The News-Herald

Election Questionnaire

Date questionnaire completed: September 3, 2013 Office sought: Perry Township Trustee

Political party: Non-partisan Name: Robert J. Dawson Age: 62 Date of birth: May 2, 1951 Place of birth: Painesville, Ohio Home address: 5475 Canyon Ridge, Perry (Painesville mailing), Ohio Length of residence in that community: Lifetime Twitter: No Facebook: No Campaign Web site: www.robertjdawson.com Occupation: Program Administrator Employer: Lake County Department of Job & Family Services Business Address: 177 Main Street, Painesville, Ohio 44077 Elected Office experience: I have been elected to four consecutive four-year terms on the Lake County
Board of Education and have over 17 years of service. I was elected board president 11 times. I have also served 17 years on the Auburn Career Center School Board.

Non-elected office experience (boards, etc.): I have 35 years of service to the Lake County Fair Board
including 12 consecutive years as board president. I have been on the Ohio Fair Managers Association Board of Directors for 16 years and have been elected State Treasurer for 5 consecutive 2-year terms. I am currently a director on the Lake County Port Authoritys Small Business Corp and I sit on the SBA 504 Loan Committee. I served on the Lake County United Way in the late 70s and received the coveted Francis Bud Osborne Award in 1978. I am past president of the Lake County Human Resources Council, past chairman of the Lake County Private Industry Council and past chairman of the Lake County Workforce Investment Board.

Education: (Please only list schools youve graduated from and list degrees if applicable):
I am a 1972 graduate of Lakeland Community College: (AA Degree) and was inducted into their Alumni Hall of Fame in 2010 a recognition reserved for those Lakeland graduates whose vision, contributions and achievements have enriched the Lake County Community in remarkable ways. I am a 1969 graduate of Perry High School and was inducted into the Perry High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2011 I was recognized as a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.

Marital status: Married

Name of spouse: Dawn Dawson

Name and age of any children: Rodney J. Dawson(42),Denise R. Dawson(40),Kenneth Derek Dawson(23) Organizations: Member, Lake County Agricultural Society; Chairman, Lake County Foster Parent
Association Fundraising Committee; Past President, Perry Jaycees; Lifetime Member, Perry Alumni Association.

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Should you be elected, what are three specific area youd like to change, address, improve or further research, and how specifically would you go about it?: As I meet and talk with various
leaders in the Perry Community, the three common concerns I have heard involve Economic Development, the Joint Economic Development District and Local Government Communications and Collaboration. We are now starting out of what has been a very tough economic situation and it is a great time to ramp up our economic development efforts. Likewise, it is an ideal time to promote our JEDD to attract more business and expand our revenue opportunities. I want to personally contribute to Perrys economic development efforts and utilization of the JEDD in order to benefit the Perry community long term. As group President of RW Sidley in Painesville, I held a key role on the companys business acquisition team during a period of unprecedented growth. I performed due diligence on acquisitions and start-ups and learned the process at the grass roots level. As administrator of Lake Countys Public Workforce Initiative and while serving on the Board of Directors of the Port Authoritys Small Business Corp and the SBA 504 Loan Committee, I have gained a great deal of knowledge about economic development that will allow me to comprehend and participate in discussions with current and new business representatives. Communications and collaboration between the Perry entities can be improved. When asked about my vision for Perry Township, I respond that my vision is for the Perry Community. Officials from the villages, the township and the school system need to champion open communications and greater collaboration. I am known to be a consensus builder and I have a proven track record as a planner and facilitator. If elected, I want to lead efforts to improve communications and collaboration for the good of the community and the taxpayers.

Whether for past accomplishments or future goals, why should voters elect you? I have 40 plus
years of senior level management experience in both the private and public sectors , 35 years of service with the Lake County Fair Board and 17 years of experience on the Lake County Board of Education, all of which have allowed me to gain a knowledge base and skill set for performing the duties of Township Trustee as I know them. I have been fortunate to wear many hats over my professional career(s) which has allowed me to learn in several different functional areas. Finances, human resources and labor relations, procurement, residential and commercial construction, grant writing, economic development and public relations are some of the areas I have the most experience in. I have been told that I am a good listener and I have learned the importance of clear and timely communications. People that have worked with me and for me have called me passionate, courageous and having unwavering core values. I learned from being in business that intestinal fortitude is a critical component of success and when it comes to right and wrong, no one holds me more accountable than me! If elected, I will dedicate myself to always doing the very best job possible.

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