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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.
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1. What are your qualifications for office?
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Answer from Pamela Kamm:
I have been a member of Wyoming City Council since 2007, and have been an active volunteer in our community for more than two decades. During my time in Wyoming, I have had the opportunity to serve in numerous volunteer roles in our schools, civic organizations and in my church, working with many people of diverse backgrounds. These efforts have exposed me to many aspects of the Wyoming community and enable me to have a better understanding of what the citizens of Wyoming demand of their city government.
Answer from Jenni McCauley:
My experience working as a manager in an urban economic development department, as a crisis manager of a small tornado ravaged city, as a top selling real estate expert and seven terms on Wyoming City Council have taught me that peristence brings results and respect of others makes colaboration work.
Answer from James T. O'Reilly:
I have had 10 years city and regional leadership
& Thousands of &volunteer hours as head of county boards and task forces, and as a church and civic group leader
I'm an Expert in transportation planning & health policy
I am training future MD/MPH health leaders in UC classes
I have done extensive work on highway and rail issues impacting us, esp. I-75 changes and CSX rail noise issues
Leader of Wyoming "All American City" finalist efforts
Answer from Vicky M. Zwissler:
I started my company over 25 years ago in a spare bedroom of our home. Today we have grown to serve over 400 shopping malls in 49 states, operating out of over 7000 sq ft of office space. I know what it takes to administrate the details while maintaining the big picture navigation required for success. I have experience on Council 4 terms and have served as Vice Mayor. Finally, the most practical qualification would be parenting: the ability to manage differences while listening to all involved, that is the day to day process of leadership!
Answer from Lynn R. Crider:
As a current member of Council, I have practical experience for the position I seek. Having served for more than 7 years on City Council, I have the following Committee and Commission experience: Finance, Economic Development, Community Improvement Corp., Recreation, Streets & Roads, Buildings & Equipment, Historic Preservation, and Building & Zoning Approval. Additionally, I serve as a member of the Hamilton County Tax Incentive Review Council.
Answer from Barry S. Porter:
29 years as a Council member
Mayor, Vice Mayor, Chairman of Finance Committee
Member of Economic Development Commission & Joint City School Committee
38 years experience in various corporate financial management positions Controller, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer.
Answer from Albert Lewis "Al" Delgado:
I have had 30 years of Wyoming city volunteer work on committees and commissions. Within those 30 years I have chaired Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Community Improvement Corporation,and The Promenade Committee. During that time, I have been a member on the following: Urban Forestry Board, Historical Preservation Commission, Economic Development Commission, Recreation Commission, Master Plan, and Promote Wyoming.
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2. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the City?
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Answer from Vicky M. Zwissler:
1) Public Safety, Police/Fire/Public Works
2) Street & Road maintenance
3) City Services, trash/recycle/snow removal/etc.
4) Recreation, fields/facilities/programs/fireworks/events
Answer from Albert Lewis "Al" Delgado:
I believe that the basic and essential services are there to maintain a quality of life for the citizens of Wyoming. Wyoming is known for the Safety services( Fire, EMS and Police) and the Public Works Department(streets, parks, water, green space and of course snow removal). These services are fantastic and they need to be preserved for the future.
Answer from Barry S. Porter:
Security + Police and Fire Protection Maintaining and renewal of City's infrastructure Trash and garbage collection General upkeep and restoration of public properties, parks and facilities
Answer from James T. O'Reilly:
As a former state police officer I know the high quality of first responders' efforts is pivotal to delivering the safety that families want when choosing a new home. With budget constraints at every level, maintaining Wyoming as a model of great police and fire responsiveness is a high priority for me.
Answer from Pamela Kamm:
The citizens of Wyoming demand and deserve more than basic services. Keeping our citizens safe by providing excellent police, EMS and fire protection is not only essential but a top priority. Maintaining our roads in a manner that enables our residents and emergency services reliable access is critical. Clean water, snow removal, leaf collection, mulch deliveries, care of our tree canopy, solid waste/recycling programs and well maintained parks and recreational facilities are all services that our citizens have come to expect and I will work to continue to provide.
Answer from Lynn R. Crider:
Safety services (police and fire); maintaining the infrastructure (streets, sidewalks and green spaces); and garbage/recycling services are essential. What sets Wyoming apart from other communities is the delivery of additional services such as recreation. Services that create an outstanding quality of life should be preserved.
Answer from Jenni McCauley:
I believe that the basics of city government are essential and always come first. Basics are safety services(police/fire/EMS), garbage collection, water & sewer,care & maintenance of public infastructure (streets, parks, playgrounds,public buildings, etc).
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3. How would you balance the City Budget?
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Answer from James T. O'Reilly:
We're in balance today. I work to keep it in balance by prudent awareness of the funds available, espec. after the major statewide cuts have impacted our city. Our continued successful results as shown by the municipal finance awards reflect hundreds of hours of behind the scenes attention to detail.
Answer from Jenni McCauley:
City budgeting is a constant process of review, prioritizing, seeking greater efficiencies and looking for grant opportunities.
Wyoming is significantly better off than most cities because of fiscal policies that I co-sponsored during my first term on council in 1982. We created a systemitized reserve fund for equipment,funded yearly. This eliminated interest costs,crisises, and gave Wyoming a AAA bond rating.
2013-14 is a very challenging time for all local governments in Ohio. Funding from the state income tax is going.Estate tax is gone. My pencil is once again being sharpened.
Answer from Vicky M. Zwissler:
We do balance the City Budget every year, is is required by Ohio State Law. Additionally, we renew our own financial policies and practices every year by means of Resolution at a Council meeting before we pass the budget. These unique policies remind Council members of the additional goals we set upon ourselves to ensure we not only balance the budget for next year but reach further to ensure the fiscal stability long into the future.
Answer from Albert Lewis "Al" Delgado:
Every year there is a budget planning process that includes looking at the possible expenses and the funding available for the upcoming year. The planning process includes how can we maintain the level of city services and can we do the services better and with more efficiency. Can we meet the needs of the community is an important question to answer in the budgeting process. Today we have a balanced budget and it is important to maintain a prudent process for a future balanced budget.
Answer from Barry S. Porter:
Review all expenditures and revenue sources Take a conservative approach to all budget assumptions Prioritize capital projects and expenditures
Answer from Pamela Kamm:
Our city financial policy dictates we must have a balanced budget, and also requires the city to have a minimum year-end operating fund balance. As a member of the Finance Committee, I have worked with our administration to meet these requirements. During the past few years we have witnessed a dramatic decrease in income due to lower income and property tax receipts, less revenue from the Local Government Fund and loss of estate taxes. As a small bedroom community, we do not have a sizeable business tax base to help offset that loss of funding. To maintain our excellent public safety and city services, we continue to reduce operating costs in a variety of ways such as personnel attrition, reduced expenditures on purchases, deferring large capital improvement projects and sharing services with our schools.
Answer from Lynn R. Crider:
Each year, the budget is built and balanced by a methodical planning process that includes analyzing expected revenues versus expenses for the following year. Capital expenditures are planned for based upon the needs of the community and the ability to fund them. A critical part of the budget planning process (and throughout the year) is to create efficiencies in operations while maintaining the level of service delivered to our citizens.
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4. Citizen engagement is important to the health of local government. In what ways do you support citizen engagement?
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Answer from Lynn R. Crider:
Wyoming has a rich history of citizen participation in various advisory boards. There are numerous Boards and Commissions that advise Council/Administration on matters important to our citizens such as Recreation, Historic Preservation, Economic Development and Urban Forestry. I believe that direct citizen participation in these committees and commissions is a critical part of our local governance process. In addition, the widespread adoption of information technology over the last 5 - 10 years has facilitated broader opportunities for citizens to participate and engage in local government. The Wyoming City Blogs (maintained by the Wyoming City Administration), email and Facebook are all unique communication vehicles which have allowed citizens to provide immediate and critical input on local issues and concerns.
Answer from Vicky M. Zwissler:
Call me! Call any Councilmember or City Staffmember! We do enjoy hearing from you regarding day to day matters that you see on your street, in your neighborhood. If you have more time available, participate on a Commission or Committee. The Commissions and Committees work are first level advisory committees to Council and are vital in Council's decision making process. If you see a matter on a Council meeting agenda that interests you, please attend that meeting and provide your input, it is always welcome and necessary to ensure an appropriately responsive local government.
Answer from Albert Lewis "Al" Delgado:
I believe that we are fortunate in Wyoming to have a history of citizen engagement. The last Historical Preservation Commission opening, the city had numerous candidates that were highly qualified for the opening and eager to be apart of the citizen engagement.
We have an opportunity in 2014/2015 to enhance the citizen engagement opportunities with the development of the Master Plan for Wyoming. The Master Plan is a comprehensive long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of the community. A wonderful opportunity for citizen engagement. For a year or longer there will direct citizen engagement through committees, meetings, surveys, information meetings, open forums and the Wyoming Blog. The Master Plan will place the citizen at the center of decision making, a powerful way for the people of Wyoming to take action on planning for the future.
Answer from James T. O'Reilly:
Transparency matters. My text on public records disclosure has been used worldwide and cited widely in US courts. It matters that our people feel their city government is open to serve their needs. Wyoming cares and as head of county govt reform task force I led an effort to improve county services and open up local participation. It's a joy when a city volunteer commission opening draws many qualified candidates eager to help our community excel.
Answer from Jenni McCauley:
I believe an engaged community is a much stronger one. This is evident in Wyoming's schools and city government where we recruit residents to advise and to help. They residents have achieved great things over the years and/or provided valuable critique of proposed plans. Others, like our Fire/EMS volunteers continually demonstrate critical importance. Wyoming is very lucky that every year hundreds of volunteers help schools and city.I am very appreciative.
Answer from Pamela Kamm:
City council makes the governmental decisions for the city, but with much input from our citizens. Wyoming residents are extremely engaged and play an integral role in Wyoming city government. City council created many Boards and Commissions in order to seek the knowledge and expertise of our citizens. These Commissions consist of members of the community-at-large along with a city staff liaison and a council member. I serve on several city committees where our citizens play a vital role in providing guidance and advice. I truly value this input, and am pleased to actively participate in the interview process that selects citizens to serve on numerous of the city's committees and commissions.
Answer from Barry S. Porter:
Proponent of using Citizen Committees and task forces as advisory panels. Tapping local talent for volunteer positions where feasible. Holding forums and other citizen meetings to address issues.
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.
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League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
