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

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, Basic Services, Budget, Citizen Engagement Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What are your qualifications for office? Answer from Robert G. Kelly: I have more than 35 years of experience in municipal government; and have been a prosecutor for more than 33 years. Throughout my career, in public service and in private practice, I have a proven track record of working with citizens, community groups, and other elected officials to resolve problems that affect Norwood and citizens' quality of life. I am not afraid to work hard, to make tough decisions to bring change that can have a positive impact on citizens. I will make sure elected and appointed officials and employees follow the law, regardless of their politics, to protect the best interest of the city. Answer from Josh Berkowitz: I have served as Law Director of Norwood since February, 2012. I also serve as an Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor in the Felony Division of Prosecutor Joe Deters' office. I handle jury trials involving the most serious crimes in Hamilton County including murder, rape, drug trafficking, child abuse, and home invasions. Previously, I also served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Franklin County, Ohio, and also worked as an attorney in private practice. I earned my Law Degree at Capital University in Columbus and a Bachelor's of Arts degree in History at Ohio State. These experiences have made me a well-rounded attorney and have given me a broad base of knowledge to draw from. I am proud of the work I've done as Law Director including assisting in the completion of the Rookwood Exchange, bringing Paycor to Norwood, the University Station project with Xavier University, and the Rookwood Medical Center. I've also led an effort to improve the city's outdated zoning rules to help put vacant properties back to good use. 2. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the City? Answer from Robert G. Kelly: City services are important to creating a good quality of life for citizens in our community. I believe we can continue to provide citizens with the services that are necessary and desirable through a cooperative approach. Our Police and Fire Departments are second to none. Currently, Norwood also has mutual aid agreements with other communities to help with emergencies; I believe these agreements should continue. Other departments, such as the Health and Building Departments, should be evaluated to determine if better services could be provided by, or cooperatively with, other communities to save money and deliver superior service. Answer from Josh Berkowitz: Public Safety is of the utmost importance to any community. As a prosecutor, I know the threats to our safety that police and firefighters have to deal with each day. We are fortunate in Norwood to have some of the best public safety services in the entire region. The City also needs to ensure that other basic services are provided. Street paving, parks, the health department, and other basics are all important parts of the quality of life in Norwood and are essential to our City's longterm growth. 3. How would you balance the City Budget? Answer from Robert G. Kelly: All services should be subjects of discussion so that we can create a budget that permits the city to live within its means. I would live within my means in the Law Director's office by reducing the practice of routinely hiring outside counsel through holding staff of the Law Department accountable for doing their jobs. I would also eliminate the use of city cars for the Law Director's office. Additionally, I would reduce break time of Law Department staff, making them more available for citizens. Answer from Josh Berkowitz: As Law Director, I don't have a direct vote on the City's budget. However, my goal is to provide the best legal advice available to ensure that the City is not subject to costly litigation, fines, or other penalties. The Law Department helps police officers, firefighters, and other city employees do their jobs with the confidence that they are working in accordance with the law. 4. Citizen engagement is important to the health of local government. In what ways do you support citizen engagement? Answer from Robert G. Kelly: I am committed to addressing concerns from citizens and committed to the betterment of our community. The City of Norwood Law Director's office is not a stop on the way to something better. Rather, the key to good government is community engagement, knowing citizens and their families, and understanding the past and future of our neighborhood. People who live in our community deserve a Law Director who will make the betterment of our community the top priority. I would also solicit input from citizens on proposed legislation, such as potential increases in taxes or fees. Answer from Josh Berkowitz: As Law Director, my door has been, and always will be, open to the public. The Law Department is a full-time, full-service law office that is available for not only elected officials and city employees, but also for the citizens of Norwood. My staff and I work hard to keep lines of communication open with the public to help provide greater transparency in government and make sure folks understand the law and how it applies to them. I will continue to participate in various community outreach efforts such as the "Casual Conversation" that has been held each month to discuss the drug & alcohol problem in Norwood and how we can fight it. 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.