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THE PRESS 2PRESSPAPERS.COM OCTOBER 30, 2013

Election
AVON L AKE

CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE CANDIDATES

The only candidates running for Avon Lake City Councils three at large seats are the incumbents. Name: Marty ODonnell Profession: Retired as deputy director of Cuyahoga County Child Support Enforcement Agency Public office experience: Avon Lake City councilman at large since 2001, council president since 2012, Lakewood Board of Education member, 1985 to 1997 Name: Dan Bucci Profession: Manager of public policy at University Hospitals Public office experience: Avon Lake City councilman at large since 2009 Name: John Shondel Profession: Retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve and retired chairman of Miami Valley Pension Public office experience: Avon Lake City councilman at large since 2012

Marty ODonnell

Dan Bucci

John Shondel

BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES

Name: Chuck Froehlich* Age: 63 Profession: Plant manager for Momentive Performance Materials Public office experience: Avon Lake Board of Education, 2002 to present Statement: The Avon Lake City School District must continue to deliver top-notch citizens to the community every spring at graduation. Starting with children entering kindergarten every day must be safe, creative and challenging to achieve the goal of graduating Chuck Froehlich* citizens. As current school board president, I have worked with fellow board members, the administration and the teachers to navigate cost savings as our revenue stream from the state and local industries has been reduced in the past few years. Our district must look at new ways to partnership with other districts and LCCC to bring new educational options to our students. The world of education is changing, as we look to the future as we will be replacing some excellent teachers who are retiring, our challenge is to find the teachers who bring new ideas, technology, and creativity while maintaining our high level of excellence. Next school year, we will have about 60 new students in Avon Lake. This creates a challenge, how to we maintain a quality education for a growing student population on basically a fixed income? I have and will continue to meet this challenge by constantly look for new and innovative ways to reduce cost. *Incumbent candidate Name: Dale Cracas* Age: 73 Profession: Retired Avon Lake City Schools district teacher, real estate agent Public office experience: Avon Lake Board of Education member, 2005 to present; Avon Lake City councilman, 1983 to 1991 Statement: The biggest challenge facing any public official is setting budget priorities that the majority of the public would accept. In the past, a committee of residents established priorities Dale Cracas* that met the needs of the students. Then the administration and the Board of Education sat down to implement those priorities in the budget. It is my opinion this process should be implemented again. Name: Michael Hellyar Sr. Age: 67 Profession: Chartered financial consultant, former financial services executive with Keybank, BankOne (Chase), Citibank Public office experience: None Statement: Avon Lakes excellent school system faces serious economic and fiscal challenges that are not being addressed effectively. After years of rapid growth, tax revenues are not increasing as in past years. State funding is volatile. Even with the Michael Hellyar Sr. additional $6.5 million from the 21% increase in school taxes, deficit spending continues. By 2017, the annual deficit grows to $7 million putting us on a path to more emergency levies. As a school board member, I will collaborate with our teachers, superintendent, community leaders and board colleagues to craft fiscal policies to deal fairly and effectively with economic realities to eliminate emergency levies and assure that we sustain Avon Lake's excellent quality of education for our students. Specific steps include: Form a community advisory task force to tap into the rich and diverse talent that exists in Avon Lake from the private and public sectors to create a proactive long-range strategic plan to deal effectively with fiscal realities. Promote economies of scope and scale through partnerships and collective associations with surrounding communities and institutions. Conduct Town Halls to promote Board leadership and accountability and communications with and feedback from the community.

BOARD OF MUNICIPAL UTILITIES CANDIDATES

Name: Dave Marquard II* Age: 68 Profession: Owner of Applied Companies LLC Public office experience: Avon Lake Board of Municipal Utilities board member 1998 to 2012, board chairman 2012 until present Statement: I plan to continue our strategy of keeping our water and sewer rates low by controlling costs and selling more water and sewer services outside the city. For example, the city of Westlake Dave Marquard II* and other nearby cities have come to us buy our quality water and sewer services because of our reputation for customer service, quality, at low rates. Other customers like Avon have developed Avon Commons and the Cleveland Clinic and the Nagel Road Intersection of I-90 because in part because they could access our low cost sewer services at 10 percent over our residents rates. A win-win for our Avon Lake residents keeping our rates low and a win for our region and Lorain County. Name: Tim Rush Age: 55 Profession: Owner of Molten Metal Products Inc. Public office experience: Avon Lake Ward 1 City Councilman 2003-2010, Avon Lake Charter Review Commission chairman, 2013 Statement: Avon Lake and its Utility continue to grow. Because of the interdependence between City government and the Utility, it is important to elect people Tim Rush who believe in shared efforts between both entities. Enhanced information sharing is particularly important now as we face large credit and capitalization needs to meet EPA standards. I have the experience to encourage teamwork between people to build joint policies and strategic plans. I would be honored to serve you on the Board of Municipal Utilities. Name: C.J. Tyree Age: 26 Profession: Vice president of finance at PIRHL Public office experience: Avon Lake Charter Review Commission member, 2013 Statement: At $55 million, Avon Lake Municipal Utilities holds 70 percent of the citys debt burden. That's a tremendous responsibility that requires the right leadership making the right decisions on ALMUs investments. That's why I want C.J. Tyree to put the skills Ive developed during a career in finance to work for our community by serving our utilities board. Our residents deserve leaders who will put our communitys resources to work to make sure that residents continue to receive the great quality and rates ALMU has delivered in the past. Its time to make sure that we invest our money the right way and that we find the most efficient financing available as we embark on a $90 million capital improvement plan. I know that a key to leadership is transparency. That is why I will work to make sure the residents of Avon Lake, ALMUs shareholders, are well informed on the strategic decisions made and the impact to rates, while also improving communications and cooperation with the rest of city government. We cant afford turf wars that get in the way of building consensus on our communitys future. I am dedicated to serving our community and pledge to serve my entire term.

*Incumbent candidate

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