League of Women Voters VOTERS GUIDE 2011
THE VOTERS’ GUIDE 2011
Prepared and Published by the Lakewood Chapter of League of Women Voters- Cuyahoga Area
MAYOR
Candidate
Information
Occupation
Education
Qualifications for Office
Question: What in your opinion is the most important issue currently in Lakewood?
Question: If elected, how would you address this problem?
Michael P. Summers
Mayor of Lakewood
Lakewood
High School
BA, Wittenberg,
MBA, Northwestern
Ward 3 City Councilperson, School Board member, Business owner (Summers Rubber Company)
*Housing which includes
preservation/redesign/additional styles (one floor living)
*Neighborhood safety/enjoyment/infrastructure maintenance (streets, pipes trees)
*Financial strength/ investment in our future
*Government Service: Speed/quality/improvement
Focused application of housing inspection/enforcement (survey of every house-focus on worst 20%)
Lean Lakewood-Operational performance “many small changes.”
COUNCIL AT LARGE, FOUR YEAR TERM
Candidate
Information
Occupation
Education
Qualifications for Office
Question: What in your opinion is the most important issue currently in Lakewood?
Question: If elected, how would you address this problem?
Anthony Davis
Public Contract Representative with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; BBA in Marketing, Cleveland State University
Lakewood resident of six-and-a-half years with an excellent understanding of how Lakewood City Council functions, and how it can be made of greater service to the citizens of Lakewood
Coping with challenges of being an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland including increasing levels of poverty, aging housing stock and infrastructure, declining population and widespread citizen apathy
Raise citizen expectations, challenge the status quo. Mandate more government transparency, extra focus on quality of life issues in the 4th ward.
Ryan P. Nowlin
Attorney (Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & LaFond PLL); B.A., Loyola University Maryland; J.D. University of Maryland
Council member at Large since January, 2011; Member of Lakewood Citizens Advisory Committee ( 2007-2010) and Board of Zoning Appeals (2009 -2010); experienced in various Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods; legislative experience in United States House of Representatives.
Maintaining and improving our housing stock.
We must continue reaching out to the people who are letting their homes fall into disrepair, and ensure they are aware of all the resources available to help make necessary improvements. If that is unsuccessful, we must strictly enforce the housing code.
John Zappala
Self Employed General Contractor, 36 years
BA, Cleveland State
I am who Lakewood is and have common sense and leadership skills to address housing/landlord issues.
Housing and being bordered on 2 sides by an impoverished city- Cleveland. These two are really one and the same.
Empower the building department to do their job effectively and efficiently and maintain safety services.
COUNCIL WARD ONE
Candidate
Information
Occupation
Education
Qualifications for Office
Question: What in your opinion is the most important issue currently in Lakewood?
Question: If elected, how would you address this problem?
David W. Anderson
Director, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Master’s in Business Administration-Cleveland State University, 2001
I am a 14 year resident of Ward One, have served on Co0uncil since March, 2011 solving issues for hundreds of residents and am working to preserve Lakewood’s neighborhoods and “character.”
Preserving Lakewood’s neighborhoods and housing stock.
I have already initiated a review of Lakewood’s zoning codes to ensure Lakewood’s family oriented, “walkable” neighborhoods thrive as the next generation of businesses take shape on Lakewood’s commercial corridors. Also, I will continue to collaborate with the administration to enforce residential building standards.
Patrick J. Metzger
Economic Development Coordinator, Lorain County
B.A. Political Science, B.A. English, M.S. Public Policy, ABD/PHD Urban Studies/Public Administration
I have served Lakewood on the Citizen Advisory Committee for CDBG funding for over 5 years – and have played an active part in guiding community wide expenditure of public monies both
The single most challenging issue facing the city of Lakewood is trying to move forward towards a productive future in the face of austere funding.
Lakewood Lakewood’s leadership must continue to pare down costs while maintaining care functions while using existing resources. The leadership must continue to attract innovative participants.
WARD 2
Candidate
Information
Occupation
Education
Qualifications for Office
Question: What in your opinion is the most important issue currently in Lakewood?
Question: If elected, how would you address this problem?
Tom Bullock
Ohio Representative, Pew Environment Group
BA, Political Science, 1995 American University
MA, Classics, 2004, University of London
I currently serve as Lakewood’s Ward 2 Councilman and I am the second-most senior member of Council. In addition, I have more than 16 years of professional experience in government and public service.
Maintaining quality neighborhoods, which means safety, housing quality, and addressing vacant and foreclosed homes. It also requires new housing stock to retain retiring Baby Boomers.
Improve housing quality through more efficient Building Department procedures and expanded enforcement.
Continue strengthening neighborhood safety through community policing
Identify options for new housing stock
WARD 3
Candidate
Information
Occupation
Education
Qualifications for Office
Question: What in your opinion is the most important issue currently in Lakewood?
Question: If elected, how would you address this problem?
Shawn Juris
Insurance Agent
BA, Psychology
Professional experience from 7 years of operating a business, and 4 years working in a corporate accounting department. History of civic and organizational involvement and leadership.
The biggest challenge in Lakewood is balancing priorities. This challenge can be seen in balancing the needs and ways of opposing views, balancing the cost/benefit.
I will continue to do my best to make pragmatic decisions based on evidence and invite partners like block clubs and civic organizations to assist us.
WARD 4
Candidate
Information
Occupation
Education
Qualifications for Office
Question: What in your opinion is the most important issue currently in Lakewood?
Question: If elected, how would you address this problem?
Mary Louise Madigan
Program Administrator, Cuyahoga County Office of Health and Human Service
BA, Social Work
Experience and attitude
Because decreased is revenue is our reality projected for the next few years, we face the difficulty of prioritizing services and balancing expectations.
As a council representative, I will continue to inform myself about the local, state and national economy and work with the City’s excellent Finance Department.
SCHOOL BOARD
Candidate
Information
Occupation
Education
Qualifications for Office
Question: What in your opinion is the most important issue currently in Lakewood?
Question: If elected, how would you address this problem?
Linda G. Beebe
Attorney, solo practice in Estate Planning and Probate
BS, Education, Kent State University
JD, Marshall College of Law
Taught in Scotland and United States, 14 years.
Serviced on the Board 7 terms. My children attended Lakewood Schools; my husband taught there 30 years. Broad knowledge of schools and community.
Providing a quality education within the limits of an ever-tightening budget.
Inevitably cuts in expenditures will mean larger classes and fewer programmatic offerings. Stringent cutbacks need to be done carefully and with much aforethought to protect our mission of educating all children to their highest capabilities.
Bill Call
Treasurer, Brennan and Associates
Bachelors Degree in Business Administration; CPA Certification, 1985
US Army, 1971-74
I have 25 years of accounting, auditing and financial experience as CPA and small business owner. I am a long time Lakewood resident, parent and grandparent.
The most challenging issue facing the district is finding a way to provide a quality education to the students, fairness to taxpayers and equity to school board employees.
The district needs to lengthen the school day, decrease wages and benefits and raise property taxes.
Gregory Calleri
Lakewood based small business owner
University of Maryland, MBA, Finance
S.U.N.Y. Buffalo, New York, BA, Economics; Teaching Certificate, Social Studies/Mathematics
10 + years in the finance industry
5+ years of experience as a teacher with high risk students from diverse backgrounds
8+ years of experience as a successful Lakewood small business owner
To address the projected 3 year $16,000,000 budget shortfall.
There is no magic bullet. I’ll use my experiences in finance, teaching and business ownership to ensure that we find creative solutions so we can close the projected deficit in a financially responsible manner that is fair to all our stakeholders.
Tom Einhouse
Playhouse Square, VP of Real Estate
BA, Business, Baldwin Wallace College
LHS graduate
Parent of two Lakewood students
Cub Scout leader
Leadership role in Next 50 Years Committee and two successful bond issues and levy.
Lakewood Board of Zoning; Lakewood Planning Commission
Cycling Instructor, Lifelong Lakewood resident.
Thoughtful.
Maintaining the best teaching environment in an uncertain economic future.
I will connect with the stakeholders in the community, the school, system, other board members and city government to understand issues and build consensus to provide the best possible results. It will take good listening, active participation and cooperation.
Emma Petrie-Barcelona
Federal Fund Management, Economic Development
Lakewood High School; St. Mary’s College of Maryland, BA Economics, History,
Public Policy and Political Science
Cleveland State University, MS, Urban Studies
Experienced in budgeting in working with government relations, Lakewood Alumni Foundation Trustee, current treasurer; parent of Lincoln student; former coach; active in community.
Changes in the state allocations for funding.
--work with the treasurer and school administration to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible
--enhance relationships with nongovernment funders such as the alumni foundation
--encourage collaboration and cooperation with faculty and staff in search of positive outcomes.
Kristine Pagsuyoin
Small business owner, educator
Masters of Education and BA in Business/Organizational Communication
Experienced in business management and education to make effective contributions to the board, additional community works: co-founder, “Brake-4-Kids”, “Clear-4-Kids”,
Attending board meetings, serving the Lakewood Family collaborative and on district committees, and continuing research in education.
Students’ educational needs must be the first priority. The challenge is to ensure that the Board serves children first, and functions as link between school and the public.
By establishing a citizen-based oversight/revenue-finding committee whose focus is students’ educational needs, and by hosting quarterly community/district forums.