Kraus
Smitherman
Cole
Lynch
Herd
only vote for these 5
Cinti. Mayor,
City Council Candidates
and issues Selections
Salon Weekly Special Edition:
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House
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Growing out of the Monday Night Salon
For info about the Salon, see the bottom of this email
Join us at the Lloyd House every Monday of the year at 5:45 for pot luck and discussion.
3901 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio
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To: Friends on our Pot Luck Salon list.
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Tuesday, 1 November 2005
FRIENDS,
Last night we had a wonderful salon, with three of the council candidates present and sharing off the cuff and candidly. It was fabulous. Thanks to Chris Smitherman, Damon Lynch, and the Lloyd House Salon's own candidate Gerry Krause!
We got a vivid description from Chris of the shennanigans that go on in Council; a reminding from Damon of the history of the Collaborative Agreement and the events preceeding; a run down on what it is like to be an African Cincinnatian in politics today; and an earful of what it is like to run for council as an independent candidate from the people.
I am going to vote not for nine, but for five of the candidates. They are: Gerry Kraus, Damon Lynch, Chris Smitherman, Laketa Cole, and Samantha Herd. More on this below.
For mayor, I am, after last night, even more enthusiastic in my support of Mark Mallory. Chris made a resounding statement for Mallory that impressed me very much. I was already persuaded that Mark is a much better diplomat, and will have a much better position for changing the tone; in city hall. I already knew that he is more graceful on his feet, has a better sense of humor, is more of a people person, and is more likely to see the people's side of an issue when it conflicts with the interests of Big Business. I already knew that it would feel much better to have a Black guy, seasoned in political leadership for many years, son of a well regarded regional political leader, than it would be to have the son of the former Proctor & Gamble CEO, young in years and young to politics.
Last night I learned that he is a much better team builder as well. Even though a fellow Democrat, David Pepper has had Chris Smitherman in his office a great big two times in the last two years. Chris says that Mark Mallory is a great team builder. Having seen him here at the salon table, I believe it. Knowing how he went to bat for the Northside community in fighting the neighborhood-wreaking Colerain Connector, I believe he supports The People rather than The Money. I experienced Mark as flexible, gracious and high minded.
If David Pepper should win and be our next Mayor, I would want to serve him in any way possible to help him reach out to the community, including the African American community, and including the members of council, to build a collaborative spirit in City Hall. He isn't very old, is a bit stiff and serious, but he is hard working and believes in being well organized and in gathering relevant data.
Chris Smitherman was on fire last night (at the salon Monday). I haven't been so turned on by an office holder since I saw Senator Barak Obama address the Democrat National Convention a year and a half ago. Chris has such clarity. Of thought; of expression; of comprehension of the state of our city. He is in there for The People. See the report on the table discussion in the Weekly, to be published also today (Saturday 11/5).
The discussion Monday on what candidates would comprise a "dream team" council said these things. Laketa Cole is smart and good; has been a bit backed off, perhaps intimidated, but is excellent. I saw her at a neighborhood summit a couple of years ago and was impressed. Seemed a "get things done" woman, and smart. I liked her.
Damon Lynch more than anyone else was, in my view, responsible for keeping the lid on the violence following the police shootings that have caused so much turmoil in Cincinnati. Tirelessly walked the streets night after night preaching restraint. He was a key mover of the group law suit that gave rise to the Collaborative Agreement calling for reforms of police action. He is gracious, warm, and smart. See the comments in the Weekly (published today separately).
Gerry Kraus, the Salon candidate (smile) for Council has been on top of what goes on in City Council and the committees for decades, serving as the North Avondale Neighborhood Association, NANA's watchdog in City Hall for decades. We know her well from regular salon attendance. She is for people, for citizen services, for environmental protection, for quality of life in the city. She will NOT kowtow to Big Money. She is beholden to NO big contributors for her campaign funds, but only small folks like me who gave $20 or $40 towards her campaign. She is intelligent, seasoned, knowledgeable, and shares our values. She is without fear. She is a loving grandma and is funny (as though that mattered--grin--). If you don't know and love Gerry, trust me, you would.
Samantha Herd is a thirty something, white woman, came to the Salon last month. Has worked for years as Tyrone Yates (highly respected liberal Black guy) when he was on City Council and now in Columbus (where he is a state legislator). God bless her for being willing to run for office. Her intelligence is obvious. Her endorsement by Chris is all I need. Let's put her in there.
Only Five: when you spray nine votes all over the ballot you dilute the impact of the votes you really care about. Chris and Damon advised we only vote for these key candidates. I'm going with it. We were thrilled with the vision of City Council with not just Chris and Laketa, but also Damon, Gerry, and Samantha on it. Now That's a Dream Team!
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Cheryl Grant is running for re-election as Municipal Court Judge in my district. A smart Jewish woman came to the door and asked if I would let her put a yard sign up. She was persuasive. My neighbor Firooz Namei, a lawyer and a smart guy endorses her. So I am for her. She is the incumbent.
All Ohio Issues: Reform Ohio Now (RON) has crafted Issues 2, 3, 4, and 5 to prevent, in the future, the kind of distortion of our electoral procedure that we saw last year by the party in power. In last year's election, the Republican Party was in power in Columbus, and we saw numerous instances of their corrupting the electoral process. I won't go into it here. I am convinced that RON did a good job and that the issues should be passed. They will protect the democratic process in Ohio.
All Ohio Issue 1: smart people I know are for it. City Beat is for it. They say, "This renews a previously passed amendment allowing the state to issue bonds to cover ... infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, sewers) .... Also (money for making abandoned or unused industrial sites to make them job ready for new investors.) These worthy goals are paired with $500 million for Gov. Bob Taft's Third Frontier Initiative, which promotes investment in research and technology across the state and which voters rejected in '03..." (because "many thought it was a referendum on the governor's poor budget record"). (Some fundamentalists are against it because they are afraid it would support stem cell research. Arrrgh!)
Issue 8: forces council to actually vote on any proposed salary increases for themselves and the mayor, requiring a 2/3 majority. Before, their salaries have been tied to those of the County Commissioners.
Issue 9: Charter Ammendment to gradually eliminate city property tax. NO! No one is for this except weird, short sighted folks who want to strangle government and presumably privatize services. The city needs its tax money for services we all need and use. City Beat is against it.
And school board, as I have previously published: Vote for Harriet Russel, Cathy Ingram, Bill Haase, Susan Cranley.
- end of endorsements -
The Lloyd House Salon (usually about 15 people) Meets Mondays at 5:45,
EVERY MONDAY, 52 WEEKS/YEAR come hell or high water, as my mother used to say.
We of the Lloyd House Salon gather in a spirit of
respect, sympathy and compassion for one another
in order to exchange ideas for our mutual pleasure and enlightenment.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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interactive Yahoo Salon group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LloydHouseSalon
We have 45 members as of 7/05.
For Pot Luck procedures including food suggestions, mission and history visit
http://home.fuse.net/ellenbierhorst/Potluck.html .
> You are invited also to visit the Lloyd House website: http://www.lloydhouse.com
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> delete it. Thanks! ellen bierhorst
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