Jim Reese for Congress?

The first person on the voting ballot for Congress is candidate Jim Reese of the Democratic Party.

Jim's Plan-

**When we invent our products and protect our patents, Americans prosper.  

**When we manufacture our products in our towns and villages, Americans prosper.  

**When our small businesses and entrepreneurs bring products to market, Americans prosper.

**This is the basic equation for American financial prosperity.  Despite what Republicans would have us believe, America is not a financial services economy.  America did not become the number one economic power in the world by shuffling around other people’s money well.

**America became number one in the world by inventing and manufacturing the best products in the world.

**In congress, I will focus on common sense economic revival: creating and protecting American jobs, fostering American invention and innovation and supporting American manufacturing.

**My plan is to preserve The American Dream by bringing back America’s economy of invention and domestic manufacturing.

(Credits go to http://www.reeseforcongress.com/ for the given information.)

Pat Tiberi for Congress?

The next person on the voting ballot for Congress is candidate Pat Tiberi of the Republican Party.

Budget and Economy- 

Voted YES on terminating the Home Affordable mortgage Program. (Mar 2011) Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009) Voted NO on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009) Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009) Voted NO on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008) Voted NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008) Voted YES on defining "energy emergency" on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008) Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008) Voted YES on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007) Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004) Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution. (Jan 2011) Education-  Voted YES on reauthorizing the DC opportunity scholarship program. (Mar 2011) Voted NO on $40B for green public schools. (May 2009) Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007) Voted NO on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006) Voted NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006) Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001) Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001) Supports requiring schools to allow prayer. (Jan 2001) Rated 9% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003) Environment-  Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Jul 2009) Voted NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros. (Jul 2009) Voted YES on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences. (Sep 2008) Voted YES on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008) Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006) Voted NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006) Voted YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species. (Sep 2005) Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003) Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003) Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007) Jobs- Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks. (Oct 2008) Voted NO on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008) Voted NO on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Mar 2007) Voted NO on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Jan 2007) Voted YES on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004) Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. (Oct 2001) Voted YES on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001) Rated 7% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003) Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006) Immigration- Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006) Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006) Voted NO on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004) Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003) Rated 100% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance. (Dec 2006) Improve visa process to get more travelers from China. (Sep 2011) Declare English as the official language of the US. (Feb 2007) (Credit goes to http://www.ontheissues.org/OH/Pat_Tiberi.htm for the given information.)

John K. Hartman for County Commissioner?

The first person on the voting ballot for County Commissioner is candidate John K. Hartman of the Democratic Party.
http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/columbus12/race-detail.do?id=10003441

John Hartman (democratic)-

What are the major issues facing your county, and what will you do about them if elected?

I believe my proposal for charter reform, where four county commissioners would be elected by districts and one elected at-large, would lay the groundwork for meeting the financial needs of Delaware County in the future. Under my proposal, the county commissioners would become part-time rather than the current full-time and the county government would be run by an elected county executive overseen by the commissioners. This would increase accountability and get the government closer to the people. Some elected county positions would be phased out, but the many hard-working county employees would continue to provide valuable service. Charter reform would enable functions to be combined and would free up money for economic development and safety without increasing taxes.

What else would you like to say to voters in your county?

In order to maintain the quality of life in Delaware County, I believe its leaders should be increasingly vigilant to insure its orderly development. My proposed charter reform, with four commissioners elected by districts and an elected county executive, would lay the groundwork for guiding future growth. Regarding specific projects, I believe a new interchange along I-71, if built, should be done with the needs of the public first and foremost. Elected officials should decide its location and then coordinate with private developers, not vice versa. If fracking and storage of fracking fluid come to Delaware County, they should be carefully scrutinized and monitored so as not to endanger residents or upset the quality of life. We should all support the neighbors in Concord Township in seeing that new power lines stick to existing locations and are not built through people's homesteads. Installation of weather warning sirens throughout the county will be a high priority if I am elected.

Gary Merrell for County Commissioner

The next person on the voting ballot for County Commissioner is candidate Gary Merrell of the Republican Party.

http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/columbus12/race-detail.do?id=10003441

Gary Merrell (republican)-

What are the major issues facing your county, and what will you do about them if elected?

There are those in the other party who believe bigger government and more taxes solve all problems. Being a fiscal conservative, I disagree. Generally, less government and living within one's means leads to better government. That is the number one issue—spending our dollars wisely by being a “smart” fiscal conservative. Issues facing our county include resolving the duplication of services with EMS, completion of Sawmill Parkway, improving traffic flow at 36/37 & 7l, working with our townships to help them resolve the real financial issues they face, etc. Unlike many candidates, I do not presume to have all the answers. Issues facing Delaware County have much to do with leadership. Frankly, that is why I decided to run. To lead, one must listen. This is a point I have heard over and over as I have spoken to Delaware voters; they feel no one is listening. I will listen. I will spend our tax dollars wisely.

What else would you like to say to voters in your county?

The decision to seek one of the county commissioner positions was not done lightly. It was done only after personal evaluation, talking to county leaders, friends, neighbors, and family, and evaluating my skill set to see if there was a good fit for commissioner. Along with the other two commissioners, I can help make our county more efficient in how we use our voters’ tax dollars to operate and grow the county. But more than that, we need integrity which leads to trust by our voters. We need leadership that will create an environment for quality job growth throughout the county. I do not have all the answers today, but I will ask the questions that will help me learn what is necessary to make the best decisions. First and foremost, I will be led by the acid test of whether the vote I am about to cast is not only in the best short term interest of our county, but ultimately is in the long term best interest of the entire county as well.

Richard Bird for County Commissioner?

The next person on the voting ballot for County Commissioner is candidate Richard Bird of the Democratic Party.
http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/columbus12/race-detail.do?id=10003440

Richard Bird (democratic)-

What are the major issues facing your county, and what will you do about them if elected?

Expense management is the key to Delaware’s continued growth. Revenue is simply not an issue when all current streams are considered. Between local entity taxes, city taxes, property taxes and sales tax, Delaware County shouldn’t have a single pothole, a single under performing school or a single unfinished development project. Having managed more than $2 billion in corporate budgets over the last several years, expense control is always the key. Shared services must become the rule and not the exception within the county, to drive expenses down for all county services. As a County Commissioner I will bring the county into the 21st century with requirements for true financial budgeting and expectations tied to those budgets, as opposed to the wasteful process supported today. The County Commissioners provide an open checkbook to every county agency, where budgets only serve as guidelines and not as fixed requirements for annual performance.
What else would you like to say to voters in your county?
Vote for the person, not the party. One party rule has existed in Delaware County for over 150 years.

Ken O'Brien for County Commissioner?

The next person on the voting ballot for County Commissioner is candidate Ken O'Brien of the Republican Party.

http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/columbus12/race-detail.do?id=10003440 

Ken O’Brien (republican)-

What are the major issues facing your county, and what will you do about them if elected?

There are three major issues facing the county: Improve infrastructure, create new high-paying jobs, and sharing services with other entities to reduce costs while improving services. Infrastructure is important for the safety, efficiency and economic development of our county. I support a better thought-out sewer plan, fiber deployment and needed improvements to roads and bridges to lessen congestion and improve our quality of life. I promote the development of high-paying jobs that have a quick return on tax incentives. I advocate working with the private sector in a smart fashion. Working with Consolidated Electric is an example. As they were installing their fiber, I pushed to build our own fiber simultaneously which reduced costs for them and us. Sharing services also saves money. I worked diligently to save money in consolidating 911 with the city. I now work with our neighboring counties to save money with our joint detention center (COYC) and our solid waste district (DKMM).
What else would you like to say to voters in your county?
I advocate for small, efficient government. I believe in low taxes for all residents and businesses. Tax abatements should be used sparingly to gain high-paying jobs and should not favor new businesses over existing ones. I successfully fought for, and am committed to, keeping the 1 mill tax roll-back. I worked with other elected officials to save a quarter million dollars per year in leased space. I have built consensus with neighboring counties for shared solutions to provide quality services at a reasonable cost. The county should help municipalities and townships to grow in a smart well-planned manner so that infrastructure is built to optimize use at a reasonable cost. I will continue to work to keep Delaware county the premier place to work, live, learn and play.    

Carol O'Brien for Prosecuting Attorney?

The only person on the voting ballot for Prosecuting Attorney is candidate Carol O'Brien of the Republican Party.
http://carolobrienforprosecutor.com/welcome.html

About Carol O’Brien-
Carol O’Brien is a Prosecutor! With 27 years trial experience, she has successfully prosecuted murderers, rapists, crimes against the elderly, drug trafficking and many other felony crimes. Carol has successfully prosecuted multiple murder cases resulting in guilty verdicts and is respected as a tough, but fair prosecutor.
Carol previously served as an Assistant Ohio Attorney General, serving as Chief Counsel of the Ohio Organized Crime Commission and Principal Attorney with the Corrections Litigation Section where she represented State Corrections Officials and Officers in State and Federal Court litigation.
One of Carol’s most memorable cases involved defending the Warden of Mansfield Correctional and other corrections officers in a lawsuit filed by Jason Robb, the leader of the Lucasville Riots.  After a trial in Federal District Court in Cleveland, the jury returned a verdict for the Defendants.
As an Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Carol served as Chief of the Economic and Organized Crime Sections.  As a Special Prosecutor in multiple counties throughout Ohio Carol prosecuted violent crimes, economic crimes, drug trafficking, organized crime and public corruption.  She is admitted to State and Federal District and Appellate Courts in Ohio and South Carolina.