(Page 1 of 2) Should you be elected, what are three specific areas youd like to change, address, improve or further

research, and how specifically would you go about it?

(1.)

If elected as Madison Township Trustee, I would like to see the relationship improve between Madison Township government and Madison Village government. Over the last few years, there has been poor communication and cooperation between the two governmental entities. Both entities must do a better job of working together for the good of the entire community. When I was Madison Township Administrator in the 1980s , the two Madison governments worked much closer and harmoniously together than they do today. Madison is not so big that the two governments cannot work together once again as we did in the 1980s. A sharing of ideas, resources and working together to make the community of Madison function as one with common goals is extremely important if Madison is to move forward and prosper. I believe I have an excellent understanding of the issues that, at times, separate these two governmental bodies. We need to find consensus on many issues, and I believe I am the person with the governmental experience to start a new spirit of cooperation. One area in particular that we can discuss and work together on is the formation of a Madison Police District. Back in 1971 township and village leaders sat down and formed the Madison Fire District. They did that because both communities were struggling to finance their individual fire departments. The community was in a big growth spurt at that time, and it made sense to consolidate the Madison Township Fire Department with the Madison Village Fire Department. The same thing is true today regarding the two separate Police Departments. Both departments struggle to pass police levies. Taxpayers today are looking at government to find ways to consolidate efforts and save money. Madison Village and Madison Township have a combined population of 18,885 people. One police department serving both communities makes a lot of sense and should be explored further. The time is right to look into the possibility of creating a police district for the betterment of all of Madison.

(2.)

Another area of vital importance that I want to address if elected as a Madison Township Trustee is the expansion of much needed sanitary sewers along the Route 20 (North Ridge Rd) business corridor. There is more than enough land already zoned for commercial business and light manufacturing along this corridor. However, there are little, if no, sanitary sewers to support business development along the Route 20 corridor. If we are to improve the community of Madison and boost its tax base, we must have some economic development. For too many years, individuals have been elected to office in Madison Township, including my opponent, who have purposely sat on their hands and done nothing to move Madison Township forward economically. Someone needs to look to the future for the good of the entire community of Madison, and not worry about the next election. I am not afraid to take on this challenge and have extensive experience in water and sanitary sewer improvement projects. During my 20 years as Lake County Administrator, I had direct oversight with the Lake County Department of Utilities Engineering Division. I met with the Engineering Division on a regular monthly basis discussing the various water and sewer projects they were working on across Lake County. I have a very good understanding of what it takes to move those infrastructure projects forward and the pitfalls that can periodically come up. Because of my knowledge of the Madison community, I was regularly consulted with and involved in water and sanitary sewer projects that affected Madison Township and Madison Village. If elected as Township Trustee, I will have ongoing dialogue with the engineering staff I worked with in the Utilities Department. I know who to talk with, and I understand the procedures it takes to make these infrastructure projects come to life. I will work closely once again with the Utilities Department, as I did as County Administrator, to find ways to make these much-needed projects come to life.

(3.)

The last area I believe needs to be looked at more closely is how the township prioritizes its road repaving and drainage improvement projects. This is an area I have a great deal of experience in and understand well. I started my career in local government back in 1974 working as a laborer in the Lake County Road Department. When I became Administrator of Madison Township in 1982, I was also named the Road Superintendent in charge of the township s 51 miles of roadway. When I took over in 1982, the township road system was in a deplorable state. There was no road levy money at that time nor a license plate tax to bolster a very weak Road and Bridge fund. It wasnt until May of 1985 when, after much hard work and some rather eye-opening drastic measures, the public passed the first road levy in the history of Madison Township. Those road levy dollars, along with the additional five

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dollar license plate tax approved by the Ohio State Legislature in the late 1980s, allowed Madison Township to pave streets with asphalt and address long time drainage problems. Today, the Township Trustees have taken a backward in time approach to road and drainage improvements that I believe are wrong. They are now taking streets that were once smooth asphalt paved streets and turning them back into rough tar & chip streets. When you ask them why, they say, It is because we can pave more streets with tar and chip than with asphalt. I wont argue that point, as tar and chip paving is less expensive than asphalt paving. However, the quality of the job is very poor and it detracts from the overall look and value of a neighborhood. Tar and chip paving is for country roads not urban neighborhood streets. In neighborhoods with concrete curbs and curbside catch basins, the township has taken once nice asphalt streets and turned them into very rough tar and chip streets. I have seen this done on numerous Madison Township streets and still cant believe they did it. When we passed the road levy in 1985, we promised the residents better roads than they are getting today in 2013. The township is going backward in this area, and it needs to stop. As for drainage improvement projects, the trustees are doing slightly better in this area. I do not take exception to the drainage projects they have done, other than I believe the high costs of the projects takes valuable dollars away from road paving improvements. If elected, I would do an in-depth analysis of the proposed drainage projects and prioritize the spending at a level that makes more sense. Drainage issues are a big problem in Madison Township. I would like to see the Township Trustees adopt a long term comprehensive drainage plan. This plan would prioritize, on a yearly basis, those areas of the township that need attention.

Whether for past accomplishments or future goals, why should voters elect you?
The residents of Madison Township and Madison Village need to look at my extensive experience in local government. I have over 35 years of full time experience in county and township government. The residents I talk with in Madison are tired of the townships lack of leadership. They want the community to move into the 21st century. In 1974, immediately out of high school, I started working as a road department laborer working for the Lake County Engineers Department. In 1982, I became Administrator of Madison Township and, in 1989, appointed the Lake County Administrator until I retired on November 1, 2009. I started my career working at one of the lowest level jobs in local government and worked my way up the ladder. I can relate well to the person working in the trenches or with the executive in the board room. I have a thorough understanding of how local government functions and what it takes to accomplish goals and find consensus among people. I have a long track record and reputation for getting things done, be it a road improvement project, new building construction/renovation, street lighting district, public safety improvements or new water and sewer lines. I have been directly involved hands on in making the above-mentioned projects happen. I have great respect for what has made the Madison community the wonderful place it is. However, I believe Madison needs leaders who look to the future with vision and fresh new ideas. One of my opponents in this election loves to tout his mantra Townships Forever. He has been a trustee for 23 years and refuses to see that our township needs a healthy balance between agriculture and business. He has held our community back, leaving Madison Township stagnant because of his lack of leadership. Madison needs to develop a strong business and light manufacturing base to help take some of the tax burden off of the homeowners. Today, we have a weak and sluggish economy. There are many families in Madison who live paycheck to paycheck. These families need whatever tax relief we can offer them. Developing a strong and sustainable business/light manufacturing tax base will not only help these struggling families, it will also help our schools. Now, more than ever, Madison needs strong experienced leadership to guide the community. I definitely have the knowledge, experience and leadership the Madison community needs for these difficult economic times.

Kenneth R. Gauntner Jr. Candidate for Madison Township Trustee September 6, 2013