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

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 Randolph D. "Randy" Fischesser: Having been a Lieutenant/Paramedic with the City of Reading for 30 years, I am very familiar in the overall operations of the City. I also bring a unique viewpoint to the Council in that I am aware of employee needs and concerns. I am a lifelong resident and come from a family that placed high priority on service to the community. 2. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the City? Answer from Randolph D. "Randy" Fischesser: Public safety is, and will always be, priority one. Reading has one of the finest police and fire services in the area and I feel we should strive to maintain that quality of service. Basic service needs are also expected. These include trash removal, street maintenance, snow removal, and basic utilities. Property upkeep is also essential in keeping our neighborhoods appealing and property values high. Lastly, recreational opportunities make for a well rounded community and will draw new families to take root in Reading. 3. How would you balance the City Budget? Answer from Randolph D. "Randy" Fischesser: This has been a challenge since I have taken office 4 years ago. First, though, one must realize that the City of Reading has always maintained a balanced budget. This is a requirement of the State of Ohio. Over the past 6 years, the city has been hit hard with decreased funds due to State Local Government Funds cutbacks, elimination of the Estate Tax, decreased property values, and decreased income tax. In the next year, one of our major employers will be relocating which will again decrease the general fund. There may come a time in the near future that some services will need to be cut and/or jobs eliminated. 4. Citizen engagement is important to the health of local government. In what ways do you support citizen engagement? Answer from Randolph D. "Randy" Fischesser: Both the Administration and Council have always encouraged citizen engagement whether it is through neighborhood watch, clean-up Reading, or just voicing concerns or ideas with the members of Council and Administration. As the budget becomes increasingly tight, citizens will need to "step-up" and help their community through volunteering and involvement. This could well keep popular services and programs intact when operational monies are no longer available. 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.