Pencilstorm Interview: Michaela Burriss for UA Council

There are eight 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 October and reposting all their answers together in the first week of November. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our fifth candidate, Michaela Burriss, is featured below.

Michaela Burriss
www.citizensforburriss.com

If the election were today, would you vote for or against the school levy and why?
Absolutely yes. The strength of the UA Schools was the difference between our family choosing this community over other inner-ring suburbs like Grandview or Bexley. UA's location and school system continue to be our main attractors. As first time homeowners, we want our investment to be protected. The value of our home is interwoven with the strength of the schools.

As a UAHS Volunteer Asst. Coach, I spend quite a bit of time in our school facilities. They're inadequate. In fact, I've even experienced triggering responses around the leaking roofs and flooded basements. It reminded me of my low-income and adverse childhood. There shouldn't be any question about the need to mend our buildings.

There is, however, a valuable conversation to have about how we got here and how we maintain quality facilities moving forward. Additionally, the cost of the levy is significant enough that we will all feel it, but most especially within our retiree community who is on fixed incomes. We have to be sensitive of tax increases and how they may force empty nesters out of UA. For City Council, this means being even more fiscally responsible and efficient with dollars, something I intend to do.

What qualifies you to be on Upper Arlington City Council?
Obtaining a BA in Political Science Pre-Law helped prepare me for a career I've now spent, in it's entirety, within or intersecting with government. As a Constituent Services Liaison for the U.S. Senate, I helped Ohioans troubleshoot bureaucracy with federal agencies, while intaking opinions on issues of top importance. Prior to that, I externed with the Ohio Senate and Columbus City Attorney's office.

Currently I am an attorney working for a non-profit that helps small business owners with free education on resources to start and grow a business. I have the expertise and excitement for the next era of economic and residential development. One that will help seniors age in place, and attract the next wave of homeowners. Ensuring our infrastructure is not only up to date, but innovative.

Locally, I serve on the Leadership UA Board of Directors and as a volunteer UAHS coach. I have the passion, patience and experience needed for a community with high expectations and genuine interest in weighing-in on the future of Upper Arlington.

If you had a magic wand and an unlimited budget, what infrastructure project you would implement?
Ironically, budget wouldn't be the major constraint in implementation of this "magic wand" concept. While canvassing for this race, I have been completely shocked by the frequency in which people mention wanting a community center here in UA. This isn't exclusive to one generation with young families. I've heard it in every neighborhood from every demographic. It would be disingenuous of me to ignore the hundreds of residents that have brought this to my attention. With support from the community, I would love to update the Senior Center and explore how a community center could be brought to UA. The major challenge quite frankly would be physical space.

In that same vein, universal sidewalks and bike lanes would make me so happy! If UA could play a role in a regional mass transit or light rail plan, I would also be delighted. With the increasing population and congestion of cars, our proximity to downtown and OSU where many residents work is losing its convenience. 5-10 minute drives have quickly become 20.  Walkable communities and mass transit are more affordable, decrease congestion/traffic, while helping the environment and encouraging public health. There are so many economic, environmental, and health reasons to invest in alternative transportation and walkability.

Looking around Central Ohio, give an example of a community you think is doing it right and one that’s doing it wrong. What could Upper Arlington could learn from both? 
Bexley, like many other communities in Central Ohio, allows for public comment on non-agenda issues during Council meetings. Having an opportunity to speak on topics that are important to you as a resident, opposed to guided by the City/Council, can go a long way toward increasingly accessibility. More importantly, because it is during an official meeting, it becomes a part of the public record. This too can go a long way in holding Council accountable for inaction. As a candidate for Upper Arlington City Council, I've proposed amending our agenda to bring this to our residents. It's a great tool that allows our residents to drive ideas and help our community continue to prosper.

Columbus has seen a lot of change lately. Columbus/Central Ohio has grown to the 14th largest city in the country and 2nd largest in the Midwest.  MORPC anticipates the regional population will increase by 500,000 in the next 35 years. Developers are quickly changing the look and feel of downtown, gentrifying long time residents and driving up living costs. As Upper Arlington grows and considers who we want to be in the next 50 years, we should preserve what makes us unique and special: a suburban lifestyle close to downtown. I'm a proponent of smart residential and commercial development that protects our character. I'll welcome change that doesn't unnecessarily put us in an "arms race" with the rest of the region that is changing very hastily.

At Pencilstorm, we all have a love of music. In that vein, what's your favorite album and why?
No way I could ever pick a favorite album. I'm such a fan of music! The most recent one I downloaded was Ke$ha Rainbow. I listen to a ton of EDM/Dance music. DJ's dont necessarily produce a ton of original content but rather mix songs

Pencilstorm would like to thank Michaela Burriss for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Michaela at her website: www.citizensforburriss.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.

 

 

Pencilstorm Interview: Michele Hoyle for UA Council

There are eight 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 October and reposting all their answers together in the first week of November. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our fourth candidate, Michele Hoyle, is featured below.

Michele Hoyle
http://www.hoyleforua.com/

If the election were today, would you vote for or against the school levy and why?
For it  – our schools are our crown jewel, and whether we have children In the schools or- like me, have graduates - we need to invest in the future of our City by supporting our schools.   The schools underwent an extensive process over two years, engaging citizens all along the way to hear our input and solicit our opinions, so we all have had the opportunity to be as educated as possible about the levy.  The transparency of this process should serve as a model for community engagement.  I’m aware that the ask is pretty big – I had an older gentleman share with me that he may have to sell his home and move if the levy passes – and I understand that in some cases support of the levy may not be based on support of the schools but on financial realities.   But we all need to remember - a major reason why families are willing to pay for a home in UA is for the schools, so this investment also serves to protect the value of that which is our largest asset  for most of us – our homes. 

What qualifies you to be on Upper Arlington City Council?
My job for over 30 years was to develop balanced operating and capital budgets for presentation to City Councils in the Cities of Dublin and Columbus; therefore, I am well versed in all aspects of City government ranging from police and fire protection to street repair; from snow removal to recreation and parks.  Serving on UA’s City Council will allow me to use financial skills honed over those years to provide needed and valuable expertise to my own community.  Along with my professional credentials, I have a lengthy history of community service ranging from the Cultural Arts Commission to the Citizens’ Financial Review Task Force.  I believe we need a City Council that values our past, celebrates what we have become, and has a vision for what we can be in our second century. A third generation resident of UA, I am the only candidate who will bring a unique combination of deep community roots, extensive municipal finance experience, and community service to City Council.

If you had a magic wand and an unlimited budget, what infrastructure project you would implement?
In my work experience,  the two words “unlimited” and “budget” constitute an oxymoron.  That said, with unlimited resources, and assuming as per City Council ordinance the people have voted in favor, I would bring a community center to UA.  A community like ours deserves to have a community gathering place, as well as a place to encourage health and wellness. An inter-generational community center would provide residents of all ages with a place to meet and socialize.  In  our climate, our parks, while heavily used, are limited by weather for several months of the year.  A community center would allow residents to remain active during inclement weather months.  In addition, a lot of activities that by necessity go outside of UA to find facilities – such as swimming – would instead have a facility within the community. 

Looking around Central Ohio, give an example of a community you think is doing it right and one that’s doing it wrong. What could Upper Arlington could learn from both? 
Based on my experience, I have to say that Dublin does a lot of things well.   Dublin has a lot of advantages, including many businesses that generate substantial income tax revenues and open space in which to grow.  Specifically, though, I would like to bring the semi-annual cost of services analysis Dublin performs to UA; this process provides valuable quantitative data from which decisions as to funds allocated to specific programs and services can be made.  As to not so well – Columbus does not handle snow well at all.  They could in fact learn from UA.

At Pencilstorm, we all have a love of music. In that vein, what's your favorite album and why?
My favorite genres are jazz and Broadway musicals, but my playlists span a wide variety from Beyonce to U2.  Right now my most-played play list is heavy with music from Hamilton.  It reflects an expansive range of music types from rap and hip-hop to jazz to ballads, as well as telling a story that’s a powerful reminder of how we became the nation we are.

Pencilstorm would like to thank Michele Hoyle for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Michele at her website: http://www.hoyleforua.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.

 

 

Pencilstorm Interview: Francis "Kip" Greenhill for UA Council

There are eight 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 October and reposting all their answers together in the first week of November. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our third candidate, Francis "Kip" Greenhill, is featured below. Note: while he's commonly known by his nickname, Kip, he will be listed on the ballot at Francis Greenhill.

Francis "Kip" Greenhill
http://greenhillforcitycouncil.com/

If the election were today, would you vote for or against the school levy and why?
I enthusiastically support the school tax levy.  I served as the principal at Upper Arlington High School for 17 years, and I have first hand knowledge of the inadequacies of the current building.  The list of the building's shortcomings is lengthy, but two of the most notable include:

A. Science laboratories that are small, which means that fewer students can be scheduled into the labs each period.  This results in a need for more sections of science being offered which means more teachers and greater cost to the district.
B. One of the most effective teaching strategies is for students to work in groups to discuss what they have read or been taught.  Many of the classrooms are so small there is not room for students to get out of their seats and move around to form discussion groups.

Any visitor to our schools will notice the shortcomings of our facilities.  I firmly believe in a quote from the Shaker Heights School District near Cleveland, "a community is known by the schools it keeps."  Upper Arlington is a great and special community, and we need to make sure our schools hold to that standard.

What qualifies you to be on Upper Arlington City Council?
Over the past ten years or so, Upper Arlington has become increasingly divided over numerous issues.  I believe I am qualified to serve on Council because I have a track record of bringing people together, finding common ground to form a vision, and then working with all of the stakeholders to implement the vision.  For example, when I became principal of UAHS in 1995, "Columbus Monthly" in their ranking of all of the central Ohio high schools, stated that the school was good, but was not living up to its potential.  We pulled teachers, students and parents, in sometimes contentious meetings, to eventually develop a consensus around a vision for the school.  All major decisions were then based upon that vision, but the creation of the vision eventually unified the stakeholders.  It was hard work, but the result was five years later, "Columbus Monthly" named UAHS the top school in all of central Ohio and said that it "set the gold standard for other schools."  In addition, "US News" and "Newsweek" rated the school as one of the top high schools in America.  I have the experience to bring unity to UA in a similar fashion.

If you had a magic wand and an unlimited budget, what infrastructure project you would implement?
If money was not an issue, I first would update all of our roadways, water lines, and sewers because those are primary responsibilities of the city to ensure the health and safety of all residents.  I would then focus on implementing infrastructure that promotes more healthy and active living, and that also helps to protect our environment and conserve our natural resources.  I would make our city streets and sidewalks more accommodating and safer for all generations to move about the city using fewer cars.  We would have travel ways to go in all directions and to all possible destinations in our city by bike, by running or walking, or by roller blading.  These travel routes would be well lighted for safety by using sustainable energy sources such as solar energy.  Eventually, I would like to see rental stations for bicycles (which we are currently implementing) and driverless cars that would reduce the number of cars in the city and reduce the amount of land devoted to parking.  We would be a model city of healthy living by encouraging more physical activity and we would also reduce our consumption of precious resources.

Looking around Central Ohio, give an example of a community you think is doing it right and one that’s doing it wrong. What could Upper Arlington could learn from both? 
Buckeye Lake is clearly a community that is doing many things right.  When they were faced with a crisis in the closing of the lake for recreational purposes because of a likely break in their dam, the community came together.  Buckeye Lake has great socio-economic diversity, but they all joined together in community wide discussions to develop a consensus for a vision of what they wanted their community to become.  They got their residents to sign their names in support of their vision.  They are now in the process of working with their county government, the state of Ohio, and private developers to implement their community vision.  Upper Arlington should be doing this same type of consensus building to create a vision for the future, to tap into public and private funding sources, and to bring our community together behind a common vision.

I do not have a particular community in mind that is not doing the right things, but I have seen numerous school districts that have taken a sense of entitlement in regards to asking for additional funding.  The Upper Arlington School Board and their superintendent,  have done extensive community outreach to try to develop a vision for the future of the district, and the types of buildings that will be required to support learning in the future.  Instead of a sense of entitlement that money is needed to keep pace with inflation, UA Schools are giving all interested community members the opportunity to have a stake in the schools' future, what the schools will look like, and how our students are educated.  Schools across the state can look to UA in how to engage a community before asking for tax increases.

At Pencilstorm, we all have a love of music. In that vein, what's your favorite album and why?
My favorite all time album would be Motown 1's, which is a compilation of Motown artists' number one songs.  I grew up in Toledo, Ohio, less than an hour from Detroit during the tumultuous 60s.  My favorite radio station was CKLW in Windsor, Ontario, which featured Motown music, and I listened every day to such great stars as The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye to name just a few.  The Motown artists, and their producer Berry Gordy, were pioneers in music and in shining the spot light on African American talent.  While the country, and Detroit in particular, were torn by race riots during this time period, Motown helped integrate America by bringing great music into the homes of African Americans and whites, and the music helped bring great talent out of the shadows of prejudice.  I still love the music and admire what it did for our country.

Pencilstorm would like to thank Francis "Kip" Greenhill for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Kip at his website: http://greenhillforcitycouncil.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.

 

 

Pencilstorm Interview: Lowell Toms for UA Council

There are eight 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 October and reposting all their answers together in the first week of November. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our second candidate, Lowell Toms, is featured below.

Lowell Toms
https://toms4ua.entrydns.org

If the election were today, would you vote for or against the school levy and why?
Yes.

Simply put, UA is pretty much UA schools. Yes, UA is centrally located in the city, has an outstanding police and fire force and some good parks, but but when asking people why they moved to UA, the talk almost always gravitates to the schools. That said, the school ballot issue consists of two separate parts, being operating funds and new building funds. The school board combined these issues and they now say there is no backup plan for failure to pass - it’s all or nothing. A transparent government that trusts voters would have broken this into two ballot issues.

What qualifies you to be on Upper Arlington City Council?
Nothing.

I’m a retired engineer (P.E, State of Ohio) with an MBA and 42 years of work experience in the US Navy, General Electric, US Department of State (10 years overseas), and at the Ohio State University, but are those qualifications for UA Council? I am not a politician, but I would like to think that I am instead an agent of change, being an outsider looking inward at politics through a engineer’s eyes. If elected, I promise to attempt to change the culture of UA Council from the present court room with distant personalities sitting on a dais literally looking down upon the citizenry that has the audacity to occasionally speak out, to a culture of open venues, round tables, open floor debate, and slowing things down to find maximum consensus.

If you had a magic wand and an unlimited budget, what infrastructure project you would implement?
A community center.

With the recent .5% tax increase, infrastructure upgrade is the primary (and promised) concern. There are literally 100 year old pipes in the ground that need to be replaced, along with sewers, lights, and the continual task of street repair. But, once infrastructure has been tamed, it sure would be nice to have a grand community center. Exercise classes, facilities for diverse meeting groups, art instruction and display, technical learning and creation centers (idea centers), winter time play spaces for children, etc. Presently, the library attempts to do a few of these tasks, but a dedicated community center would be a project that would hopefully bring residents together and enhance community life.

Looking around Central Ohio, give an example of a community you think is doing it right and one that’s doing it wrong. What could Upper Arlington could learn from both? 
Clintonville.

Clintonville is an odd and fascinating beast. It is a Columbus community that has kept its own, very strong, identity with High Street meandering through the center generating a myriad of shops and forming the backbone for a “walking” community. People walk around, go to interesting restaurants and grocery stores, and get to know their neighbors that sit on the porches that only existed in pre-war houses. I have always wondered what UA could do to emulate the community atmosphere that permeates Clintonville. Certainly High Street is a prime element of the town, but the same street wanders through other neighborhoods and the result is not the same, so there is something else. I don’t know what it is, but the most simplistic thing UA can learn from Clintonville is the power of sidewalks. There are still lots of streets in UA without sidewalks, and these should be part of the ‘.5%’ tax for infrastructure upgrade, and there should be no cost to the homeowner. It simply makes community walking easier while making it safer for children.

Not. Going. There.

I may not be a politician, but I will not point out a “community that is doing it wrong.” We all know some communities that are troubled. In many cases they simply do not have the resources left after a large business closure to turn things around. Sometimes it’s crime (with roots in economic decline). In other cases it’s housing decline, and as previously mentioned we have a strong school system that attracts families with resources. There is a deeper philosophical discussion about the inherent unfairness of Ohio school financing ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeRolph_v._State ), and you must keep in mind that UA is benefiting from this unfortunate state of affairs.

At Pencilstorm, we all have a love of music. In that vein, what's your favorite album and why?
I’m not trying to be highbrow, but in my mind, the best music is that which plays on emotions, and certainly everyone is different, especially on that plane, but nothing hits my emotions as hard as the Bach Cantatas. The best at capturing Bach, in my humble opinion, is John Eliot Gardiner. Bach was prolific, and Gardiner has attempted to capture a vast part of his repertoire, but one of my favorites is:

Bach: Cantatas 10: Bwv 5 48 56 79 80 90 & 192
J.S. Bach (Composer), John Eliot Gardiner (Conductor)

Pencilstorm would like to thank Lowell Toms for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Lowell at his website: https://toms4ua.entrydns.org. 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.

 

 

Hosea's Burden - by Pete Vogel

I was driving behind our bandleader, Hosea, en route to the after party.  He was in his candy-apple-red Toyota; I was in my taxi-yellow Ford.  We had just played an awesome gig at Ruby Tuesday and were driving to the sax player’s house to celebrate.  It was around 2:30 am and we were still pumped from the show.  The gig was a packed house: we played well and the crowd loved us.  Hosea did an extended bass solo that night and nailed every note.  He was especially jazzed after the show; people were clapping and hollering during his solo and everyone had a magical night.

We were driving south on Cleveland Avenue—our adrenaline still racing from the gig.  He was going a little fast—about 10 miles over the speed limit—and I wasn’t sure if he was showing off or just excited to get to Vinny’s house.  I kept my pace with him, but he was ahead of me by a quarter mile or so. Unfortunately a cop spotted him and pulled him over.  I wasn’t sure what to do—I’d never been to Vinny’s before—so I pulled over, too.  My car was directly behind the cop’s—about twenty feet or so.  

The cop quickly assessed the situation: black man driving fast in a nice sports car.  He didn’t get out of the squad car; instead he flashed a spotlight on Hosea.  My heart began to race.  Then the cop called for backup.  Within a few minutes another cop car came screaming to the scene.  The spotlight was kept on Hosea the entire time; I thought it was an overreaction since he was only going 10 miles over the limit.  The second cop car pulled up; I rolled down my window and got the cop’s attention to let him know that Hosea was my friend, we just finished a gig and were headed to a party.  The cop told me to shut up.  

Both cops exited their vehicles and approached Hosea, their guns drawn.  They pulled open the driver-side door and told him to get out of the car.  I screamed out but he couldn’t hear me—the cops were giving him a verbal lashing.  “Is this your car?!  Why are you driving so fast?!?!  Where are you going?  Where’s your license?  Where’s your registration?!”  I kept shouting: “He did nothing wrong!  We’re going to a party!” but they ignored me.  Had I been more courageous I would’ve left my car, approached the cops and told them what happened.  But I was frozen with fear.

Through the side-view mirror I could see Hosea’s face: he had an expression of calm resignation.  I could tell this wasn’t his first rodeo: he had an almost zen-like quality to him, even though two guns were pointed at his head.  The wave he’d been riding since the show had completely ebbed to frustration and gloom.  An hour before he was a rock star—now he was treated like a thief or a thug.  And all for one reason: a black man was driving fast in a nice sports car.

One of the cops kept his gun fixed on Hosea while the other retrieved his license and returned to his squad car to run his credentials.  My heart was beating so hard I could feel it throbbing in my temples.  The spotlight was firmly on him—two blue flashes of police lightbars creating ominous shadows throughout the deserted street.  Hosea stood there in quiet solemnity as he waited for the cop to determine his fate.  I called out to him: “Hosea!  Are you okay?”

He responded nonchalantly: “Yeah…it’s cool, man.”  

Even though Hosea and I are situated five-feet apart onstage, we actually live in different universes.  I didn’t realize that until now.  His treatment by the cops opened my eyes to the injustice of his heritage.  I thought I knew him well, but after witnessing this I realized how little I knew or understood.  My Italian/German heritage provided me great privileges that I took for granted; his Negro heritage made him the target of constant judgment and fear, probably dating back to adolescence.  His facial expression said it all—it was a look I will never forget.  During the interrogation, as my eyes searched his, I could almost read his thoughts: “This is what it means to be a black man in America.  And now you know.”  It was a secret I now understood.

I will never forget that night, nor will I ever forget the expression on his face.  I look at every minority a little different now, knowing there are many things that white people will never understand about the burdens they bear in silence.  They have my sympathy, my respect and my prayers.  Peace.


Hosea L. Hooks III is the bandleader of State of Mind, a jazz/funk group that plays throughout Columbus.  Pete Vogel is a former member of the band.

Hosea Hooks talks about his concept STATE OF MIND: a band (and production company) that has been a part of the Columbus, Ohio music scene for over 25 years. This video highlights some recent performances at Columbus Commons and Zanzibar Bar in Olde Town East.

Pencilstorm Interview: Jim Lynch for UA Council

There are eight 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 October and reposting all their answers together in the first week of November. Answers will be posted in order they're received. Our first candidate, Jim Lynch, is featured below.

Jim Lynch
www.Lynch4UA.com

If the election were today, would you vote for or against the school levy and why?
I’m a home-grown product of UA schools, and with two kids now at Tremont Elementary, my wife and I have made the decision to support the levy. But, we also understand the concerns of others in Upper Arlington – including those without school-age children – and respect their decisions.

What qualifies you to be on Upper Arlington City Council?
I believe I can add significant value to City Council with my life-long knowledge of Upper Arlington, its people, traditions and values.  I want to use my 25 years of public policy communications experience – in senior roles with The Ohio State University, Ohio Office of Budget & Management, and state government – to help UA improve the ways it speaks and listens to residents about key issues impacting our neighborhoods and quality of life.

If you had a magic wand and an unlimited budget, what infrastructure project you would implement?
I would upgrade our public green spaces: for recreation, health and wellness, and the simple enjoyment of nature.

Looking around Central Ohio, give an example of a community you think is doing it right and one that’s doing it wrong. What could Upper Arlington could learn from both? 
Clintonville does a great job of fostering a strong sense of community and inclusiveness.  Upper Arlington does that as well, but we can always do more to benefit from new ideas and more diverse perspectives.

Communities that struggle are those that give in to endless sprawl.  That may not be a problem for land-locked Upper Arlington, but we need to work with businesses to foster smart, responsible economic development that’s sensitive to our neighborhoods and existing business community.

At Pencilstorm, we all have a love of music. In that vein, what's your favorite album and why?
Watershed’s “Brick and Mortar.”  Duh!

Pencilstorm would like to thank Jim Lynch for taking the time to answer our questions.  Learn more about Jim at his website: www.Lynch4UA.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.