hectic world that it is.
Each & every project to benefit the community is a result of the combined talents of our administration and employees, participation of committees & focus groups, and council's allocation of funding, and in many cases donated time, talent, and materials by residents. The result is a culmination of the time & talents of many.
What differentiates me from my opponent is the fact that I am the sole member of council that, in addition to attending the Village of Glendale Council and committees, the Glendale Economic Development Committee, & the Glendale Chamber of Commerce meetings within Glendale, has participated in county-wide organizations such as Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, Planning Partnership, & the Hamilton County Watershed Commission. Additionally I was invited to serve on the executive committees of both the First Suburbs Consortium of South West Ohio and the Hamilton County Municipal League, through which I advocate for Glendale. As mayor I will aggressively pursue cost savings through collaborative regional purchasing of materials and equipment and reducing the costs of redundancy among neighboring communities.
|
