Ukeme Jeter for UA Council - Pencilstorm Interview

There are seven candidates running for four seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually throughout September and reposting all their answers together before the election. School Board candidates will appear in October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our last candidate, Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, is featured below.

Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, Upper Arlington City Council Candidate

Ukeme Awakessien Jeter
www.ukemeforua.com

What makes you qualified to have oversight of the $72 million city budget?
I started my career as a project engineer. In that role, I earned an MBA and led numerous capital improvement projects for a national Fortune 500 corporation. I delivered all my projects within scope and under budget. Project engineers oversee all aspects of a venture, including planning, budgeting, personnel, and more. 

Today, I am an attorney and I work with innovative clients to help bring their novel products and services to market. There are several “tracks” that can be taken to bring a new product to the marketplace, each require budget setting before beginning down the track.  

More, I served on the City’s 2019 Financial Review Taskforce. The Task Force was charged primarily with, a high-level review of the City’s current financial status and overall outlook; assessing the status of capital investments made to date and the outlook/plans for the next 10-year Capital Improvement Program; along with other pertinent reviews.      

These varied experiences with budgets make me uniquely qualified to have oversight of the City’s budget.

What steps do we need to take so that the new community center is the best it can be for all Upper Arlington citizens?
Together, we need to develop a program-driven, flexible and sustainable design that is adaptive and inclusive for all. 

First, the new community center must meet the expectations set by the extensive work of the Community Center Feasibility Task Force. Achieving the optimum design will require broad civic engagement. As a member of council, I will help foster dialogue between all community members and stakeholders including under-represented community members and strategic partners like student groups, realtors, and neighboring municipalities. I believe that designing the new community center around our existing needs as well as visionary uses will help to ensure that the center becomes an integral fixture of our community. Simultaneously, we must recognize uses change over time so a flexible design will allow the community center to be resilient to the changing needs of the community and our local economy. Plus, as energy costs rise, and municipal revenue streams fluctuate; a sustainable design is important.  

With innovative leadership and proper oversight, the new community center can serve as a centerpiece for Upper Arlington. I believe the new community center provides us the opportunity to set a new standard of collaboration between all stakeholders, while supporting thoughtful and innovative programming.

Much work has been done over the past two decades to improve the financial well-being of our city. What are the next steps we need to take for our parks and pools as we continually improve?
Our parks and pools are an integral part of our community and need to evolve to serve as much more than just playgrounds and sports playing fields. In 2018, the Parks & Recreation Department completed an extensive planning process that resulted in the adoption of a Comprehensive Plan. The document informs and guides decision-making relative to the department’s oversight of parks, facilities, and programming. The document does not—nor was it intended to—provide recommendations of what facilities and amenities should be provided. Our next step is to define that “what.”  

Recreational programing is unique in that creativity is valued. I support ideas such as: incorporating gardens and art into parks that promote culture and a sense of place; the development of a trail systems that connects our parks to each other; leveraging partnerships with our schools and community organizations for events and installments and allowing for non- traditional uses of our pools off-season. Like, kayakers using the pools to learn new techniques, fishers learning how to cast, and a science class learning water pumps. 

Reimagining how community members can utilize our parks and pools, allows us to continually improve, increase usability and create dynamic spaces throughout the seasons. 

Central Ohio is the fastest growing area in the state and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects we’ll have 3 million residents by the year 2050. What are two things Upper Arlington needs to do to maintain its position as one of the best places to live in Central Ohio? 
To remain a community of choice, Upper Arlington needs a redefined sense of place and a connected infrastructure plan. 

The exponential growth that Central Ohio is experiencing requires the development of a visionary master plan, not just an update to the existing one. A plan that focuses on redefining Upper Arlington’s sense of place and providing a renewed decision-making framework for a broad range of City issues like land use, economy, community facilities and services, housing, and sustainability. A plan intentional about retaining and attracting residents and visitors to the City. A plan that bridges our legacy with our future. 

The growth also requires connected infrastructure with a smart city ecosystem. Infrastructure that connects our residents to opportunities and each other, and allows motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to co-exist safely. Infrastructure that supports connectivity such as multi-modal transportation, smart traffic lights, smart parking, and provides people with more ways to get where they need to go. Infrastructure that can help us prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from natural and human-caused disasters - - such as flooding and power outages. Reimagining our connectedness is necessary to attract people and retain business growth while ensuring quality of life.

Here’s a fun question. We’re all musicians here at Pencilstorm and are excited about the return to live music. What band or performer are you most excited about seeing live again?
I am most excited to see Saint Jhn in concert again! I had a chance to see him in November 2019 at Newport Music Hall. It was an EPIC performance before he recorded Brown Skin Girl with Beyonce and a track for the remake of Space Jam: A New Legacy. I’m excited about his wild popularity but may no longer be able to afford a ticket!

Pencilstorm would like to thank Ukeme Awakessien Jeter for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Ukeme at her website: www.ukemeforua.com. Look for responses from school board candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

 Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

 

Brian Close for UA Council - Pencilstorm Interview

There are seven candidates running for four seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually throughout September and reposting all their answers together before the election. School Board candidates will appear in October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our sixth candidate, Brian Close, is featured below.

Brian Close, Upper Arlington City Council Candidate

Brian Close
www.CloseforUACouncil.com

What makes you qualified to have oversight of the $72 million city budget?
Serving on City Council for the past four years, I have an established track record of listening to our residents, focusing on the issues that matter most, and delivering a balanced budget that addresses those issues year-after-year. Oversight of our city’s budget not only requires that we stay focused on spending our resident’s tax dollars in the right areas, but also making sure we take advantage of the right type of development for our commercial areas in order to broaden our business base and increase revenues so that we can provide the types of services and amenities our residents expect without raising taxes.  It’s hard to overstate the amount of learning (especially about the city budget) that goes on in the first few years of serving on Council and I believe that my experience greatly benefits our residents. In addition, my educational background in finance (B.A. – Economics and Management) and law (J.D. and LL.M – Taxation) together with over fifteen years of experience providing strategic business and tax counsel give me the training and experience needed to understand and negotiate all the variables that go in to our city’s budget.  My firsthand experience and expertise together with my background and training most qualify me to serve on City Council. 

What steps do we need to take so that the new community center is the best it can be for all Upper Arlington citizens?
I was very happy that our residents supported the Community Center at Kingsdale and I am very proud to have been part of the city leadership that helped bring this project together. Fostering dialogue and collaboration are the cornerstones that led to voter approval of the Community Center, but now we must double down on these efforts.  First, we must provide significant outreach to our residents and get them involved in the design process.  A significant factor in approving MSA Sport for the Community Center’s design professional services contract was its community outreach plan.  Second, we must listen to our residents by conducting an extensive, open and transparent resident feedback process to ensure the end result meets and exceeds the expectations of the residents.  Finally, we as a Council need to provide careful oversight of the Community Center’s finances and produce a sound budget for funding the facility’s ongoing operations, programming and maintenance. It is up to us on City Council to ensure the Community Center reflects the values and needs of our community now and for generations to come.

Much work has been done over the past two decades to improve the financial well-being of our city. What are the next steps we need to take for our parks and pools as we continually improve?
As a frequent user of our park systems, this issue is near and dear to me.  I have three young children at Tremont Elementary School and Jones Middle School and I live directly across the street from Northam Park.  From after-dinner walks around the park, to football, softball, lacrosse, and baseball practices and games, we are heavy park users.   Even for those folks who aren’t heavy parks users, I believe investing in our parks is a prudent decision as we make our community attractive to potential homebuyers and businesses.  As an aging city, many of our parks and recreation equipment and infrastructure are ending their serviceable lives and need improvements.  Over my last 4 years on Council, we have focused on upgrading our playground equipment (Westover and Miller Park), updating our pools and related infrastructure (Devon and Reed Road Pools), and providing improved connectivity to our parks (Northam Road multi-use path).  But in order to take our parks and pools to the next level – in addition to the new Community Center – I believe we need to preserve and enhance the neighborhood feel of our existing parks and focus on drainage and turf management issues that continue to plague our parks. 

Central Ohio is the fastest growing area in the state and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects we’ll have 3 million residents by the year 2050. What are two things Upper Arlington needs to do to maintain its position as one of the best places to live in Central Ohio? 
First, we need to keep the city focused on the right type of development for our commercial areas and continue to work on sensible guidelines for our residential areas.  These are not easy issues and they invoke the most passion from our residents.  But a proactive development program that diversifies our business base and increases our tax revenues are necessary to fund the capital improvement projects (such as the Community Center) that will best position Upper Arlington in the future.  Since I took office, we have also continued to update our code to address city-wide and neighborhood specific issues, but we must continue to refine and update our code to help ease the transition for the inevitable updating of our housing stock.  Second, we need to stay focused on repairing, replacing and improving our aging infrastructure, roads and parks.  These, quite literally, are the bedrock of our community.  If we want to maintain our position as one of the best places to live, we need to keep our 10-year CIP updated and financed, and find ways expand the scope of these projects so that the character of our community properties is comparable and consistent with the unique character of our resident’s properties.

Here’s a fun question. We’re all musicians here at Pencilstorm and are excited about the return to live music. What band or performer are you most excited about seeing live again?
Not sure if this is cheating, but my answer is actually a festival: Comfest!  I have been fortunate to catch up with most of my favorite bands over the last year, but the absence of Comfest for the last two years has left a hole in my heart that can’t be filled with one-band shows.  My wife and I (and kids, but only Sunday mornings) love checking out the new local bands and always seem to come away with a new favorite (Doc Robinson being the last).  We are 9 months away from the next potential festival, but unless one of the other 7 Biblical plagues keeps us away, you will see me wondering around people-watching in the heat while being moderately overdressed in a collared shirt.

Pencilstorm would like to thank Brian Close for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Brian at his website: www.CloseforUACouncil.com. Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

 Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

 

Stacy McIntire for UA Council - Pencilstorm Interview

There are seven candidates running for four seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually throughout September and reposting all their answers together before the election. School Board candidates will appear in October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our fifth candidate, Stacy McIntire, is featured below.

Stacy McIntire, Upper Arlington City Council Candidate

Stacy McIntire
www.mcintireforua.com

What makes you qualified to have oversight of the $72 million city budget?
My education was anchored in business management. I studied Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and General Business, graduating from Miami University and earning my MBA from Xavier University. I spent nearly 20 years working with Fortune 500 companies and large healthcare systems to optimize performance within those organizations (including Deloitte Consulting, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cardinal Health, as well as many client organizations). I have been responsible for evaluating budgets, financially managing multi-million dollar projects, and spearheading efforts to optimize corporate efficiency by asking critical questions. Throughout my career, I have worked to understand key drivers, customer experience and related data to make recommendations to drive cost savings while keeping the organization’s vision and strategy on track. These professional experiences uniquely position me to take a thoughtful, thorough and constructive approach to the city budget as a member of City Council.

What steps do we need to take so that the new community center is the best it can be for all Upper Arlington citizens?
The citizens of Upper Arlington voted to approve the construction of a community center. City Council selected MSA Sport as a design firm due to their community engagement approach. As a member of City Council, I will ensure our residents have multiple opportunities to provide input throughout the design and build process. With my background in customer experience, I understand the importance of meaningful and collaborative engagement. I commit to continuing our existing communication efforts (mailings, social media updates, open meetings, etc.) while exploring new efforts to connect with residents where they are - in our libraries, in our parks, and at community places and events. I will prioritize the key needs and desires of our residents while balancing the fiscal expectations set forth by the Community Center Feasibility Task Force.

Much work has been done over the past two decades to improve the financial well-being of our city. What are the next steps we need to take for our parks and pools as we continually improve?
My two children, my husband, and I spend a lot of time in our city parks, and we know the parks are vital to community building as well as the quality of the community. As I talk with residents, I have consistently heard that residents want parks, fields, trails, and paths to be usable and well-maintained. Residents want improved weed control and mowing and are concerned about drainage at some of our parks. I will work to understand our needs and our city’s capabilities to address these issues efficiently. I also believe we have an opportunity to look at sustainability and preservation efforts within our parks. With recent structural updates and improvements to our three pools, we should focus on maintaining our pool systems while seeking resident feedback as to how the pools and recreational programming can be improved.

Central Ohio is the fastest growing area in the state and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects we’ll have 3 million residents by the year 2050. What are two things Upper Arlington needs to do to maintain its position as one of the best places to live in Central Ohio? 
Upper Arlington needs a clear vision for the future and to do so we need an updated plan for the City. The growth we have experienced, and that Central Ohio will experience, requires a thoughtful and resident-driven plan to ensure we determine how we experience the expected growth. The Master Plan was developed in 2001 and updated most recently in 2013. I will work to gather resident input in order to develop a plan that clearly guides priorities and decisions around development, growth, and infrastructure, and financial stability.

I want to ensure Upper Arlington is a welcoming community where all voices are heard. I believe governing this community will most effectively be done by listening to all residents to understand their needs and perspectives by asking the right questions and making the best decisions so anyone who lives, works, or visits Upper Arlington feels welcome.

Our chances of maintaining UA as ‘one of the best places to live’ would be improved by strengthening zoning regulations and making it more difficult to grant zoning variances. This should be undertaken with extended involvement with residents directly affected by new buildings and road modifications.

Here’s a fun question. We’re all musicians here at Pencilstorm and are excited about the return to live music. What band or performer are you most excited about seeing live again?
Oh, have I missed live music! My first taste back to live music was as General Chair of the 4th of July Committee this year with the band Conspiracy. Did they knock it out of the park (literally)! It was a perfect evening with live music celebrating Independence Day, our rich Arlington traditions under some spectacular fireworks.  

But after a year and a half of canceled concerts and refunded tickets, I would see just about any concert. It would be an honest tie between Bruno Mars or Chris Stapleton. Bruno Mars because he is an incredible entertainer with so much energy and Chris Stapleton to hear his voice and the stories he tells through his songs.  We can’t wait to get back! 

Pencilstorm would like to thank Stacy McIntire for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Stacy at her website: www.mcintireforua.com. Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

 Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

 

Kathy Adams for UA Council - Pencilstorm Interview

There are seven candidates running for four seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually throughout September and reposting all their answers together before the election. School Board candidates will appear in October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our fourth candidate, Kathy Adams, is featured below.

Kathy Adams, Upper Arlington City Council Candidate

Kathy Adams
https://kathyadamsforua.com/

What makes you qualified to have oversight of the $72 million city budget?
I work as a lawyer for the state of Ohio in the finance section of my office, where I represent clients with much larger budgets than the Upper Arlington city budget. I have worked for the state for over 15 years, and public service is so important to me that it is what I have chosen for my career.

I work on large construction projects and energy conservation performance contracts for my state clients, and I understand the financial implications of the decisions of public officials. I am a fiscal watchdog of state taxpayer funds, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

What steps do we need to take so that the new community center is the best it can be for all Upper Arlington citizens?
Continued communication and engagement with residents is key. I was supportive of the community center, and I did a lot of canvassing work in support of the community center ballot issue. I thought the city did a good job of communicating and engaging with residents for the ballot issue, and residents had a lot of great ideas. We need to continue that process as the project is developed.

I would like to see engagement with seniors, because I want to advocate for our seniors and I think there are so many opportunities for the community center to provide not just a space for social contact and programming for seniors, but also intergenerational opportunities and innovative health care options. Similar to the ballot initiative, the city should use different forms of communication for resident input, including information on the website, mail, information sessions, and meetings with community groups.

I have asked about the sustainability aspects of the project, and I understand the city will be pursuing LEED certification. We should engage in Eco-Charrettes (project stakeholder brainstorms) to develop community buy-in to sustainable design and operation of the community center. This is an amazing opportunity to create a space that merges sustainability and wellness, with innovative ideas. To this end, we should explore LEED certification and WELL certification.

Residents have expressed concerns about the cost of the community center, so the city should be very transparent about costs and any overruns. I review architect, consultant, and construction contracts for my job, so I will be interested to learn about the terms of those agreements.

Much work has been done over the past two decades to improve the financial well-being of our city. What are the next steps we need to take for our parks and pools as we continually improve?
I learned from the city horticulturist that Upper Arlington has over 160,000 square feet of gardens, including rain gardens at Sunny 95 park that are among the largest in central Ohio. I would love to explore more rain gardens and other sustainable uses of our park space. I attended a recent event at the Westover Park Butterfly Garden, and I would like to encourage more pollinator gardens.

I want to explore bioswales and permeable pavement and other ideas at our parks. I believe we can improve on the sustainability of our park spaces without having a negative impact on the financial well-being of our city.

Our pools are very popular, including with my own family. Given the recent renovation projects at Tremont Pool and Devon Pool, I would not anticipate major capital improvement projects in the near future. It would be nice to explore salt water pools instead of chlorine, but this may not be a realistic option.

Overall I think it is important to properly maintain our parks and pools, since they are important amenities that draw people to live here and stay here. I would be looking for innovative ways to recruit more lifeguards and find a way to potentially address the heating issue at Reed Road water park if it is still an issue.

Central Ohio is the fastest growing area in the state and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects we’ll have 3 million residents by the year 2050. What are two things Upper Arlington needs to do to maintain its position as one of the best places to live in Central Ohio? 
Upper Arlington has very little commercial space, and we need to be very strategic about how it is developed in order to attract new residents and be sustainable. We can leverage public-private partnerships, innovative solutions in conjunction with The Ohio State University, and explore business incubators and other creative ideas. I think there is a lot of opportunity to develop an Upper Arlington community brand that creates excitement. Forward thinking sustainability initiatives are just one example of a way to generate excitement.

I want to support local businesses to add character to our community, including women owned businesses. We should support restaurants and community socialization by bringing ideas like DORA (designated outdoor refreshment areas) to UA faster.

Housing is another major issue I am hoping to continue to work on. Accessible housing is a necessary part of a sustainable community. This involves a multi-faceted approach, since housing is such a nuanced issue.

Here’s a fun question. We’re all musicians here at Pencilstorm and are excited about the return to live music. What band or performer are you most excited about seeing live again?
Before COVID I enjoyed the free summer concert series downtown and in Upper Arlington, so even more than one performer I miss seeing free live music in downtown Columbus and in UA- with campaigning and canvassing, I didn’t have time to go to any concerts this summer! I love community events, and supporting the arts. I am most excited to see MojoFlo and Amber Knicole doing aerial performances!

Pencilstorm would like to thank Kathy Adams for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Kathy at her website: https://kathyadamsforua.com/. Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

 Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

 

Andrej Rotter for UA Council - Pencilstorm Interview

There are seven candidates running for four seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually throughout September and reposting all their answers together before the election. School Board candidates will appear in October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our third candidate, Andrej Rotter, is featured below.

Andrej Rotter, Upper Arlington City Council Candidate

Andrej Rotter
www.voterotter.com

What makes you qualified to have oversight of the $72 million city budget?
During my 40 years as a university scientist/educator, I managed an active research program with a budget of several million dollars. I was also the chairman of a National Institutes of Mental Health research grant committee which prioritized funding of millions of dollars for research in brain disorders including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and depression. Fortunately, no single person has control over city expenditures. Oversight of UA funds is conducted by all City Councilors and city staff led by the Finance Director.

What steps do we need to take so that the new community center is the best it can be for all Upper Arlington citizens?
Planning for the new community center should include a wide range of input by residents representing the different segments of Upper Arlington’s population, including those who were opposed to its construction. The planning committee should examine similar centers in equivalent communities and make recommendations based on their findings. The planning process should be transparent, and the community should be informed frequently of its progress.

Much work has been done over the past two decades to improve the financial well-being of our city. What are the next steps we need to take for our parks and pools as we continually improve?
Our parks and pools are highly appreciated assets treasured by all residents. They contribute substantially to the sense of physical and psychological well being of our community. Continuing financial support for the improvement and maintenance of parks and pools is therefore of utmost importance. The Parks and Recreation department should, in addition to its current activities, engage in an aggressive fundraising campaign in support of the city’s recreational infrastructure.

Central Ohio is the fastest growing area in the state and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects we’ll have 3 million residents by the year 2050. What are two things Upper Arlington needs to do to maintain its position as one of the best places to live in Central Ohio? 
The two priorities are interrelated. The first priority is to create and maintain a sustainable community by improving access to renewable energy, creating and maintaining our green space, improving our recycling capability, and increased bike and pedestrian access to shopping, schools and medical facilities. The second priority is to maintain the residential character of the city by preventing UA from becoming a throughway for traffic traveling from Columbus to outlying suburbs. This could be achieved, in part, by limiting road capacity by lane reduction, speed restrictions and construction of traffic calming road features. 

Our chances of maintaining UA as ‘one of the best places to live’ would be improved by strengthening zoning regulations and making it more difficult to grant zoning variances. This should be undertaken with extended involvement with residents directly affected by new buildings and road modifications.

Here’s a fun question. We’re all musicians here at Pencilstorm and are excited about the return to live music. What band or performer are you most excited about seeing live again?
My greatest wish would be to see Pink Floyd again. Alas, they "faded" away in 1994 after "The Division Bell" tour (with a stop at the ‘Shoe’) and Barrett and Wright are no longer with us. However, Roger Waters, the lead behind "The Dark Side of the Moon", will be touring again and I hope to make it to his performance in Cincinnati in August 2022!

Pencilstorm would like to thank Andrej Rotter for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Andrej at his website: www.voterotter.com.  Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

 Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.

 

Michele Hoyle for UA Council - Pencilstorm Interview

There are seven candidates running for four seats on Upper Arlington City Council.  Pencilstorm asked each of the candidates five specific questions centered around issues that impacted Upper Arlington residents and questions that were being raised by fellow voters.  Pencilstorm will be posting their complete and unedited answers individually throughout September and reposting all their answers together before the election. School Board candidates will appear in October. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our second candidate, Michele Montavon Hoyle, is featured below.

Michele Montavon Hoyle, Upper Arlington City Council Candidate

Michele Montavon Hoyle
www.Hoyle4UA.com

What makes you qualified to have oversight of the $72 million city budget?
My over thirty years’ experience preparing and reviewing  municipal budgets and working with all aspects of city finances make me uniquely qualified among all the candidates to provide the leadership needed to guide our city’s operating budget as well as our substantial and growing capital improvements program and bond portfolio.

What steps do we need to take so that the new community center is the best it can be for all Upper Arlington citizens?
The most important steps moving forward are those that continue the community’s involvement and engagement in the design of both the physical facility and the programs that will be offered.  The footprint will create some challenges that will be best met by ongoing communication between our residents and the professionals who will translate those conversations into the best possible facility to meet the needs of all members of the community.

Much work has been done over the past two decades to improve the financial well-being of our city. What are the next steps we need to take for our parks and pools as we continually improve?
We have invested and continue to invest in our city parks and pools, as our recreation facilities are highly prized by our residents and a high priority to me and all members of the current City Council.  The many demands placed on our relatively limited park space require careful management of the turf and proactive maintenance of the facilities at all of our parks and pools.  I personally would like us to provide more amenities like year-round restrooms to encourage use all year.  I’d also like to look at creative ways to staff our pools (like older adult lifeguards – who needs David Hasselhoff?) to extend the outdoor swimming season.

Central Ohio is the fastest growing area in the state and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects we’ll have 3 million residents by the year 2050. What are two things Upper Arlington needs to do to maintain its position as one of the best places to live in Central Ohio? 
Greater connectivity and walkability, and access to alternative forms of transportation. As Upper Arlington redevelops, we are seeing higher density developments that have exposed potential issues with traffic and parking in several areas of the city.  With these concerns comes heightened interest in transportation alternatives to personal vehicles, and in improved walkability and connectivity throughout UA and to other parts of our expanding metro area. To address connectivity and walkability,  this City Council has added funding to encourage neighborhood-initiated sidewalk projects and has incorporated connections to schools and parks in our capital improvements program.  A recent survey of seniors in our community also has indicated a need for transportation alternatives when driving is no longer an option.  Collectively these pressures will require work with our existing mass transit provider, COTA, to look at current routes to determine if other options provide better service, along with ways to extend the current network using  closed loop circulators and/or smaller or alternative vehicles.

Here’s a fun question. We’re all musicians here at Pencilstorm and are excited about the return to live music. What band or performer are you most excited about seeing live again?
I am an eclectic music lover, so I look forward to live music in general.  I love musical theater and will see “Dear Evan Hanson” , “Hadestown” and “Hamilton” (for the third time) as soon as local tours come to Columbus.  I also love the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and can’t wait to hear Byron Stripling play his trumpet and Bobby Floyd on the B3!

Pencilstorm would like to thank Michele Montavon Hoyle for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Michele at her website: www.Hoyle4UA.com.  Look for responses from future candidates in the coming days. Pencilstorm is an independent news source and does not endorse any individual candidate.

Local UA Politics coverage provided by Wal Ozello. You can email him at Pencilstormstory@gmail.com or try to catch him at Colin's Coffee. 

 Check out coverage of all the candidates we've received responses from by clicking here.