League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Hamilton County, OH November 5, 2013 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member of Council; City of Cincinnati

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Qualifications, Budget, Plan Cincinnati Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What are your qualifications for office? (50 word limit) Answer from Timothy Joseph Dornbusch: I have helped run a business from 1990 to 2000. I started my own Plumbing and Electrical contracting business since 2000 to present. making hard decisions isn't any different from a micro to a macro form. just more zero's involved Answer from Greg Landsman: Before joining Strive, I was appointed Director of the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives by Governor Strickland in 2007. The Office works to enhance the capacity of community-based organizations, encourage effective partnerships among public agencies and community organizations, and measure their impact in an effort to reduce Ohio poverty. Answer from P.G. Sittenfeld: I am proud of my record of putting people first and getting things done during my time on City Council, and I will continue to be a thoughtful decision-maker, who listens and is responsive to citizens. Answer from Laure Quinlivan: I am a small business owner, and a former investigative reporter with a track record of researching important issues, and finding and implementing solutions. I led the campaign to change to our city's system of government, winning passage of 4 year terms in 2012. On Council I created the City's Community Entertainment District legislation which has already created more than 500 jobs by attracting new restaurants to open in several city neighborhoods. I also created new city programs for Mobile Food Vending, Mobile Produce Vending, and Cincinnati Safe Student Housing. Answer from Mike Moroski: I have a 12 year career of investing in our Community and working with those who many have left behind, and I have post-graduate degrees in language and business. I have forged relationships with everyone from the homeless to C-Suite executives and have the ability to bridge these groups. Answer from David Mann: I have been privileged to serve previously for 20 years in elective office including 2 years in the U.S. Congress and 18 years on council. During three of those years, I served as Mayor of Cincinnati. I am a practicing attorney who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. Answer from Shawn Butler: I have experience. I worked at City Hall for eight years, providing direct support to the Mayor and his office by managing initiatives directly related to Mayor Mallory's platform. My ability to act as a primary correspondent has helped with the positive turn-around that Cincinnati has experienced since 2005. Answer from Sam Malone: I served on City Council from 2003-2005. I'm very informed on the issues. I've spent the past 3 years advocating for Small, Women & Minority Owned Businesses with local entities such as: Cincinnati Public Schools, City of Cincinnati & Metropolitan Sewer District to increase there contracting opportunities for everyone. Answer from Vanessa White: As an elected public official, I have demonstrated an independent approach to transparent governance and fiscal responsibility, and an ability to collaborate across differences to solve problems. I'm a mother of five with an MBA and non-profit experience; I understand the human service and administrative demands of complex urban government. Answer from Christopher E.C. Smitherman: I am a license financial planner. Answer from Kevin Flynn: - Character. I will make decisions based on what is best for the city. - Experience. I will synthesize ideas to create mutually beneficial results. - Ability. I will get the job done. - Transparency. I will shine some light on City Hall. - Determination. I don't give up. Answer from Charlie Winburn: What most qualifies me to hold public office is my 30 years of experience and public service, and six terms of service on the Cincinnati City Council. Answer from Angela Beamon: My qualifications for Cincinnati City Council are simply my passion and dedication to doing what is right for the entire city of Cincinnati.I believe that resource must be equally distributed among all of our neighborhoods, as a city we must not leverage projects that benefit only a few on the backs of all tax paying citizens. Answer from Wendell Young: I have dedicated my life to public service in Cincinnati. My varied professional and personal experience in the city has given me a deep understanding of our neighborhoods, what they face, and how to make them stronger. I have the dedication, knowledge, and vision to effectively serve our city. Answer from Yvette Renee Simpson: I grew up very poor in Cincinnati, but was able to overcome many obstacles to achieve success. Therefore, I understand the challenges and opportunities facing our city. Since being elected to Council, I have helped lead the city with this perspective, applying vision, passion, and action to every decision. Answer from Amy Murray: Cincinnati City Council + 2011 + 11 months representing city taxpayers. Procter & Gamble - 14-year business experience in Global Business Development. Small Business Owner - As owner of my own small company I understand the obstacles that businesses face in Cincinnati. Hyde Park Neighborhood Council - past president. Answer from Pam Thomas: As a current member of Cincinnati City Council I bring more than 20 years of experience to the position. My professional background as an educator and administrator includes budget preparation and program development. These skills will provide a solid foundation as Council focuses on the critical issues ahead. Answer from Kevin Johnson: My corporate experience as a regional manager with the Kroger Company, my legislative experience as an aide for several council members, and my private-sector experience as a successful small business owner uniquely qualify me for Cincinnati City Council. Answer from Chris Seelbach: -Former Chief Financial Officer of a nationally recognized small business. -Graduate of Xavier University and the University of Dayton School of Law. -Committee of the Whole, Chair. Livable Communities, Vice-Chair. Strategic Growth, Vice-Chair. -Leader in the effort to repeal Article XII from the City Charter. -Former staffer and campaign manager for Vice-Mayor David Crowley -White House 2013 Champion of Change. Answer from Michelle Dillingham: -Aide to former Vice Mayor Crowley for 4 years -Long-standing service on several boards with significant fiscal responsibilities, including a state-wide commission -Manager for workforce development programs for low-income Cincinnatians -Experienced policy maker, committed advocate, and respected community partner -Unwavering passion for a thriving Cincinnati for all 2. How would you balance the City Budget? (100 word limit) Answer from Amy Murray: I would approach balancing the city budget similarly to how businesses or households would balance their budgets. The city needs to live within its means and not spend money it does not have. We would start by analyzing which services are essential, ie public safety, sanitation, and which are not. Shared services and managed competition has been considered in the past, but the administration has not gone far enough on these matters. City cooperation with the county has been minimal. We need to keep a keen eye on new hires, and use attrition as much as possible to control costs. Answer from Charlie Winburn: I have offered a plan in the last four budget periods to balance the city budget by making major cuts in the city administration as it relates to department heads, division heads and upper management positions; which would result in approximately $25 mil per year in budget reductions for the next 20 years. Regrettably, I was not able to secure city council support, but I will try again to resubmit my proposals. Copies of these proposals can be provided to you upon request. Answer from Kevin Johnson: As a city, we must stop spending more money than we bring in. We must be ensure that the policy being driven by City Hall doesn't exceed the fiscal limitations of our city. We need to take a serious look at shared services opportunities with the county, specifically in areas where there is significant overlap, such as transportation, building and inspections, and other professional services. Answer from Shawn Butler: In order to balance the City Budget we must stop using one time resources, stop using funds from the future, and do a top to bottom operational review of our city. We need to focus on the key services the public sector should provide to its citizens. In addition to the above, we should seek out opportunities that will generate short and long term revenue for the benefit of the public's interests and add to its coffers. Answer from Yvette Renee Simpson: It's important to acknowledge that our recent budget challenges stem from changes in state funding. Because this landscape continues to change, resulting in fewer resources for municipalities, we need to explore new ways to generate revenue and reduce spending. But we cannot do it through cuts alone. We need to focus opportunities on growing our tax base, both residential and commercial. We must prioritize shared services, foster small business growth, reinvest in our neighborhoods to attract and retain residents, and look for ways to maximize our assets and infrastructure to generate revenue. Answer from Pam Thomas: Key to balancing the budget is the City's ability to generate new sources of revenue. Our ability to attract new businesses and investments is critical to expanding our tax base. There has been a great deal of discussion about "right sizing" government. While I concur that we must continue to examine more efficient methods to deliver quality, basic services to citizens, this can be accomplished through expanding our technology, eliminating waste and duplicative services, and restructuring City Departments. Thinking regionally is central to attracting and retaining the kind of investments and cash infusion we so desperately need. Answer from David Mann: Do not spend money that the city does not have. Do not use one time resources to cobble together a budget. Do not sell or lease important city assets just to get by one more year. Do not lightly threaten layoffs. Concentrate on basic city services that provide a safe, vibrant and growing community that addresses the most fundamental needs of our citizens. Make sure that the budget details are as transparent as possible to increase public trust in the financial and budget information coming from city hall. Establish a better balance between downtown development and support for neighborhoods. Answer from P.G. Sittenfeld: We certainly need to continue to take steps to grow our tax base, while at the same time making government more lean. It's a pretty simple rule: don't spend more money than you're bringing in - and that means having sensible priorities, and putting needs ahead of wants. Answer from Christopher E.C. Smitherman: Using zero based budgeting as a process and focus only on basic priorities. Answer from Chris Seelbach: Our long term focus needs to be on re-populating our City. With more people living, working and raising a family here, our revenues will increase and the continued deficits will naturally disappear. In the short term, we need to focus on safety and economic development. That's why I co-sponsored the plan to prevent ALL police and fire layoffs and helped ensure casino revenue went into neighborhood development through the Focus 52 program, and wasn't only spent downtown. Answer from Timothy Joseph Dornbusch: get back to the original intent of government Police, fire and city services. cut duplicate departments, stop social programs by implementing austerity across the board to correct under funded pension program and budget deficit and create a rainy day fund for real emergencies after we get neighborhoods back in shape, along with city assets in need of repairs. after all above is completed we will look at programs designed to initiate business interests. Answer from Sam Malone: I support The City of Cincinnati having a structurally balance budget like the State of Ohio is require. From there, I would recommend eliminating position that doesn't require FTE's. Then look at ways we can reduce or eliminate cost from shared services with the County and State. Finally, I would recommend a monetary incentive grogram with City FTE's who would recommend cost saving within their department through innovation and creative ideals. Answer from Vanessa White: My leadership experience in budget and finance tells me that to balance the budget without harming the quality of life in Cincinnati we must do two things: First, increase revenues without raising taxes primarily by promoting business-friendly policies that increase the number of gainfully employed residents who contribute to the tax base rather than strain it. Second, continually look for efficiencies in the city administration and in the delivery of city services, without cutting services. This may require exploring shared service strategies. Any ultimate discussion of budget priority-setting requires substantive public participation, which mostly has been absent. Answer from Laure Quinlivan: I would include all city departments as we investigate new ways to share services and restructure for maximum efficiency. We need to live within our means. Council has not had a structurally balanced budget since 2001. It's because elected officials decline to reign in our two largest departments, Police & Fire, whose budgets have ballooned by more than 35% in the last decade, while most city departments were cut dramatically. Police & Fire account for 67% of the city general fund budget so you can't simply "leave them alone" and allow spending to escalate beyond what our city can sustain. Answer from Michelle Dillingham: The people of Cincinnati pay taxes, which in turn support city services that provide safety, health, and infrastructure. In order for us to be a safe, attractive, and thriving city we need to properly fund city services. I have proposed a number of policy efforts that will help balance the budget without compromising the services we owe to the taxpayer. They include ensuring the city does a better job at collecting taxes we are already owed + without an increase. These include ensuring we are responsibly using property tax abatements, and addressing the problem of misclassification of employees as independent contractors. Answer from Kevin Flynn: Look at the entire $1.3 Billion Annual Budget, not just parts of it. Stop spending money that we don't have. Make cuts and stick to them. We need to start now and not stop until we have fixed the problem. Implement the studies that have demonstrated where significant costs can be reduced, including sharing services, combining departments, explore group purchasing opportunities to reduce non-personnel spending, and implementing performance based techniques for improving service while cutting costs. Implement Priority Based Budgeting and stick to it. Increase revenue by making Cincinnati a desirable location for families and businesses. Answer from Angela Beamon: In order to balance the City budget I would work with other elected officials to identify and eliminate key areas where dollars are being wasted, or reduce areas where less funding can prove to be effective. There should never be a moment in time where the safety of our citizens should be threatened by a proposal to reduce our already limited number of police officers and firefighters, as well as the sanitation of our city by proposing to reduce sanitation workers. These individuals are the life blood of Cincinnati and without the proper number in place our citizens face great danger. I will also push for more transparency in the City's budget. Answer from Wendell Young: I believe we must find ways to enhance revenue while also looking for more efficient ways to run government. We cannot simply make blanket cuts to the services that our citizens depend on and use on a day-to-day basis. Instead, we must temper such cuts by seeking ways to generate the revenue needed to provide good governance and good services for Cincinnatians. I do believe, however, that all options must be on the table while discussing this difficult and essential issue. We should work to increase our commitment to shared service plans and expand effective public-private partnerships. Answer from Mike Moroski: I would balance the City Budget by earmarking revenue as it comes in for specific and strategic purposes. I would also revisit how we utilize property & income tax and see if there are more fiscally responsible uses for both regarding allocation. I would continue our investment in job-growth initiatives that attract & retain our City's workforce as a means of growing the population AND giving the City more revenue for its budget. Lastly, I would look for those areas where there is duplication of service and/or unnecessary allotment of capital and find ways to cut or streamline said areas. Answer from Greg Landsman: We need a new process, one that begins now with a comprehensive savings audit (with private support). Also, in a transparent way, department heads with employees would produce budgets, using the "zero-based budgeting" approach. This means, start with a blank spreadsheet and build budgets from that, with incentives established for those that identify meaningful savings on their own. This plus my shared service plan (below) and producing 5-10 budget plans should produce balanced budgets each year. 3. Plan Cincinnati calls for the city to adopt a citizen engagement policy. What would you include in such a policy? (100 word limit) Answer from Charlie Winburn: A citizen engagement policy should make certain that we have maximum citizen participation in the decision-making process relative to "Plan Cincinnati." Answer from Christopher E.C. Smitherman: The policy should include shared services which fosters cooperation with our regional partners. The City of Cincinnati is not on an island but is apart of a broader community that demands partnerships. Answer from Laure Quinlivan: The policy should include a mission statement and strategies for allowing citizens to better engage with the city, starting with a website designed for citizens to use. Our current city website is more a one-way vehicle. We should develop a way for citizens in existing community councils and development corporations to communicate horizontally, as well as with city leaders, so best practices can be shared effectively. Before we roll out any more big new city initiatives, like outsourcing parking to new garbage collection policies, we ought to get citizen input on the front end. Answer from Vanessa White: As a School Board member I've made good on my promise to promote greater citizen participation as a means to good governance. Three factors are essential to productive citizen engagement that should be articulated in an engagement policy. First, citizens must have convenient, consistent access to the governance process through public forums that are accessible. Second, citizens must have evidence that their participation makes a difference, which means officials must commit to act on what they hear. Finally, there must be ongoing feedback between citizens and officials after the "forum" to keep the public informed and to hold officials accountable. Answer from Mike Moroski: I would include items such as mandatory "open office hours" for Council members on a weekly basis, subcommittees of citizens (not selected or elected officials), and Council Meetings that rotate between the 52 neighborhoods to promote engagement. Furthermore, I propose a small business/social service subcommittee that is used to help oversee the mixed-income transformation of neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine. One thing is for certain, many feel disconnected from City Hall in our City, and re-opening those lines of communication is of the utmost importance. Answer from Kevin Johnson: City Council and the City Administration should work directly with community councils and neighborhood business organizations to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the concerns and needs of each of the city's neighborhoods. A "one size fits all" model does not work for our neighborhoods. Answer from Sam Malone: I think the plan is very comprehensive! So many individuals, community groups and organizations were included. I would have reach out to more community councils. Answer from Chris Seelbach: In my first term on Council, I co-sponsored the "Google for Government" transparency plan so that citizens could easily access all information related to City Hall. I hold regular offices throughout the City (not just at City Hall) and spent the first week of Council's "summer recess" working in different city departments to better understand the challenges our employees face every day. These efforts help lead the Cincinnati Business Courier to say that I was "Taking on City Hall" and City Beat to name me the 2013 "most positive politician." Answer from Kevin Flynn: Council, the Mayor, and the Administration must listen to ALL Cincinnatians. Council must respond to the desired outcomes of the citizens, so that there is a dialogue between Council and Cincinnatians, not just 2 minutes in front of a microphone at City Hall. A number of groups, including LWV, Cincinnatus, CCR, WCC, and others have taken the lead in this area, combining efforts to research and synthesize thoughts on important issues. We need expand this and include neighborhood and business leaders. By getting out in the community, listening and incorporating ideas from Cincinnatians, we will come up with better solutions. Answer from Greg Landsman: To be a great city, we need to be more intentional with the way we engage with our community leaders, business owners, and residents. Going one step further, we must actively bring all stakeholders to the table when discussing issues that affect our community. City government must be more inclusive in its work, whether that be with the private sector, non-profit sector, or community councils. I look forward to working with our partners at all levels to making Cincinnati a more engaged and inclusive place. Answer from Yvette Renee Simpson: The Plan Cincinnati development process was a successful model of citizen engagement. Ensuring that we improve upon that model for the implementation phase is essential. I think we should look to other cities, and to the extent possible, implement their best practices. Generally, a great citizen engagement plan begins with ensuring that we have representation that reflects the diversity of our city. We must also incorporate new technologies and have many methods for individuals to engage: in-person, electronic mail, social media, etc. Finally, there must be a clear process for gathering citizen input and implementing community recommendations. Answer from Angela Beamon: I believe that every elected official has a direct obligation to be accessible and visible in our communities. I believe that we must put in place policy that gives the citizens of Cincinnati an avenue to address concerns and questions that directly affect their everyday lives. It is also my believe that we must include accountability measures which allows the citizens of Cincinnati the opportunity to hold our elected officials responsible for doing what is right for the majority of the city and not a small few. Let's get back to "by the people for the people." Answer from Shawn Butler: City Hall needs to improve the articulation and marketing of initiatives to its citizens. Some additional measures like town hall meetings can be used as tools to improve public engagement, allowing for better public discourse and understanding. Answer from P.G. Sittenfeld: We must make sure we have robust, active neighborhood community councils, and we also must do a better job of using technology to engage more people and let everyone's voice be heard. I'm proud during my time on Council to have created many opportunities for community conversation, input, and engagement. Answer from Michelle Dillingham: The hallmark of good government is that civic engagement is valued, and sought after. Civic engagement fosters pride, empowerment, and investment. Involving the community in a genuine way is critical. My civic service over the years has given me first-hand experience of how valuable civic engagement is. I am convinced that if city leadership would do better at civic engagement we would not see as many efforts at governance by referendum, which would save everyone valuable time and money. I look forward to any and all opportunities to promote policies for city council and the administration to incorporate civic engagement. Answer from Pam Thomas: I would require quarterly community engagement meetings in the policy to ensure citizens are involved in PLAN Cincinnati moving forward. These meetings would be held in various locations around Cincinnati to ensure that a more diverse representation of Cincinnatians will be participating. At these meetings, the community would be updated on the development of PLAN Cincinnati, as well as allow the community to voice their concerns and offer suggestions for improvements. Goals would be set by the community at these meetings to ensure that their collective voice is heard and that they continue to support the progress of PLAN Cincinnati. Answer from David Mann: The more involved the citizens, the better the community. Citizens who have a credible means of formulating and communicating preferences are more supportive of their local government and live with a sense that their views do in fact matter. Civic engagement is a direct means to provide this sense that my neighborhood and my city can be influenced by me as problems are addressed and as initiatives are developed and implemented. Existing neighborhood organizations must be nurtured and supported through financial support and through treating them as true partners in a collaborative process aimed at making our city better. Answer from Wendell Young: We need to more actively and effectively bring government to the citizenry, rather than expecting people to come to us. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and previously Rules and Government Operations, I have regularly taken my meetings out into the community to address neighborhood-specific issues and to make it easier for citizens to attend, hear from their government, and--most importantly--be heard by their government. A citizen engagement policy must include a wide variety of platforms to ensure that every citizen has an opportunity to be heard despite age, socioeconomic, or physical status. Answer from Amy Murray: Citizens certainly need to be engaged in future plans for the city. I would include regularly scheduled community forums both live, and on line for those not able to attend in-person meetings. An outreach program from the Communications Department at City Hall could set up a web page to keep people up to date on meetings and events. Press releases and social media should be used to get the word out. The Mayor and Council Members should be instrumental in spreading the word to encourage people to get involved. Answer from Timothy Joseph Dornbusch: need more info on the program and the cost/income analysis Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits may apply. See individual questions for specific word limits. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. Please edit your work before submitting. We are unable to provide spell-check at this time. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.