League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2011 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Council Member; City of Blue Ash; Ward 3

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 Rick Bryan: I've spent my entire adult life in service. I am a retired Army of the United States Lt. Colonel, and continue to be active in veteran's organizations including the American Legion and chairing the Blue Ash Veterans Day ceremony. I have 16 years elected service on the Blue Ash City council including serving as Mayor. In addition I have over 32 years senior management experience with companies like P&G, Totes, Jergens and The Wellness Community. Answer from John Patrick Dillon: Having lived and worked in Blue Ash for over 10 years, I have a vested interest in not only maintaining the city's great reputation, but guiding its growth as my wife and I face the challenges of raising our three small children. I am a member of many Blue Ash organizations, and attend numerous local events. I now feel confident I can serve in a leadership role. I have provided 15 years of quality service as an employee of Cincinnati Bell Telephone. As a member of the Board of Quality and Patient Safety at Mercy Health Partners, my top three priorities are to listen, assess, and act. As a council member, I would vow to do the same. 2. What services do you believe should be considered basic and essential for the City? Answer from Rick Bryan: Blue Ash is fortunate to have the financial resources available to provide outstanding basic services (e.g. public safety, snow and trash removal, infrastructure maintenance) with one of the lowest tax rates in the county. Because of our strong and diverse business base Blue Ash is also able to provide world class recreation facilities and events (e.g. new recreation center, golf course, and July 4 fireworks). In 2012, work will start on the new 130 acre park at the airport. Answer from John Patrick Dillon: I feel the services most essential for a safe community are prompt and efficient police and fire departments. A well-run maintenance department, focusing on snow removal and brush pickup, is vital to our city's success. Additionally, it is critical that we maintain strong relationships with contracted services. While we endure tough economic times, cuts due to over-budgeted projects should not come at the expense of community events. It is imperative that residents are offered quality recreational and educational amenities if our city is to remain a desirable place to live. 3. How would you balance the City Budget? Answer from Rick Bryan: Because of Blue Ash's strong and diverse business base, we have always had a balanced budget. In fact in 2010, the budget surplus allowed us to add $2 million to our reserves. This strong position is not by chance. The city works hard on economic development -- adding new businesses during the recession including the North American HQ of Itelligence. Importantly,while working on economic development, we strive to keep our diverse neighborhoods very livable. Answer from John Patrick Dillon: Regardless of who sits on City Council, Blue Ash has always had a balanced budget, due to the strong leadership of its City Managers, most recently David Waltz and his talented staff. As a council member, I would follow his well-informed recommendations regarding financial operations and give input as necessary. Together as a team, Blue Ash will always maintain a balanced budget. 4. What actions will you take to support clean air? Answer from John Patrick Dillon: The past 10 years have seen many changes in the way we handle our trash. What started out as simple aluminum recycling has grown into acceptance of numerous types of paper, plastics, and metals. With continued persistence and innovation we can keep adding to the list of recyclables, encourage all Blue Ash residents to recycle, and continue to lower our carbon footprint. Answer from Rick Bryan: Blue Ash installs another 2 -3 miles of bike/walking paths in the city every year. Currently, we have 15.8 miles of paths. We envision the day when a resident can walk or bicycle from their home to any other location in the city without using a car. 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.