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LWV League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund

Smart Voter
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Council Member; Village of Amberley; District D


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 Qualification, Priorities, Accessiblity, Recycling, Housing

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

Answer from Wendy Saunders Heldman:

I have served two terms on the Amberley Village Council during which I have developed an understanding of what makes a successful village. I serve on eight committees, two of which I chair. Prior to serving on Council I was President of the Walnut Hills High School Parent Board.

Answer from Louis H. Katz:

My degree in Political Science and involvement in civic, charitable and community activities are qualifications. However, my most important qualifications come from 32 years of professional legal experience finding solutions in Zoning, Construction, Labor, Contract, Discrimination, Environmental, Real Estate, Elder Law, Tax, Dispute Resolution, to name a few.


2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)

Answer from Louis H. Katz:

It is my plan to implement various initiatives to maintain and improve the lifestyle we, the residents, of Amberley Village have come to expect and love. I will do this by increasing amenities to our Village while working to maintain the rural character, parks, green spaces, etc. of our Village. This will directly increase the value of our homes which will be a long-term benefit to all of our residents. This will make our homes more desirable for resale, and thus increase our tax base. The initiative that I have planned will be entitled "It Takes a Village." There will be various components to this plan which will foster a greater sense of community in our Village.

Answer from Wendy Saunders Heldman:

I would encourage a plan for the Crest Hills site that would improve our quality of life by providing increased recreational and social opportunities such as bike paths, hiking trails, and a village green. I would support a plan to preserve public green space and provide for diversified housing for empty nesters, young professionals, and growing families. Amberley could create a quaint "village within the village" that would incorporate the best of yesterday's traditional neighborhoods with today's lifestyles. I would continue to increase community involvement with our new neighborhood school via construction updates, question and answer sessions, and a website registry for families with young children. I will continue to work with our engineers on the planning and execution of our stormwater projects.


3. What steps would you take to ensure that all public facilities are accessible to people with disabilities? (100 words limit)

Answer from Louis H. Katz:

An important component of my "It Takes a Village" plan would be to make certain that the Village is completely accessible to all people. I am acutely aware of the needs of accesability as my father, who is one of the oldest residents of the Village, relies upon a walker and a wheelchair. Many barriers have come down, but many still exist. I will work to identify any barriers that exist and to promote a feeling among all residents that not only must be observe the letter of the law, but also the spirit to assure accessibility to all public places.

Answer from Wendy Saunders Heldman:

It is my understanding that our village hall is accessible to people with disabilities.


4. What specific steps will you take to expand recycling services in your community? (100 words limit)

Answer from Louis H. Katz:

Amberley Village has an excellent recycling program in place. We need to work with the residents to promote recycling to protect our natural resources. There are still items that cannot be recycled in the Village, including card board boxes and plastic bags. As an avid recycler, I would work to maintain and even improve the recycling efforts of our community. This would also be one of the components of my "It Takes a Village" campaign.


5. What steps would you take to provide affordable housing for all residents of your community? (100 words limit)

Answer from Louis H. Katz:

This question does not truly apply to Amberley Village. My goal, if elected, would be to make certain that all present homeowners can continue to live in their homes. Our senior citizens are an extremely valuable asset. This, of course, would be a primary plank in my "It Takes a Village" campaign. I would look for methods of assisting the elderly and disabled residents by encouraging residents to volunteer to "adopt" older handicap residents to make certain that they receive the care, recognition and protection they deserve. By keeping this resource in the Village, we will all benefit.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.


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Created: January 28, 2006 14:51 PST
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