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LWV League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund

Smart Voter
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2011 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Council Member; City of North College Hill


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 Qualifications, Basic Services, Budget, Clean Air

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

? 1. What are your qualifications for office?

Answer from Jason Foley:

My qualifications for City Council of North College Hill on a professional level are the years of experience I will bring from an operations background. I have spent the past six years working in various jobs along my career path with US Bank. By taking advantage of opportunities to advance, I have experience in: auditing, balancing and managing cash levels, and most recently managing a department that oversees 21 facilities. Due to my career, I feel I can bring a level of financial responsibility the city has not seen in quite some time. With my background in auditing, I feel I bring a level of honesty and transparency as well that I feel the city is strongly lacking. Besides my professional background, I am very personally involved already in the City and have been for several years. Myself and my family have been involved for generations inside the city, never before in the political arena, but at a community service level that we carry on by choice. I have been active because I choose to be and my history shows that. I believe the city needs someone that will work hard and go above and beyond what is simply "required" as a council member.

Answer from Amy A. Bancroft:

I love my City and also have education and professional experience to create and encourage viable and sustainable communities. I can help our City achieve its full potential.

? 2. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the City?

Answer from Amy A. Bancroft:

Services such as police, fire/ems, well maintained streets, and a strong school system are obviously important. Also important are progressive leaders that know how to plan for the future and handle challenges that may arise.

Answer from Jason Foley:

A basic service of a city is, and always will be in my opinion, public safety. I can never stress that enough. I feel the direction the city has taken in spending money in other places while not focusing on public safety is a shortfall. The amount of projects currently going on in the city have taken the focus off of a major priority; keeping it's citizens safe. This spans not only across Police and Fire protection, but also with our Public Works department. There are some great people there that have been pulled off of maintaining the streets to work in other areas deemed more important by some in charge.

? 3. How would you balance the City Budget?

Answer from Jason Foley:

There is no doubt that our City faces great challenges in the future. The way to succeed is to plan now. Planning and prioritizing is something I take very seriously. I will work with all departments and think outside the box so to speak, to get our budget in line (without taking money from funds that have been specifically voted on for specific purposes by our community).

Answer from Amy A. Bancroft:

Budgeting has become even more of a challenge in the past few years, as the State has greatly decreased the monies flowing to local government. I believe the current democratic majority and myself would continue the progress the City is seeing. More commercial development equates to better tax revenue for the City. The City has been successful in carefully managing the budget, and I would continue to put such care into these financial matters.

? 4. What actions will you take to support clean air?

Answer from Amy A. Bancroft:

Clean air, its ramifications and all environmental issues, including global warming, are very important to me. I see my children and all our children's future.

I encourage trips by foot and bike. It is very important we make our streets as safe as possible to encourage such traffic. I also feel greater investment in mass transit, including light rail, is imperative. When I lived in Chicago, I not only took advantage of the bus and train, but also regularly biked my commute of 10 miles. It is healthy for our air and ourselves to consider alternatives to the car. I also have biked to my job in Colerain Township, and I have experienced the issues that need improvement to make biking a more practical option for everyone, including myself.

Answer from Jason Foley:

Although I don't know there is much NCH can do on this level and with our Carbon footprint - if every small community looked at ways it could be more "green", many small communities can make a BIG difference.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits may apply. See individual questions for specific word limits. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. Please edit your work before submitting. We are unable to provide spell-check at this time.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.


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Created: January 20, 2012 12:04 PST
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