Election 2009 coverage

By Dave Greber | Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 08:24 AM

A few items about today’s General Election.

First, I don’t care who you’re backing, what issues are most important or how busy you think you are, GET OUT AND VOTE. Polls are open today from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Turnout this November is expected to be light, unfortunately. So, no excuses.

It’s your right and privilege, and every vote counts… Just ask the folks in Fairfield where the last mayoral race was decided by five people who felt it was important enough to cast their ballot.

For information on your polling place, visit the Butler County Board of Elections.

Races of local note include Issue 17, a 3-mill replacement levy for police services in Liberty Twp.; a crowded race in West Chester, where nine locals are vying for two open seats on the Board of Trustees, including incumbents Catherine Stoker and Lee Wong; and, the Lakota Board of Education, where five locals are seeking three open seats, including incumbents Jamie Green and Joan Powell.

Also in Liberty Twp., trustees Patrick Hiltman and Christine Matacic are running unopposed.

We’ll be covering those closely throughout the day, and have up-to-the minute results this evening after the polls close.

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Discussion on coyotes coming Wednesday

By Dave Greber | Monday, November 2, 2009, 08:19 AM

The Dorns are certain a coyote snatched their dog Champ earlier this year. And they’re hoping other local residents take note to protect their pets from the same fate.

The West Chester residents are thankful, though, representatives of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be holding a forum about the local coyote population Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The story’s generated a number of comments on our Web site, although mostly in jest a la cartoon characters and Acme anvils.

Do you believe coyotes are a problem locally? Will you be attending the forum Wednesday?

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Check out election profiles, other info

By Dave Greber | Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 10:18 AM

For the better part of the past month, we’ve been running in print story after story, profile after profile about the people seeking office on Nov. 3.

Now, you can see all of those online in one place.

What you’ll see from me there are profiles of each of the remaining nine candidates competing for two open spots on the West Chester Twp. Board of Trustees.

You’ll also see a story about Issue 17 in Liberty Twp., which is seeking a 3-mill replacement levy for law enforcement services provided by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

I should also note you won’t see profiles on those running for office in Liberty Twp. That’s because incumbent trustees Patrick Hiltman and Christine Matacic and incumbent Fiscal Officer Pamela Quinlisk, are running unopposed.

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New uses for an old building

By Dave Greber | Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 09:55 PM

Liberty Twp. trustees decided Tuesday, Oct. 20, to take the least expensive way out of reusing what will become the old Fire Station 111.

The nearly 40-year-old building will be vacated later this year when the township moves to its newest location off Ohio 747 north of Kyles Station Road.

Here’s the full story.

Thoughts?

Here’s the story

Liberty Twp. trustees decided Tuesday, Oct. 20, to put what will be the community’s old fire house to much needed use.

Of the five options to reuse the township’s Fire Station 111 off Ohio 747, trustees immediately nixed two options that would have meant spending at least $10,000 on upgrades to the building, plus maintaining monthly utility costs. Off the table were plans to turn the 39-year-old building into a new substation for the Butler County Sheriff’s Office or use it to house the Liberty Twp. Historical Society and Fire Association.

They also won’t sell it because of the long and narrow plot of nearly 1.4 acres on which it sits.

“We can’t afford to fund the sheriff’s department going over there,” said Trustee Patrick Hiltman. “The property is virtually unsalable. And I’m not big on making improvements on it to try and get back our investment.”

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Tea Party candidate forum this week

By Dave Greber | Monday, October 19, 2009, 12:12 PM

Press release from the Community Groups of the Cincinnati Tea Party, who will host a candidate forum for West Chester Twp. trustee candidates on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The event takes place at 7 p.m. at Lakota West High School auditorium.

Cincinnati Tea Party to Host Candidate Forum

West Chester, OH, October 12, 2009.

Moving from dissent to engagement and education, the Tea Party will be hosting a West Chester Trustee Candidate forum. This is the first of many candidate forums the Tea Party will be hosting to clarify candidate positions from a citizen’s perspective.

Forum to take place: October 22, 2009, 7pm, Lakota West High School auditorium.

Agenda will include opening comments from each candidate. After which, each candidate will be asked two rounds of questions: First Round - Questions pertaining to Tea Party core values of Limited Government, Fiscal Responsibility and Free Markets.

Second Round - Questions pertaining to candidate’s origins of governance philosophy and role in trustee position.

Last section of evening will include a review of Tea Party stances on November ballot issues.

The Cincinnati Tea Party will not be endorsing candidates or issues, but simply educating citizens before November elections. In addition to this forum, a voter’s guide will be distributed door to door in West Chester, sent electronic newsletter and posted on Tea Party website.

According to Tea Party Director and West Chester resident, Chris Littleton, “It’s been far too long since citizens not backed by special interest groups or organizations have made a concerted effort to learn more about candidates before voting on them. Our country has arrived at this critical point in time because we weren’t engaged enough at every level of government. It’s time for that to change.”

About the Cincinnati Tea Party

The Cincinnati Tea Party is a grassroots, nonpartisan group opposed to wasteful government spending. Our core values are fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets. Our goals include influencing elections for the betterment of America, promoting state sovereignty (Federalism), and compelling our elected officials to comply with the Constitution as written by our Founders. To accomplish our goals, the Cincinnati Tea Party:

• Fosters the Voice of Americans to be heard through rallies, forums, and town halls.

• Supports the Education of Americans for a better understanding of our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the authority granted to our government by the People.

• Impacts the Elections in America by encouraging virtuous American citizens to run for office at the local, county, and state levels so that the conservative American voice may be heard.

The Cincinnati Tea Party was founded by a group of lifelong Cincinnatians in February 2009. In April 2009, Community Tea Parties were launched to allow local leaders to spread the core values at the neighborhood level.

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Candidates oppose incorporation

By Dave Greber | Thursday, October 15, 2009, 12:01 PM

I attended the candidate forum last night, Oct. 14, sponsored by the West Chester Chamber Alliance, and the most intriguing question (of 10) was likely the first, which inquired about each person’s position on incorporation.

There were some other aspects that I plan on detailing in this space later, but for now, here’s the resulting story.

Did you attend the forum? What did you think?

Each of the eight candidates vying for two seats on the West Chester Twp. Board of Trustees who participated in a candidates forum Wednesday, Oct. 14, expressed their opposition to the local hot-button issue of 2009.

The night began with perhaps the most intriguing question: Whether West Chester should become a city.

The Committee for West Chester kicked off its campaign for incorporation — or “cityhood” — in June, and representatives say they are continuing to fulfill the first step in the process, which is to gather the nearly 4,500 signatures needed to place the issue on the ballot. Organizers say they are seeking to have the issue before voters during the 2010 Primary.

Although it’s an effort that must be citizen-driven, and cannot be manifested by a township trustee board, according to state law, each of the candidates was quizzed Wednesday about where they stood.

And in at least one candidate’s case, that position has changed.

“I think it’s sad that we have eight would-be trustees responding to the question about whether or not there should be trustees in the future,” said Bill Zerkle, who is spearheading the incorporation effort. “It’s also interesting that we had some candidates who supported it.”

That support “seems to be seasonal,” Zerkle added.

Incumbent Lee Wong, who is seeking his second consecutive term, said late Wednesday he initially supported the idea of incorporation, even though he’s maintained the effort should be completely guided by residents.

But along the campaign trail, Wong said his perspective changed as he began hearing what he called a growing opposition to cityhood.

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Candidates oppose incorporation

By Dave Greber | Thursday, October 15, 2009, 12:01 PM

I attended the candidate forum last night, Oct. 14, sponsored by the West Chester Chamber Alliance, and the most intriguing question (of 10) was likely the first, which inquired about each person’s position on incorporation.

Here’s the back story on that.

There were some other aspects that I plan on detailing in this space later, but for now, here’s the resulting story.

Did you attend the forum? What did you think?

Each of the eight candidates vying for two seats on the West Chester Twp. Board of Trustees who participated in a candidates forum Wednesday, Oct. 14, expressed their opposition to the local hot-button issue of 2009.

The night began with perhaps the most intriguing question: Whether West Chester should become a city.

The Committee for West Chester kicked off its campaign for incorporation — or “cityhood” — in June, and representatives say they are continuing to fulfill the first step in the process, which is to gather the nearly 4,500 signatures needed to place the issue on the ballot. Organizers say they are seeking to have the issue before voters during the 2010 Primary.

Although it’s an effort that must be citizen-driven, and cannot be manifested by a township trustee board, according to state law, each of the candidates was quizzed Wednesday about where they stood.

And in at least one candidate’s case, that position has changed.

“I think it’s sad that we have eight would-be trustees responding to the question about whether or not there should be trustees in the future,” said Bill Zerkle, who is spearheading the incorporation effort. “It’s also interesting that we had some candidates who supported it.”

That support “seems to be seasonal,” Zerkle added.

Incumbent Lee Wong, who is seeking his second consecutive term, said late Wednesday he initially supported the idea of incorporation, even though he’s maintained the effort should be completely guided by residents.

But along the campaign trail, Wong said his perspective changed as he began hearing what he called a growing opposition to cityhood.

Continue reading "Candidates oppose incorporation"...

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