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LWV LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

Smart Voter
Hamilton County, OH November 4, 2003 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Trustee; Township of Symmes


The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Top Priority, Planning, Recycling

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. How would you implement your top priority?

Answer from Michael A. "Mike" Howell:

Start by implementing stricter zoning codes with regard to new development, commercial and residential. This would bring more control into the areas that are the root cause of flooding. Next would be to work with the state and our neighbors to see what help we can receive. If these fail to resolve our problem then we would need to look into moving this water away from these creeks and channeling it somewhere else.

Answer from Eric Minamyer:

My vision is to preserve Symmes Township as a pleasant and inviting place to live and work. To this end I plan to work to expand the Symmes Park System, already one of finest. We will provide top services for lowest possible taxes. We will purchase more parks and more green space. We will move forward with improvements to major roadways and continue road resurfacing. We will keep taxes down and property value up. I shall serve all the people of Symmes Township, favoring no one area. We will keep Symmes Township a resident friendly community and ensure proper balance of commercial and residential tax base. We also will continue to involve the residents in decisions affecting them.

In my fourteen years of elected office, I have tried to put the interest of my fellow citizens first. Being a local government official is not glamorous and you don't get rich doing it, but I have been proud of what has been accomplished. I am equally enthusiastic about the future and ask for the people's support on November 4 to continue to be privileged to be your Symmes Township Trustee. Thank you.


2. Numerous important issues including transportation, land use planning, housing and economic development for the Greater Hamilton County regions are being deliberated by OKI's Land Use Commission and Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission and Planning Partnership COMPASS; how engaged should local government be in these planning activities? If elected, how would you participate in these planning activities?

Answer from Michael A. "Mike" Howell:

Symmes should take a very active roll in all of these mattes. We already know how zoning and development affects traffic, storm water, sewers, water needs and other basic public services.

Answer from Eric Minamyer:

As Trustee President I have attended all these groups' meetings. I do not agree with the goals of COMPASS and have so stated as input in the process. Symmes Township has Home Rule, Local Zoning and a Land Use Plan revised this year.


3. Ohio Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Recycling Coalition conducted a state-specific study and found recycling businesses in Ohio generated $650.6 million dollars in state government revenue. If elected how would you promote recycling and support recycling programs currently in place in your community to reduce solid waste generation?

Answer from Michael A. "Mike" Howell:

I don't know that on a township level we would have the power to enact such programs.

Answer from Eric Minamyer:

Recycling is already implemented in Symmes Township, both by curb side oickup by Rumpke and regular township collection events.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. The answers will not exceed 75 words. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.


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Created: December 19, 2003 15:09 PST
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