When I’m elected Mayor of Rocky River in November of 2007 – I’ll change city hall.  Why?  To better serve the public.   Hello?

 

Being a ‘Government Public Servant’ for 25 years taught me what the public wants the government to do for them.

 

• Besides, after Cuyahoga County Probate Court chose me to be honored by the Cuyahoga County Bar Foundation, February 9, 2007 to receive the Franklin Polk Public Merit Award, along with court employees from other courts that got the award too.

 

·    Other government bodies (click on below) also, ‘officially recognized’ my ‘public service’ and of the others.   Consider who and what they said about my service below. 

 

1.   FROM THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION 2007 FRANKLIN A. POLK PUBLIC SERVANTS MERIT AWARD,

2.   FROM U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES,

3.   FROM THE GOVERNOR OF OHIO TED STRICKLAND,  

4.   FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OHIO MARC DANN,

5.   FROM THE CITY OF CLEVELAND MAYOR FRANK G. JACKSON

6.   FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO TIM HAGAN, JIMMY DIMORA AND PETER LAWSON JONES,

  

That said, there are four (4) vital things I will change at Rocky River City Hall when I am elected Mayor of Rocky River, in November 2007.  So I can better serve Rocky River.

 

1. City Employees Will Protect and Serve those in our city in a ‘No Nepotism City Hall’.

 

2. Regain Public Confidence In The Office of Mayor of Rocky River.

 

3. Establish a ‘Fair Way’ To Plan/Decide the City’s Future With Residents, Schools and Businesses.

 

4. Sell Rocky River Recreation Department Buildings To a Private Business, To Save Taxpayers Money!”

 

1.  City Employees Will Protect and Serve In our city in a ‘No Nepotism City Hall’:

 

·      I will replace all Rocky River city department directors.  Yet I will accept their resume for any other ‘city job’ opening, if they wish.

  

·      I will appoint ‘new’ Rocky River city department directors from the qualified city employees that already work in those specific city departments.  I will hire in house!

 

·      City Employees will also be advanced only on their ability, and not by who they are related to.  There will be no place for nepotism in my administration.

 

·      There are many Rocky River city employees that are qualified to become Rocky River city department heads or advance in responsibility and pay.  Yet they never had a chance to become a department head, or move up the ladder to more responsibility and pay.   As Mayor of Rocky River, city employees will have that chance.

 

·      As Mayor, I will seek a city law to be passed that states: FAMILY MEMBERS OF ELECTED ROCKY RIVER OFFICIALS SHALL NOT WORK IN Rocky River City Government, Rocky River Waste Water Treatment Plant, Rocky River Municipal Court and Rocky River Public Schools.

 

·      As Mayor I will treat all city employees with respect and as adults.  As Mayor, I will only expect to be treated in the same manner.

 

·      Finally, as Mayor, my office will always be open to all city employees’ concerns or their input.  They will always be welcome.  We are a team!  There is no “I” in Team!

 

2.  Regain Public Confidence in the Office of Mayor of Rocky River:

 

·      Rocky River has experienced ‘Failed Leadership’.  Not letting the public down, and my Public Service in the community will bring confidence back to the Office of the Mayor of Rocky River.  

 

·      As Mayor I will also have the city hall books audited back to 1990.  I want to tell Rocky River residents who got what of their tax money.

 

·      I will be a ‘full time mayor’.  ‘The Buck’ Will Stop At My Desk At Rocky River City Hall!   I will be the Mayor with the open door policy as well.

 

·      When I am elected Mayor of Rocky River, I will call on council to establish a 'committee on open and responsive city government'.  The purpose of this committee will be to find ways our city government can be even more 'open and responsive' – in its way of doing the people’s business. 

 

·      I will waive my right to hire or fire employees at the Rocky River Waste Water Treatment Plant.  I will hand over my right to do this, to any of the other three (3) suburban mayors that sit on the Rocky River Waste Water Treatment Plant Board.  Anyone of them may take on the hiring and firing task.  I want to bring ‘public confidence’ back to the office of the Mayor of Rocky River especially at the Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant.  

 

·      I will also run Rocky River City Hall like I run my home.  Not spending money needlessly.  Not deficit spending.   Not setting a ‘city budget’ on income that is not coming into the city treasury.

 

·      Also as Mayor, I will seek to have our city council meetings televised simultaneously as they take place.  So residents at home can see live council/administration and resident interaction at council meetings.  Plus residents will get a better idea on how our Rocky River city government operates.  This will guarantee that our city runs well in the future. 

 

·      Finally, I will remain forthright throughout my administration to the community.     

 

3.  Establish a ‘Fair Way’ To Plan/Decide the City’s Future With Residents, Schools and Businesses:

 

·      I want Rocky River residents, schools and businesses to have a voice and be responded to.  

 

·      As Mayor, City hall will openly communicate and respond with residents, schools and business concerns.   Rocky River City Hall will hold dialogue with residents, schools and business concerns – not monologue.    

 

·      City hall will make decisions, plan for future direction/growth, set priorities and solve problems with the community participating.  As Mayor I feel, “The People Shall Lead and The Leaders Shall Follow.”

 

·      As Mayor I will De-Centralize City Hall Control.  Allow the four (4) City Ward Council Members ‘money and a say with ward residents’ on how that money will be spent to upgrade each of their individual city wards.

 

·       As Mayor I will push for The Rocky River Administration and Council to hold ‘weekly’ council meetings throughout Rocky River’s neighborhoods. 

 

·      As Mayor I will push for each city ward councilmember to hold two (2) additional ‘town hall meetings’ in their ward per year, to inform, find out what residents want done and let residents decide on city issues that directly affect them.

 

·      As Mayor I will hold these ‘town hall meetings’,  if council members fail to hold these two (2) additional ‘town hall meetings’ in their ward per year, to inform, find out what residents want done and let residents decide on city issues that directly affect them.

 

·      Finally as Mayor, City Hall will create the ‘community atmosphere’ to encourage residents and businesses to come to, and stay in Rocky River.  You will also have a Mayor that believes, “Service To Humanity is the Best Work Of Life.”

 

4.  Sell Rocky River Recreation Department Buildings To A Private Business, To Save Taxpayers Money!

• As Mayor, I will 'sell off' (by an affirmative vote of the electorate) Rocky Rivers’ Recreational Buildings to a 'Private Health/Exercise Business’.  The reasoning behind this is, instead of the city of Rocky River spending millions of taxpayers' dollars to subsidize and maintain these Rocky River recreational  buildings and still charge residents’ money to use these facilities and collect no tax on these municipal facilities.  Let a private firm purchase and take over the Rocky River recreational facilities and have the private business, pay the city of Rocky River tax money for the private business interest’s use of the former Rocky River recreational facilities.  Then use the tax money collected for the benefit of the city.

 

In Closing,

 

As Mayor of Rocky River, as I seek to ‘Serve and Protect’ our residents, schools and businesses, the following sayings will continue to inspire and guide me. "The People Shall Lead, and the Leaders Shall Follow." and "To Serve Humanity, is the Best Work of Life."

 

So, Help Me God!