Occupation
Retired
Education
Perrysburg High School graduate, Toledo University graduate
Qualifications
Currently in 20th year as Trustee
Life long Township resident. 4th generation to live on the family farm. Past president/manager of Britten Turkey Farm. Currently in 20th year as Trustee. Prior to being elected, worked in the Township Maintenance Department for 27 years, the last 8 as Superintendent. Hired in 2006 as the Road Superintendent/Project Manager for the Wood County Engineer, retiring in 2018. My time as Trustee I have served on the Finance Committee as well as the Health committee. I have helped department's with their budgets. I constantly work with our Administrator and Fiscal Officer in day to day operations.
The greatest challenge I foresee is financial. There is an initiative in Ohio to eliminate property taxes. These taxes fund most of Township revenue. With this on the horizon, I'm proposing Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD), for new developments, with our neighboring municipalities. This would allow our Township to collect payroll income taxes from businesses included in the JEDD. Without additional revenue, Township's will not be able to pay for services such as Fire/EMS, Police and Maintenance. The loss of funding for these essential services, would be devastating to our residents.
Perrysburg Township is part of the Wood County Storm Water Agency. Our Maintenance Department maintains our storm water drainage systems. The Township sweeps curbed streets to keep debris out of storm basins. The Maintenance Department consistently cleans basins and jets storm tiles, making repairs as needed. Water and Sanitary Sewers are the responsibility of Northwest Water and Sewer District and the City of Perrysburg.
Natural disasters are inevitable. Unfortunately you just have to be reactive instead of proactive to any type of disasters. Our Maintenance Department responds to all disasters. We have had high water, damaging winds and tornadoes. Perrysburg Township has in the past, sent manpower and equipment to aid our neighboring communities. In my duties at the Engineers Office, I helped manage the clean up during Lake Township's tornado, working hand in hand with all parties involved. Cooperation was a key attribute among all involved and proved to be most important. Being proactive in these situations, means having good working relationships with our neighboring communities. This makes the difference in getting things done.
Occupation
Commercial Real Estate Sales and Leasing
Education
Finance and English Degrees from Hillsdale College, Local Government Leadership Academy-Public Sector Program,
Qualifications
(6) 4 year terms as Perrysburg Township Trustee and Current Board Chair
A strong leader is a good listener. I endeavor to listen to the concerns of constituents, our valued team of employees, and governmental colleagues, and do so with an open mind. The more you listen, the more you learn. It is important to take what you learn and strategically apply it towards making Township a great place to live and work. As Past President of the Wood County Development Commission and longstanding involvement as a TMACOG Board member, I understand what takes to formulate sound governmental practices. I understand the importance of balance in our tax base and also being competitive on an economic development front. Our ultimate responsibility is providing quality and predictable services to our residents.
Perrysburg Township is one of the most capitalized townships in all of Northwest Ohio. Despite our legendary economic development successes, we confront budgetary pressures as many of our emergency services and roadway costs seem to be outpacing inflation. It has been a challenge ever since local governments no longer receive estate taxes in Ohio. Our township was hit very hard when this was implemented. There is also threats of property tax reforms in Ohio that would force townships to implement alternative revenue sources. This would require leadership with strong experience to work with constituents, the business community, and leadership in Columbus. I believe I am uniquely qualified to address potentially challenging issues.
Perrysburg Township relies upon The Northwestern Water and Sewer District as the exclusive provider of water and sewer services. They are involved with continuous upgrades and extensions to their systems. I have continued to pursue equalization of rates with the subsections of the Township that still have surcharges that accrue to the City of Perrysburg. I plan to aggressively pursue a remedy to this inequity especially, in this day and age of "regionalization".
Our Police and Fire operations are continuing to advance technologies and equipment coupled with training for our team members to "expect the unexpected". We do not take the approach that "this could not happen in our Township". We are neighbors to "The Center for Emergency Preparedness" at Owens Community College as a reminder of what it takes to be prepared. We continue to invest in mass casualty, environmental and weather catastrophic event preparedness. Investment is defined as training for our team, collaborating with neighboring jurisdictions, and acquiring tools and equipment to be prepared within reason.
Occupation
Pediatric Cardiologist
Education
B.A. Miami University '05. MD Wright State University '10
Qualifications
Honest, Hard Working, Intelligent
As a physician, I am trained to listen carefully, weigh complex information, and make decisions that put people’s well-being first. Every day I balance the needs of individuals with the resources available, which is very similar to the responsibility of stewarding township resources. I bring a perspective rooted in service, problem-solving, and accountability. Living and practicing in a small town has taught me how deeply interconnected our community is, and I want to ensure our township government reflects that same sense of care and responsibility.
Growth is both an opportunity and a challenge for our township. As we expand, we need to make sure our infrastructure, safety services, and zoning decisions keep pace while still protecting the small-town character people value. Another challenge is maintaining financial responsibility in an uncertain economic climate, where inflation and shifting state support affect local budgets. I would focus on transparent, data-driven planning, proactive communication with residents, and partnerships with regional organizations to ensure Perrysburg Township grows in a sustainable and fiscally responsible way.
Clean and safe water is a public health priority. As a physician, I know the impact that outdated systems and lead exposure can have on families, especially children. Our township needs to work closely with county and state authorities to identify areas of greatest risk and prioritize replacement projects. At the same time, costs for homeowners can be significant. I would advocate for grant funding, state/federal infrastructure dollars, and low-interest loan programs that reduce the burden on individual property owners. Clear communication and phased implementation can also help families plan and budget for needed changes.
Preparedness is about readiness before a crisis ever happens. Just as in medicine, prevention is better than reaction. Perrysburg Township must have up-to-date emergency response plans, strong coordination between fire, EMS, and law enforcement, and clear communication systems to keep residents informed during emergencies. I would encourage regular training exercises, partnerships with regional hospitals and health systems, and investments in infrastructure that reduce vulnerability to flooding, severe storms, or other disasters. A resilient community is one that plans ahead, adapts quickly, and looks out for its most vulnerable neighbors.
Occupation
Operations Manager
Education
Business Management Degree from Owen’s Community College
Qualifications
I’ve been managing successful non-profit and for-profit businesses in both union and non-union facilities for the past ten years.
Most importantly, I care about my neighbors and want to see them thrive. That is why I volunteered for the Perrysburg Schools Strategic Planning Committee and coach runners for Dave’s Running. At the same time, I am able to set and follow budgets, work with unions and build strong teams within an organization to make it better. My employees will tell you that they feel heard and have a future, which is critical for any organization to be impactful.
Perrysburg Township will see an influx of new residents as people want to move away from wildfires, hurricanes and other destructive weather to an area with good jobs. We already have great schools and basic infrastructure, but there are not enough family gathering places. Parents don’t feel safe letting their kids ride their bikes to school or a park, because we have no bike paths or parks nearby.We are falling behind our neighboring cities on this. We need to build more parks and pathways to reach them within the township so people choose to move here instead of Maumee or Toledo.
Because the current trustees do not like to share information with the township residents, I really don’t know how good or bad our systems are. What I do know, is that as we grow, we need to make sure our infrastructure is keeping up and plans for continued future growth. I’ve lived in cities that grew faster than their infrastructure and they are a nightmare of traffic and congestion. Perrysburg Township could easily fall into this trap if we don’t plan for it now.
Perrysburg Township is already has a head start in this regard with many of our utilities underground so that they are less susceptible to storm damage and disruption. We need to continue this trend. At the same time, we need to build up our emergency response services by partnering more with our neighboring municipalities.
