Article published October 26, 2009
Brown is needed in Oregon
Local government officials are awakening to the need to cooperate, if not collaborate, in security services, economic development, environmental protection, and transportation planning with their counterparts throughout the region. We must renovate and innovate to put us back on the national, if not world, map. Needed are better management practices, budgeting priorities, economic efforts, security services, and quality of life improvements at all levels of commerce and government.
To this end, the election in Oregon is not only about Toledo's expansive suburb to the east but about the fortunes of the region. Steering our ship takes tried and proven leaders who can and have been bringing daring and vision to plotting our regional course for the foreseeable future. We have foundered for too long in the doldrums of job and funding instability since the demise of the auto and glass-related industries of our past.
Arguably, one of the major visionary and aggressive captains of the Oregon community and our region continues to be Mayor Marge Brown. Mayor Brown's drive and ideas have earned her the respect of numerous regional representative agencies and their boards.
Mayor Brown has been a champion of beach health, creating more sustainable environmental wetlands, labored to bring new economic possibilities, and fought to get millions of federal and state dollars for local governments to solve water and wastewater quality issues. Most of all, she has been engaged with many of her constituents in their time of need and support during their personal challenges and losses.
Truly, Marge Brown is a model of compassion, decision, energy, action, and results for Oregon and the region. We continue to need her on the bridge of northwest Ohio's regional ship of fate.
Kenneth W. FallowsGunckel Boulevard Port Clinton levy renews a legacy
As a 1965 graduate of Port Clinton High School who attended two years in the old high school (now the middle school) and two in the new high school, I remember well the improvement in learning atmosphere that came with a new, state-of-the-art school with up-to-date technology, brighter, more comfortable classrooms, and immensely improved facilities.
The thousands who graduated from PCHS after 1964 benefited from the foresight and generosity ofthose who went before us and built a new school for us. Now it is our turn to continue this legacy for the children of our community by passing the bond levy on Nov. 3.
Peggy Debien
Port ClintonReject ballot issue favoring 1 group
On Nov. 3, residents of Perrysburg Township will be asked to vote on an issue regarding zoning in the Thompson and Neiderhouse roads area. The trustees approved the zoning with stipulations placed on the developers.
Don't be fooled by the few self-centered people who are asking for the zoning change to be overturned. These people have placed their own agenda ahead of all the township residents.
In their petition to place this referendum on an earlier ballot, they misled residents as to what the zoning changes are. The trustees reviewed all the information and made a decision based on what benefits the whole township. They, under the guidance of the Wood County prosecutor's office, decided not to certify the petition that was circulated.
I adamantly refused to sign the petition when the knock came upon my door. The petitioner explained to me the small lots, the plan for a trailer park, and other facts which did not exist. When I pointed out the erroneous information, he was upset at how he had been misled and in turn had been misleading people to sign the petition.
Neighbors, speak out. Don't allow a decision made by the trustees to be overturned for a self-centered few.
Sharon Gross
Perrysburg TownshipFisher a constant on TPS board
While the Three for Change initiative made a minute dent in the problems surrounding the Toledo Public Schools' board of education with the 2005 election of Robert Torres and Darlene Fisher, there have been six members either selected for, elected to, or resigning from the five- member board since then. The one constant has been Darlene Fisher.
Ms. Fisher has been seen to be a divisive force on the school board when, in fact, she has been the most consistent, demanding of accountability, and, as former Mayor Jack Ford recently commented, "one of the best prepared" of all board members.
Having been to more board meetings than anyone sitting on the school board or in the administration, I have seen how this system operates. In order to make a change, which I believe the entire city would agree with, the board needs three people coming up with the same yes or no vote to push this district out of its lethargy and into action to overcome some very real problems.
My recommendation for school board is Darlene Fisher. She will continue to ask the right questions, pursue the truth, and do what is right for all of Toledo's children.
To round out a change for TPS, I also recommend James Jones and Vince Hornik, two individuals without any ties to the Toledo Federation of Teachers.
Twila Page
Kimball AvenueOhio understands need for revenue
The recession and budget crisis that Ohio finds itself in creates problems across all segments of the state. The citizens are aware that state government has made deep cuts in most areas and departments. As a county Juvenile Court judge I can attest that our ability to provide even the most basic services has been and will be severely affected. Children, families, and community safety will all be casualties of the budget as it stands now. Add to this another possible billion dollars in cuts and the state is indeed in a position that will add misery to misery.
It need not happen. The electorate of Ohio understands the need for extraordinary measures to maintain essential functions. Elected officials are prone to underestimating the people in this regard.
A rational proposal would include Gov. Ted Strickland's suggested action of delaying the last reduction in the income tax and adding a 0.5 percent additional sales tax for a two-year period. The revenues would fill the gap in the budget as well as provide funds to return essential positions and programs already cut. The balance should be distributed among counties and municipalities, and some to the rainy day fund.
The outline could look something like this:
Revenue realized: $2 billion
To revive essential state services: $200 million
To counties and municipalities: $500 million
Reserve funds: $300 million
Together we can move through these times and minimize the effects for all citizens.
Judge Stephen D. Michael
Jackson County Probate-Juvenile Court
Jackson, OhioDon't close bar, but adhere to law
It is ironic that the bumbling, headline-grabbing, opportunistic mayor of Toledo's answer to violence in a local bar is to seek to close the establishment. There are laws in place to more-than-adequately handle the problem. By closing this bar, all he will do is send these thugs to our local bar to cause problems and terrorize our friends and us.
All he needs to do is put pressure on the prosecutor to uphold existing laws and have these thugs face the maximum prison time specified. The last time I looked, every bar has a notice that states carrying a firearm into the establishment is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. What's the problem with upholding laws on the books and not punishing everyone else for the bad judgment of a few idiots?
Jeff and Julie Scott
104th Street
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