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Nine want to be Streetsboro mayor

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Bob Gaetjens
October 28, 2009

 

By Bob Gaetjens

Gateway News Editor

STREETSBORO — On Tuesday, voters will choose which of nine candidates will finish the term of former Mayor Tom Wagner Nov. 3.

Wagner resigned from office in May amidst a variety of allegations regarding his conduct in office, which City Council withdrew when Wagner resigned. 

Running to fill the four-year term, which ends in November 2011, are Twinsburg Fire Capt. Glenn Broska, Councilman Pete Buczkowski, S.R. 43 resident Robert Carothers, former Councilwoman Jana Dengg, Councilman Regis Faivre, former Councilman Leon Jankowski, Ruby Lane resident Raul Leoni, Tinkers Green Drive resident John Ruediger and Acting Mayor Art Scott, a former city council member council appointed to serve as mayor in May. The new mayor will be sworn in to office in November.

• Broska said his leading qualification to serve as mayor is a “balance of experience” in municipal government and the private sector in sales and marketing.

“I have the most management experience, the most leadership experience, and the education experience to back what I have,” he said. 

Broska said he wants to beautify the city, fill stores and bring new jobs to town, but said he would “spend judiciously” in his first year of his service. 

• Buczkowski, the city’s longest serving current council member, cited his connection with the people as his greatest asset. 

“I’ve been an active force for the people and residents of Streetsboro,” he said. “I have unparalleled insight into their wants and needs.”

Buczkowski also called for better communication in local government.

“We need major, major increased communication and government transparency, including comprehensive financial reporting,” he said. 

• Carothers said he has a wealth of leadership experience as a small business owner for 20 years and a band leader for 40 years.

“I’ve been active in the community since 1999, going to council meetings, especially trying to control land use,” he said. 

Carothers said he’s also been integral to the growth of Streetsboro Family Days. One of his major goals for the city grows out of his background in entertainment. 

“I want to introduce the concept of building a nice festival site to help bring national attention to the city,” he said. 

• Dengg said she’s gained experience and education in public finance, business administration and management. 

A lifelong resident, Dengg said she wants to improve the city’s reputation in the region. 

“We need to change our image outside the city of Streetsboro, so we’re not front page news and the stepchild of the county,” she said. 

There needs to be a greater focus on capital improvements, she added. 

“The mayor needs to work with council and set up some plans and goals,” she said.

• Faivre said experience in business has given him the management skills needed along with a reputation for integrity.

“Honesty and trust is something this city has not had,” said Faivre. “That’s the goal everybody is going to be looking for.”

Faivre said he wants to get the city’s master plan updated and implemented and remain fiscally conservative in the short term. 

He also wants to initiate more direct communications with residents through TV and newsletters.

• Jankowski said he’s been involved in the community for years, and is still active. 

“I’m at the senior center every day,” he said. “I’m very active with all the people who work at the city and I attend city council meetings.”

Jankowski said he would like to “get the budget back in place,” and improve roads and extend sidewalks and city water to areas that lack those amenities. 

In the future, he said he would like to see a convention center or recreation center built in Streetsboro.

• Leoni said he would be able to leverage his experience in private industry, taking a business approach to running the city.

“I have great professional experience, working in management,” he said. “I manage over 12 people, and my group is responsible for more than $25 million in annual sales.”

He said it’s important to adopt and implement the master plan, calling for special attention to creating a town center area “that would create an amenity and value for people to start moving to the city.”

• Ruediger, who manages the city’s Aldi store, said that experience would serve him well holding the city’s highest office. 

“I have a lot of management and leadership experience, which is necessary and would be a benefit to have in office,” he said.

The city needs to be run like “a multi-million dollar business.”

“I think the mayor should be acting as the voice and face of the city,” he said. 

Ruediger said 10-year tax abatements for new businesses may not be necessary.

• Scott touts his performance in office and experience leading up to his appointment as acting mayor.

“I sat out in the audience during council meetings for three years before I even took a seat on planning,” he said.

Since being appointed by council in May as acting mayor, Scott said he’s settled a variety of lawsuits and grievances and improved the infrastructure by cleaning out stormwater ditches.

“Do you realize Route 303 hasn’t flooded since June?” he asked last week. 

His work as acting mayor is not paid.

The city’s full-time mayor will be paid $73,225 annually.

 




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