VOTE411 Voter Guide

I’ve spent 20 years as a Wooster resident and have actively participated in the recreation, education, and many community groups that this city offers over those years. I love this community and want to be part of the process of continuing to grow and improve it. I think I have a perspective to offer that would be helpful to the council. I've raised and am currently raising a large family with children who have been part of the school system, coming up through Cornerstone where I was part of the PTO and a Girl Scout leader for years. Our business has also brought me into close relationships with many people I never would have met, who are greatly affected by city decisions but often are unable or unwilling to make their voices heard.

There's no specific item that I think the city leadership is doing poorly; however, Wooster faces challenges ahead--balancing growth while retaining our small-town character, keeping our downtown vibrant and making sure the surrounding neighborhoods are safe and well-kept, having affordable housing for our citizens, and providing excellent services without increasing the cost of living. I believe encouraging partnerships between the city and the wonderful nonprofits and churches we have is an excellent way to tackle what is otherwise a very daunting list of goals. We have a community that absolutely will come together to help one another, and the city can play a role in bringing together people with needs and those who can meet the needs.

I think the current housing developments are a step in the right direction in meeting the needs for affordable housing in our community, but it shouldn't stop there. We also need to find creative ways to stabilize and revitalize our downtown neighborhoods and bring back the beauty of those older homes whenever possible. Housing is always going to be a work in progress and is obviously the most critical and basic issue both for those who already live here and those who are considering relocating. It's also a component as businesses consider whether to come to Wooster or not. Good jobs are the flip side of the coin--if we have a strong workforce, companies that provide good jobs will come here which in turn makes housing more affordable.