Can Middletown Be Brought Back From The Brink

VietVet:

I thought you’d never ask! 

1. Realizing Middletown needs DECENT jobs in the worse way, what types of jobs would you propose and how would you work with the Econ. Dev. Dept. to attract those jobs?

Yes, Middletown does need decent jobs, and decent jobs of all sorts.  Although it appears that our ED department has been ardently pursuing high tech, medical, educational, and similar professional opportunities, I think that they have been less diligent in their pursuit of manufacturing and similar blue collar-type employers in a quantity sufficient to meet our city’s needs.  We cannot forget that Middletown is home to thousands of skilled, and semi-skilled tradespeople, persons blessed with mechanical training of all sorts, and younger people with the aptitude for such trades. To simply bemoan the fact that the steel, paper, and construction industries may have declined here recently and write these good folks off as “obsolete” would, in my humble opinion, be a big mistake.  Such people are an asset, and not a liability, if only our ED department would be allowed, and encouraged, to bring industries here that utilize them.  Our city cannot be financially, or socially, healthy if we simply either write off or ignore this large segment of our citizenry.  The Advanced Design Solutions project (on Reinartz Blvd.) is a small step in the right direction, but we need more, and bigger, steps.

2. Do you agree that an overhaul is needed at city hall with the disposition of the city manager and some of the directors in various departments within the city building? If so, realizing you would have to "get your feet wet" after occupying a council seat, how much time, if any, would you give Gilleland/certain Directors to change there ways or lose their jobs via termination? Would you be willing to proceed with termination?

Well, I certainly agree that some new direction is needed, and it does seem likely that some changes are in order.  However, I think first we must ascertain whether the apparently weaknesses are the result of senior staff misleading council or council misdirecting senior staff.  I am not one to ask to see the heads roll of people who were just following instructions.  I absolutely think we need to move in some new directions, either with senior staff, or with their replacements.  Of course, you must realize that one council member cannot do it alone.  I can assure you that, if elected, I will be asking some very direct questions, and I will be asking them publicly.  I will also do my very best to protect any employees who wish to come forward but have been reluctant to do so for fear of losing their jobs.

3. How would you attack this "business unfriendly" environment that Kohler and friends have created, driving existing and potential business away from this town?

Please realize that all I will be able to do is to “propose”.  One of the very first things I would be doing would be to make a series of motions.  Some of you may recall a 10 Point Plan that I outlined a few years ago, part of which dealt with this very subject.  These motions may die in want of a second, or they may fail.  Hopefully, there will be enough new, open minds on council to hear me out.  I will work at once, and tirelessly, to end our current mislabeled brand of “business friendliness” and replace it with a true business friendly atmosphere that will allow our city to thrive economically once again.   

You specifically mention Mr. Kohler.  My stance will be that we move ahead, in a business friendly manner, towards all prospective businesses.  Whether we do this with Mr. Kohler or without him will, to a point, be up to him.  At least that is MY view!

4. Do you agree with all of this building demolition that has left numerous empty lots around town? If not, how would you propose to stop Gilleland and company from demolishing everything in sight? How do you feel about how Sunset Pool has been handled by the city?

That is a broad question, and not easily answered briefly.  Some of the demo probably needed to be done, and more likely needs to be done as well.  I do think that some of the demolition should have been the responsibility of others, and the City seems to have made some very poor deals.  One council member standing alone cannot stop the current, or any, city manager.  But then that makes the decisions to demolish actually rest with the majority of council, doesn’t it???  If four, or more, members of council disagree with the City Manager’s decision on demolition (or on anything else) there are ways of putting an end to it.

5. What is you stance on the purchase of the buildings for the Cincy State project that has not materialized as planned? How do you feel about the PAC idea and do you think it will ever deliver as promised by the city and what;s his name who put it together?

In my view, the purchases of the buildings for Cinci State were rash, and ill-conceived.  But I don’t think that is just an opinion, I think that history has now proven that to be true.  Off the top of my head, I cannot imagine a solid argument otherwise. (That is not to say that I am not 100% of the “hope” that Cinci State will happen here, without forcing our city into bankruptcy.  However, “hoping” will not make it so, and the whole affair has been shrouded in a secrecy that boggles the mind of open government advocates.)  With PAC, the taxpayers paid for one thing (and we shouldn’t have), and we seem to have gotten something different. All of the second floor “studios” that were supposed to be such an economic engine have somehow been transformed into a banquet hall, but we are left with no recourse, thanks to the agreement that we drew up to protect them.

6. Would you be willing to be an outspoken critic against the Butler County Commissioners, the state reps/senators for their apparent lack of acknowledgement for Middletown in this county? None of these clowns know Middletown exists anymore and have apparently written Middletown off as to any importance.

The County Commissioners?  I would criticize any decisions they make or any actions they take that are unfair to Middletown.  I would not criticize them just because they seem to ignore us.  Perhaps a better question might be “Would I be willing to attend County Commission Meetings to make it more difficult for them to ignore us?”  Certainly!

As far as former Sen. Cates, I have noticed him in attendance at our council meetings several times.  Again, rather than criticize, I would ask for his help, whenever appropriate. (He was recently appointed senior vice chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development with the Ohio Board of Regents) or for that of current Sen. Coley,or Reps. Derickson or Conditt.

7. Do you feel Middletown has an overabundance of Section 8? If so, what would you do to work on eliminating the voucher numbers and reducing to 700 or so, rather than over 1662 that we currently have? Would you be willing to fight the people in town who apparently have made this town as welfare state? Would you be willing to help the schools in reducing the numbers and their burden of trying to educate the stereotypical student/problems that go along with the lower income/welfare scenario?

Short answer? Yes, we have far more than our share of Section 8.  I thought the current council directed the administration to begin reducing the number of vouchers.  It is a mess, it must be remedied, and I fear that this is another case where things have been hidden from the public.  Honestly, I am unsure what can be done, but something must be done, and if we don’t have the right people to do it, perhaps some changes need to be made.  Honestly, I doubt that a single voice on council will be able to do anything.  I don’t like that answer, but that is the way I see it with what info is available to me right now.

8. Would you make an attempt to set up a working relationship with our neighboring communities that has been lost with past and the current city leaders? It is important to cooperate with our neighbors, isn't it?

To answer the last part first, YES, it is important to cooperate with our neighbors.  I believe that the entire area can move farther, faster, if we cooperate.  How to repair the damaged relationships?  I am a man, not a magician.  I don’t know.  All that I can do is try.

9. Would you take a stand against the Mulligans, the Beckers, the Picards, and the other MMF influenced drones if elected? Would you represent the people and not the small controlling power brokers who are calling the shots now as to the direction of this town? IE-can you be influenced using MMF pressure to comply?

The easiest questions of all!!!  Take a stand against the gang?  I have, and I will again—whether elected or not.  I can stand up to any pressure from anyone because they simply have no leverage to use against me.  They can’t go to my employer—I have none.  They can’t go to my clients—I have none.  I have absolutely no business interests of any kind in the area—not even stock in any local company (unless it is hidden deep within some mutual fund.)  I owe no one, save the mortgage on our primary residence—not even a 2^nd mortgage.  I am beholden to no one (except my wife) and I intend to stay that way.  My only responsibility will be to the citizenry!