Questions & Answers with Middletown City Council Candidate Paul Nagy

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Questions & Answers with Middletown City Council Candidate Paul Nagy

Friday, August 14, 2009 7:50:53 AM - Middletown Ohio

Above is a Video of Mr. Nagy Speaking at City Council

Interview By: Randy Lewis

Tell us a little about your self and what qualifies you to represent your ward?

My name is Paul Nagy and I have lived in the Fourth Ward and have been involved in Middletown City politics for a long time. I am a retired business man and for 35 years I was a preacher. I started out to be a lawyer but after a few classes didn’t think that I could be a lawyer and die and go to heaven so I ended up preaching. I’m sure there are a few who could be lawyers and go to heaven. I was a licensed real estate and insurance agent for three decades. I have owned motels, restaurants, apartments, storage units and a sign business for about 25 years. I was educated in the north and in the south. I have been wealthy and I have been poor. I see no special virtue from either condition but I believe the vices that result from both are just as serious. I have helped as many people as I can and encourage every effort for good and discourage every dishonest effort that sticks its ugly head out of the ground. I’m not a joiner, I can’t be bought and I’m confrontational. I speak out and try to solve problems. Generally my silence means I’m o. k. with something. If I say it I believe it. However, if you give me the facts you can change my mind and I’ll apologize. I don’t get along well with liars and won’t tolerate a bully. I love to laugh.

Now, I haven’t said all of that because I’m trying to win a popularity contest. I’m primarily interested in pleasing my wife and God. I say all of this because I truly believe that most of the people in the Fourth Ward are just like me and we need some new representation. Many of you already know me as one who seeks to get the issues on the table and educate everyone as to what the real issues are. So I ask you to get behind my campaign and support me for this election.

Where would you like to see the city in the next few years?

Oh, somewhere near Phoenix, Arizona or Fort Meyers, Florida. However, you probably didn’t mean “where” geographically. You probably meant from a socio/economic standpoint.   Well, I would like to see our city coming out of a national recession with a dynamic, vibrant community that still has the greatest army of proactive, effective and sacrificial volunteers that we have today. A community that is the Middletown of Butler County, the Middletown of the mid-west (look at our Interstate system) and the Middletown of the United States (look at our sky paths).
In other words, there is no reason why in the next few years we shouldn’t have matured enough in our County and Region to be a proud, productive partner with all of our neighbors. Our City should have new leaders who will totally transform our image starting January 1, 2010.

What is your plan to replace the businesses that Middletown has lost?

It is nearly impossible to answer such a question with so many implications in a few words that this space allows. However, here are some factors that will have to be dealt with to begin to replace the businesses that we have lost.
1.   What are we not doing that other cities who have lost their industrial base have done to
        recover? Let’s do what they have done! Let’s do what Youngstown and Toledo have done.
2.   Lets tell our City Planing Commission that they are no longer power brokers to decide who comes and goes but they are public servants who must humbly make our community business friendly and quit keeping businesses out in favor of some grandiose plan for a new Centerville. We are a steel town and they have so voted in favor of AK in our future and let us and them act accordingly. Or else let us immediately replace them.
3.   Let us tell the City Planning Director, Mr. Kohler, that it is not his job to grant favors or variances in favor of this party or that. If he gives a variance to one it should apply to all. If its demanded of one it should be demanded of all. Our reputation among developers is horrific. It is his job to look out for safety and sanity in construction and not which Developer or project he likes and doesn’t like. He has been the most dangerous man in the city as far as replacing businesses that Middletown has lost. If he doesn’t respond in the city’s interest he should immediately be replaced.
4.   We should tell the City Engineer that if he issues a permit for one situation it applies to all like situations. If he issues a violation of a permit for one it should apply to all or he should look for another job.
5.   We should tell the Law Director to be more concerned for the legal interests of all of the citizens rather than for special interests. And to use emergency legislation only in extreme matters and not as a usual tool for ramroding ordinances, regulations and appropriations through for special interests. He should not apply special interpretations of law to certain situations in favor of special interests. If he does he should be replaced immediately.
6.   We should tell the City Administration (beginning with the City Manager) that they work for the City of Middletown and not special groups and politicians. It is their job to run the city in a responsible, financially sound and positive way to see that all of the basics are attended to first and the special projects secondly if at all in hard financial times. The Administration should be working always to keep us within budget and with a staff that is adequate for the size of our city. We do not need to reduce Council! We need to reduce the Administration (that isn't very popular). We need to reduce beauracracy! And keep it at minimum levels at all times. If not we should fire them all and outsource it all.
7.   Get the Economic Development Department out of everything except economic development. They should be proactively working day and night to bring new business into Middletown. They should be asking every existing business what it is they need to expand and create new jobs and how they can help them. If they aren’t 100% focused they should all be replaced.

I could go on but if these few things were done we would see smart business people recognizing that we are serious about wanting their business and we would have an avalanche of businesses coming to our city. Of course, you have to persuade the other Council members to have the intestinal courage to stand up for what is right.

How would you begin to repair and strengthen our relationships with the surrounding communities?

Actually, this is not such a difficult matter to resolve. Many whom I have talked with have some deep–seated resentments with certain personalities. Most of whom are leaving our present political scene. That takes care of a part of it. There are a couple of situations that I think just some plain, honest humility and apology would take care of. Such as, trying to take Franklin’s students to give a better look to our grade scores (that’s what was really behind it but the wrong approach to the problem). We cost them and ourselves a lot of money and the only thing we got out of it was bad feelings. Doing adversarial annexation instead of good negotiation was a big mistake. Being so arrogant against other communities when we had the power of Armco behind us. We thought that would last forever but it has backfired. We need to eat a little crow. Just asking for their friendship and extending our hand as proactive partners will help. Finally, we need to walk our talk and just be real, good neighbors.

What would you like to see happen with the downtown area?

Most citizens are familiar with my proposals for downtown through the last five years. However, The recession has changed my views a bit. I have a secret that I believe will bring downtown in to a new era.   First, Keep the City and City finances out of downtown. We have poured enough millions downtown and gotten nowhere except to make a few people richer. Second. No more money to downtown businesses. Let the downtown business owners find their own way to survive. All other businesses in the city have to make it on their own. They will be more successful. If the City is involved it takes a thousand times longer and costs a thousand times more. Third, listen to Adrienne Shearer and others. Sometimes she can be quite creative. Her recent article is quite worthy of note. Fourth, If any City money is given to downtown, a like amount should be given to every other area in the city. If any City money is given to downtown businesses it should be given to all businesses. Any and all loans should be repaid without exception or explained with good cause.

What are your thoughts on Middletown’s Section 8 situation and what would you like to see happen?

Stop issuance of any new vouchers immediately. Reduce as many vouchers by attrition as quickly as possible. Reduce any additional vouchers to bring us to THE acceptable number of all other communities in the County. Forinstance, let the County determine what its fair share of vouchers should be to help those in need and to fit our ability to provide services. Divide those vouchers fairly among all qualified communities in the County. Decrease the vouchers as the need and ability decreases and increase the vouchers as need and ability increases. In this manner we all share the sacrifice, responsibility and opportunity. Do it now. We can never be without the Section 8 program. We must accept it maturely and responsibly without decreasing everyone else’s property values. We can do it and the Landlords will still make money and not starve. If they get in need we can give them a voucher.

Tell us how you would handle the city’s budget concerns?

Put me with a majority on City Council and we’ll get the city’s finances honest, transparent and really productive in the city’s best interests and turn the city around. Most of the City’s corruption, secrecy, lack of productivity, polarism is buried in the city’s finances and budget. Our budget system is a poor joke and if businesses conducted their finances like the city does they would all be broke. We ought to fire everyone connected with city finances for the shape that we are in. Remember, it is all the financial wizards that have brought our country down. Enron, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Madoff, 72 banks, Insurance companies, mortgage brokers and banks, and all of our other financial consultants and wizards that brought us to the worse financial crisis since the last great depression. It is the same with our city finances. We are constantly told, we are broke, we are in a deficit, we have no money for paving but we have lots of money for downtown, the airport, the golf course, the Visitors Bureau, the Balloon Fest, Midfest, etc. etc.. First, reduce the number of accounts. Second, get rid of the current accountants, Third, change all of our financial priorities. ( Safety, infrastructure, new business, paving, first, everything else second. After the necessities are met.) Fourth, keep a strong reserve to establish our credit (ability). That’s just for starters. We will make Middletown a magnet to attract workers and a strong income tax revenue sheet. We just have to weed out the greedy and special interests that don’t want change and want to keep control of the power and money.

In your opinion, what is the biggest problem that needs addressed in Middletown and how do we repair it?

The biggest problem in Middletown is the conduct of our city government. It conducts the city’s business mostly in secrecy and in total disregard of democracy and the citizens right to know and speak. We need transparency and the right of citizens to speak. We need a venue for citizens to speak that is mature, intelligent and courteous. We repair it only when, you, the citizen, accepts your responsibility to change it at the polls and at Council meetings, writing articles and letters, talking with others and being proactive and taking your government back. If you don’t it’s your fault. You have the greatest opportunity Middletown ever had right in this election period. You can replace a majority of Council and have a new government on November 4th. If you don’t vote and get others to change the government don’t complain. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to tell you where I stand.

   Paul Nagy

To support my campaign
contact me at 513-422-3197

Archived Comments

8/14/2009 8:54:57 AM	Achilles Heel
Wow, is Will Rogers running for office? Mr. Nagy's eloquebce is without doubt, the most compelling presentation to date written. Common sense approach and spot on. I don't live in Mr. Nagy's ward, but I would be honored to be associated with his campaign. About as close a candidate as you'd find in Middletown with the 'straight talk' express. So, will Mr. Picard round up the parish vote or will ward 4 residents see the wisdom of a man who thinks, admits Middletown has problems, and feels a moral responsibility to correct them. If this man isn't elected, there is no hope for Middletown. Now if only he could be replicated in Ward 3 and others.
8/14/2009 9:11:59 AM	What A City!
Mr. Nagy's answers are the type of responses that we need from all new candidates to replace the current incumbants. He is correct- this November, let's all make a conserted effort to vote the incumbants out in all areas- schools- council- county. This is the only way that we will see any positive change in our town.
8/14/2009 9:13:06 AM	sj
good answers Mr.Nagy u nail the Admin as our biggest problem, that SHOULD be controlled by an active Council U have my support
8/14/2009 10:42:44 AM	Ike
Can I rent a room in the 4th Ward and vote to oust Marconi and then move to the 4th ward for the day and vote for Mr. Nagy. :)
8/14/2009 10:43:18 AM	Leo Gorcey
Right on Paul!
8/14/2009 4:06:21 PM	Impala SS
Paul> I sure wish I could vote for you but I live in the 2nd ward.I will do anything I can to help you even though I am limited to my health, you are a honest man you deserve it GOD BLESS YOU.
8/14/2009 4:48:34 PM	Pastor Robert Thoroughman
Greetings Sir, I wish you well and hope you are feeling better. PLease feel free to call me anytime. Robert
8/15/2009 12:50:41 AM	jkl
Mr Nagy, I am not in your ward, but do agree with the majority of what you have said, however you are wrong about one item that I know of...the "land grab" by the school was not done for the purpose of raising the score report for Middletown. In fact, the land in question had very, very few Franklin Students residing in it. By very few I mean a handful.
8/16/2009 9:37:29 AM	Paul Nagy
jkl, I didn't mean to imply that the "land grab" was solely for the purpose of raising grade scores but it was a strong part of the reason. The thing I wanted to focus on was what it did for us public relations-wise. I appreciate you putting it in proper perspective. Thank you. Paul Nagy
8/18/2009 6:26:32 PM	jkl
Mr. Nagy, I don't know where you are getting your information, but no part of the so called "land grab" was for the purpose of raising the score report for Middletown City schools, 0%!!! The land grab was because our taxes (yours and mine, if you live in the city of Middletown) are going to improve and upkeep the land in question, but Franklin schools gets the benefit, not Middletown schools. Do you think that is right?
9/14/2009 3:40:23 PM	Gary Barge
To all the citizens in the 4th Ward Mr.Nagy is your man. I have worked with Paul on numerous projects. He's a no nonsense, intelligent, straight to the point kind of man. With his leadership in the 4th Ward along with 3 new council members I believe we could really open this town for business. Good luck Paul. Gary Barge
10/2/2009 4:44:17 PM	Pastor Robert Thoroughman
Hello Sir, I am praying for you and yours in this election. You will have my vote. I have also informed all my voters to vote for you. Please email me so we can talk.

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