League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 5, 2013 Election
	John A. Piehowicz, II Answers Questions Candidate for Trustee; Township of Anderson

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the Township?

The essential basic services are police protection, fire and safety, road repair and maintenance ( including snow removal), parks and recreation, and senior services.

2. How would you balance the Township Budget?

I would balance the budget by evaluating and prioritizing the services provided and then examining what areas we can trim wasteful spending or what services we can perform more efficiently than what we are currently doing. In addition, I believe that it is important to identify additional, non property tax based, revenue streams. It is also important to try and encourage new business development which will provide additional revenue and fill the many empty storefronts along Beechmont Avenue.

3. Citizen engagement is important to the health of local government. In what ways do you support citizen engagement?

I absolutely support citizen involvement and I believe that it is something that has been clearly lacking in the Township for quite some time. First, I would make sure that the agenda of the Board of Trustees Meeting is published, in advance, online so that the residents and concerned stakeholders in the community are aware of the items being considered at that meeting and have the chance to present their views and concerns. Second I would make sure that the full budget is also available online to anyone interested in reviewing it. Currently, only a summary budget is online and it does not list revenue streams nor does it detail things such as the $1.09 million listed in the "other" category. Third I would encourage all of the citizens of Anderson to become engaged in the activities of the Township by making available committee assignments known and releasing the criteria of selection of a particular committee member.I believe that a volunteer citizen advocate position should be initiated - much like a patient advocate in healthcare - so that any citizen's voice can be heard. Currently the Trustees do not listen to or take into consideration many of the residents concerns or complaints.

---

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.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 23, 2013 10:21
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.