League of Women Voters of Ohio
Hamilton County, OH November 4, 2003 Election
	Michael J. Mestemaker Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Cheviot

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

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. How would you implement your top priority?

I will implement my top priority by working closely w/ Council, our finance committee, and our City administration to ensure that we do not over spend and look for unique ways to maintain and strengthen the City's finances

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?

I believe that members of Council in each municipality or political subdivision should be involved to not only educate themselves but to educate the public. I would want to be involved in HCRPC in some capacity to ensure that Cheviot obtains the proper information and has input on any decision that may affect the city directly or indirectly.

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?

I have in the past maintained a stance that the City should allow its residents the opportunity to have Rumpke come into the City to do curb side recycling. This would allow for the City residents to have options to recycling, and I think would ultimately get more people interested in recycling.