League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 3, 2009 Election
	Chris R. Monzel Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Cincinnati

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 are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

As an engineer, a father, and a neighborhood leader, I have the experience and skills necessary to help lead our city. As a councilmember with real world experience, I bring energy and commitment to a system that needs to be fixed.

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

First, we must make our streets safe, by continuing to support our police and community crime fighting programs such as Citizens on Patrol and by not laying off police officers. Second, we need to focus on the core basic city services that are needed and budget accordingly and transparently (i.e. by putting the entire city's budget on the internet). And finally, we must provide the best city services to our citizens by improving our customer service, so that when a citizen calls City Hall they get action and not a voicemail.

3. What two actions would you promote to enhance city revenue or decrease city expenditures in order to balance the city budget, given the current economic conditions? (100 word limit)

One action I have proposed to enhance city revenues is to use a collection agency, or some other third party, to collect the $6M in overdue traffic/parking fines that are owed to the city. A second action that I initiated in order to decrease city expenditures was the freezing of council members' salaries and stopping the automatic pay increases. I led the effort (ultimately resulting in a voter-passed charter amendment) to require a majority vote of the city council before any member could receive a pay raise. And if a council voted for a pay increase they would not receive ... (over word limit)

4. What steps should the local government take to ensure that the quality of rental property meets minimum legal standards? (100 word limit)

The city should be vigorous in building code enforcement showing favors or special treatment to no one - especially those who do their continual best to play by the rules. We need to strengthen mechanisms like the housing court/docket to make sure violators are punished. Furthermore, we also need to be fair and work closely with landlords during the "curing" process to ensure that repairs are being done and to establish working relationships with them. No one wins when we do not work together.

5. What actions should Cincinnati take to ensure a range of housing choices for residents, including affordable housing? (100 word limit)

In a free market, everything is affordable to everyone, depending on his or her socioeconomic level. We need to maintain a diverse mix of rental units at all levels of the income spectrum. That means lower income workers are not priced out of the market because of lack of supply. Likewise, middle and higher income renters also need to have a wide range of rental opportunities that meet their needs as well. Let's not also forget that the goal for everyone should be (if they choose) to move up the economic ladder and fulfill his or her version of ...(over word limit)

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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.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 27, 2009 14:53
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