Rasor for Stow

Last night, I was sworn in as a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Associates. I am honored that the group confirmed my application. I look forward to having the group allow me to get to know many officers better and hear their concerns.

Right now, the unions are talking with the city about giving up their raises. I think they are perfectly justified in saying, “No.” When the city starts being a good steward of the taxpayers money — that’s when the unions can be expected to do their part.

As of now, the city thinks it’s a good idea to buy a $100,000 bus, a golf course and a courthouse during tough times. Then they ask a group of middle-class, hard-working individuals to give up the raises they negotiated for. These are the people who protect us and keep our city operating.

I can guarantee that the unions will have to concede at the next negotiation, but hopefully at that point, the city will have begun to take care of its money wisely.

As a reminder, my swearing-in ceremony is 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the council chambers at city hall.

Next stop for the Joseph A. Tomci bill is the Oval Office.

The Senate passed the bill to rename Stow’s Post Office as the “Corporal Joseph A. Tomci Post Office Building.” Tomci was a close friend of mine, and of many recent Stow High School graduates. He died serving in the Marines on Aug. 2, 2006.

Renaming a building is not one-millionth of the tribute he deserves, but it’s something. And, as his mother Gayle Okonek said, it is a constant reminder of his sacrifice.

One of the first pieces of legislation to come before the next council will regard residential rental property. I am currently studying the details. You can download the three documents that comprise the proposal in PDF form by clicking below:

DRAFT CHAPTER 1361
DRAFT 1135.05
DRAFT 1309.03

If you are interested in this subject, I implore you to read the draft legislation and let me know what you think. It clearly affects landlords, but it also might affect tenants because of its intrusiveness and the likelihood that the annual $40 fee will be passed along in the form of higher rent.

I am not in favor of increasing the size of government. I also will strongly oppose new taxes and fees. This law would do both.

Currently, inspections are done on a complaint basis. This is the proper way to do it. If there is a violation and it does not affect neighbors to the point of them complaining, then the government should keep its nose out.

Also, here is the Stow Sentry’s article about the current council reducing the amount of committees. Perhaps when Janet D’Antonio was council president in the past, this sort of thing was acceptable. That Good Ole Boy game will not continue.

On Monday, I attended an event for state treasurer candidate Josh Mandel. I found we have a lot in common.

He told his story of running for Lyndhurst City Council while in his third year of law school. He was told, “You’re too young.” He was told, “You will fail.” When attempting one of the only property-tax rollbacks in state history, he was told by his colleagues on council, “We will embarrass you.”

He succeeded in that property-tax rollback. And he has continued to succeed in decreasing the size of government while driving up its efficiency. He has continued to tear down the Good Ole Boys Network that so harnesses advancement in government at every level.

I mention this because I have heard many of the same derogatory comments. Almost daily, members of the Good Ole Boy Network send me messages like this one I received last night:

YOU WILL FAIL AND THIS TERM WILL BE YOUR LAST!!!

Let me respond to those people. You cannot stop someone who stands on principle. You cannot limit a person who is goal-oriented and has the people behind him (see election results from Nov. 3, 2009). You may deter me on a point here or a point here, but I will not stop until this city runs as efficiently as a business. I recognize that this will affect the personal finances of the Good Ole Boys. And I don’t care. This money belongs to the people, not the bureaucrats.

This was the goal of Josh Mandel. He succeeded. And he will likely succeed in his quest to run the state’s treasury in the best way possible. You can read about his impressive background on his Web site.

I was sworn in today before Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh. She is a wonderful, exuberant woman who is not afraid to profess her faith. As you probably know, she is battling cancer, but that has not kept her from being an enthusiastic leader for our community.

In other news, council voted 5-2 to cut two committees on Thursday, including Economic Development. Among the “Yes” votes was Sara Drew, who campaigned on her expertise in economic development which came through her being chairperson of this committee.

On her “About Me” page, she writes:

I appreciate your interest!

I was first elected to City Council in 2005 and was sworn into office in January, 2006. I am the current chair of the Economic Development Committee–newly created by Council in 2009.

At this meeting on Thursday, however, Drew said the time for an economic development committee has come and gone. What??? That certainly wasn’t your sentiment during the campaign. And this is the time when the need for economic development is stronger than ever! Even Munroe Falls has an Economic Development Committee. Stow now doesn’t.

Council also cut the Public Utilities Committee on Thursday.

My question is, why push this through at the last minute? I spoke at Thursday’s meeting, urging the current council to hold off on deciding the structure of the next council. Frankly, it’s not their duty to decide the structure of the next council. Does an outgoing football coach decide what offense the next coach will run? Did Bush tell Obama how many advisers he would have? Will Stow City Council now start making agendas for the next term? If they can get away with this, why not?

There were two “No” votes. Matt Riehl said that being chair of a committee helped him grow as a councilperson. Ron Alexander said that it gave each member of council an opportunity to be an expert in a certain area of city business. They presented what were by far the more persuasive arguments — on the merits. But my main contention wasn’t even the substance of the legislation; it was, Why are you pushing this through with three weeks left in the term?

Mary Bednar talked about not wanting to increase the size of government. Where was she when the courthouse decision was made? Where was she when council bought at $100,000 bus at the same time it asks unionized employees to give up raises? To “increase” the size of government means to increase the amount of money it takes to run government.

Given the deficiency in logic, that certainly cannot be the explanation. I have a plausible one, though…

In the election, two incumbents lost. Council is cutting two committees. A committee chairperson can introduce any legislation that reasonably fits under his or her committee. I believe Janet D’Antonio (who is the brain trust behind this idea) is afraid of what I would propose under my committee (i.e. a cut for council’s pay, putting term limits for council on the ballot, a new efficiency committee).

Well, this is certainly not the type of leadership that I believe should run Stow City Council. Unless there is a dramatic intervening event, Janet D’Antonio will not receive my vote for president of council. I don’t care if it’s 6-1. I will take a stand against these childish politics.

As I mentioned, Sara Drew’s stance reeks of hypocrisy. So she will not receive my vote for vice president. Council is playing political games when people’s livelihoods are at stake. Not acceptable.

This type of 11th hour legislation has been enough to get politicians tossed out of office in other communities. It should infuriate Stow residents just the same — particularly when the goal is not substance but rather to settle a political score.

I was not elected to allow the Good Ole Boys Network run the same game as before. The game has changed. We will run city council with integrity from now on. We will serve all constituents, not just our friends. We won’t spend money on “wants” before “needs.” We will respect all employees, unionized or not.

This city government will change for the better, whether the Good Ole Boys like it or not.