Job Description: To exercise financial control of County expenditures, to authorize public works, to purchase land and buildings, to let contracts, to plan and administer welfare. The Board of County Commissioners appoints other officials to operate various departments.

Question 1:  What are three things you would do as commissioner to stimulate the economic development of Lorain County? 

Question 2:  As commissioner, how would you balance the needs of the more urban, northern part of Lorain County with those of the more rural, southern part of Lorain County?  

VOTE FOR ONE

Age: 48

Education: 1983 New York Stock Exchange, Series 7 Registered investment Advisor License. 1982 Institute of Financial Education, Consumer Counselor Training. 1978 Bowling Green State University, B.S. in Elementary Education. 1974 Graduate Keystone High School

Occupation: 1998 – Current Trustee LaGrange Township

1) Continue support for Team NEO, while developing a more collaborative approach to economic development, within the county. Effective communication between the Chamber of Commerce, and various development related authorities, could have a positive impact when attracting new business. Streamline the process business must go through when seeking assistance, or looking to relocate to the county.

2) Improve communications between existing businesses and local/ county agencies to reveal and resolve problems. Encourage companies to use LCCC to retrain and improve the level of their workforce and for consultation purposes.

3) Encourage the re-development of the downtown business areas, as well as seeking funding for improvements to empty business locations. Discussion for the lake front improvements in Lorain is vital to generating economic growth for the county. Improvement in that area will symbolize a change in attitude, as well as appearance, for the county as a whole.

Response to Question 2:

The issue of social service needs and health; jobs and economic development are countywide, and need to be addressed as issues, not as geographical divisions.  Increasing access to the social services that deal with elderly, youth, and health concerns, could be improved by co-operating with each municipality to provide site facilities where these populations have existing access.  The use of technology to link resource providers used to deal with problems off site alrady exists.  Every attempt made to improve our existing downtown areas will help reduce the outward migration of their tax base, as well as their citizens.  County government can partner with other agencies to improve the outlook for local jurisdictions.  County policies affect the business environment, and continuing to press for integrated phone service as well as other improvements to infrastructure is desireable.  A stronger, qualified county leadership can be a force for county unity. 

Age: N/A

Education:Graduate of Admiral King High School. Attended Lorain County Community College. Attended Cleveland State University.

Occupation:President, Ted’s Floorcoverings, 668 Broadway Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44052

Training and Experience:
Local 860 Laborer from 1980-1982. General Manager Budget Carpet 1983-1996. Many course in Floorcovering from manufacturers.

Response to Question 2:

I would establish working relationships with continual dialogue between all of the political subdivisions to always come to a consensus on their respective needs.