Roegner Cosponsors Legislation to Repeal Ohio’s Estate Tax

On January 11, 2011, House Bill 3 was introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives that will repeal the estate tax for the estates of individuals dying on or after January 1, 2011.  Ohio’s estate tax was started in 1968 and has the lowest exemption of income in the nation ~ $338,333.00.

One of the 27 co-sponsors for the repeal is Kristina Roegner, representative for Summit County’s District 42.  She said that there are thirty states that do not have any estate tax and that the tax takes direct aim at the middle class, homeowners, farmers, and family businesses.

Though some local governments express concern about losing revenue once the estate tax is repealed, the primary sponsor of the legislation, Cheryl Grossman, had this to say “I was a Mayor for 12 years and I know that Estate Tax money is never budgeted because we never knew when we would receive it. Ohio will work hard to find other means of funding to raise any lost monies. Cities and Villages will not feel the effect of the repeal for two years.” (source:  http://www.endohioestatetax.com )

The repeal of this tax is a step in the right direction for a job creating Ohio.

Slaby, Roegner, and McKenney ~ Summit County’s newly elected Ohio House of Representative Members

Republican turned Democrat.  That describes 3 of Summit County’s 5 Ohio House Districts, the 41st, 42nd, and 43rd, after the November, 2010 election.

Lynn Slaby ~ Ohio’s 41st District (Parts of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, Norton, Bath, Bath Township, Boston Heights and Boston Township, Copley, Fairlawn, Macedonia, Northfield, Peninsula, Reminderville, Richfield and Richfield Township, Sagamore Hills and Twinsburg).

Slaby served as the Summit County Prosecutor (1981-January, 1995) as well as a Judge for the 9th District Court of Appeals (January, 1995 – January, 2009).  He believes that government is too big and too intrusive in our daily life and will work to reign in government spending and out-of-control bureaucracy.

Source:  http://lynnslabyforrep.com/

Kristina Roegner ~ Ohio’s 42nd District (Hudson, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Munroe Falls and Silver Lake).

Kristina has served on the Hudson City Council since 2005 and was re-elected in 2009. She served on the Budget Reduction Ad-hoc committee, which led Hudson City Council in 2006 to reduce the budgeted city spending and size of government. The budget (and the size of government) was reduced by $2 million (approximately 10%) annually. Additionally, while on City Council she has called for increased transparency, to ensure that the people of her community can be fully informed on local issues. Kristina is also currently a member of the Board of Directors at Seton Catholic School, which in 2009 was the recipient of the US Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Award for excellence. Kristina was a field engineer and project manager for Westinghouse Power Generation Service Division where she was responsible for leading teams of more than 50 people in overhauling large turbines and generators at power plants across the country.  Kristina also worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company serving global clients on performance issues.

Source:  Candidate Spotlight dated March 24, 2010, Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee, http://ohiohousegop.com/posts/60

Todd McKenney ~ Ohio’s 43rd District (Parts of southern Summit and Portage counties  ~ Green, Springfield, New Franklin, Coventry, Mogadore, Tallmadge, Clinton, Lakemore, Atwater, Brimfield, Edinburg, Suffield, Randolph & Rootstown).

McKenney, an attorney with over 20 years of experience and a New Franklin City Councilman is a conservative and believes in retaining and attracting Ohio jobs and small businesses, limited spending and less big government control.

Source:  http://www.mckenneyforohio.com/about.html.

Summit County’s Contribution to the 2011 Republican Ohio House of Representatives

Ohio’s 129th General Assembly will begin its session in January, 2011 armed with a net pickup of 13 Republicans ~ 3 of whom hail from Summit County:  Lynn Slaby, the 41st District, Kristina Roegner, the 42nd District, and Todd McKenney, the 43rd District (also serving portions of Portage County).

I think it is a pretty remarkable feat that the largely Democratic county accounts for about 24% of the net overall Republican House seat gain.  Official swearing in for new members is January 3, 2011 at 2 pm, the opening day for the 129th General Assembly.

After inauguration, the real work begins as the Ohio House deals with the $8 Billion budget shortfall and the long overdue need to overhaul education funding.  Here’s hoping that the Republican shift, and the newly elected Summit County members will afford solutions.

Novemeber 2, 2010 ~ Voting Day in Summit County

A beautiful, crispy sun-filled voting day!  Pictured here are campaign workers for  Kristina Roegner and Frank LaRose who were sharing information about their candidates with voters at the Silver Springs Lodge on Stow Road.

Mike Moran Hasn’t Seen the Roegner Attack Ads?

If you live in Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Munroe Falls, Silver Lake or Stow , the  Ohio House of Representatives 42nd District, you will be familiar with the many attack ads on Kristina Roegner, funded by the SEIU, the OEA, and the Ohio Democratic Party.  These ads do everything from intimating that Roegner will lay off teachers, shut down libraries, or that she is not Kristina Roegner but, instead “Koverup Kristina” or “Krooked Kristina”. You don’t see or hear the name of her opponent, incumbent Democrat Mike Moran, on any of them.

Candidate Kristina Roegner commented at last night’s candidates’ forum, hosted by the Hudson League of Women Voters, that the attack ads are completely false.  She went on to say that the attack ads are so pervasive that her two young daughters are afraid to go the mailbox.  She added, “No wonder everyday people don’t want to run for office”.

The negative buzz is so loud you might forget there is a looming crisis in the Ohio Statehouse, a $4 Billion to $8 Billion budget shortfall.  Forgive me, by the way,  for thinking that putting a range of $4 Billion on the exact amount of the shortfall is about as absurd as it gets.

Anyway, there was a pretty straightforward question on the attack ads that went something like this:  The SEIU and the OEA have been running ads attacking Kristina Roegner.  Do you agree with the ads?

Moran’s response: I haven’t seen the ads.

Wow!

And then there was Moran’s explanation that as a political candidate, outside groups are free to send out anything.  Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that the moderator asked what is SEIU.  His response ~ it sounds like a union.

More wow.

Incredible to me that Moran doesn’t have a credible position on these ads.

LaRose, Comunale, Roegner, and Moran – A Candidate Forum in Hudson

Knowledge is Power.  Tonight at 7:00, these candidates will appear at The Hudson League of Women Voters (LWV) open forum.  Questions can be submitted at the event, held at Laurel Lake in Hudson, or sent to lwvhudsonohio@msn.com before 5:30 today.

LaRose and Comunale are candidates for the 27^th District of the Ohio State Senate.  The seat is currently held by Republican Kevin Coughlin who cannot run again because of term limits.  This district includes the northern and western parts of Summit County, along with a piece reaching into the south-central part of the county, including Barberton, Bath, Boston Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Hudson, Macedonia, Munroe Falls, Northfield, Peninsula, Richfield, Silver Lake, Stow, Twinsburg, and certain parts of Akron.  LWV asked each candidate questions about state budget, schools, and tax structure.  Their answers are posted on the group’s website.

Roegner and Moran are candidates for District 42 of the Ohio House. This district includes Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Munroe Falls, Silver Lake and Stow.  The seat is currently held by Democrat Mike Moran.  Check out the candidates’ answers to LWV questions on budget, schools, and tax structure.

Forums like the one being held by LWV give us a chance to separate fact from fiction.  Speaking of fiction, is anyone else tired of all the negative campaigning?  The Ohio Democratic Party has sent so many mailers with “Katchy” “Kreative” phrases blasting Kristina Roegner that I began to forget that Mike Moran was the incumbent.

You know it’s really bad when even the Akron Beacon Journal believes the Ohio Democratic Party is worthy of the prize for fiction this campaign season.  Here’s an excerpt from today’s Akron Beacon Journal discussing attacks on Kristina Roegner:

“Actually, the prize in fiction probably belongs to the Ohio Democratic Party … In the 42^nd District, Democrats have charged Kristina Roegner with inflating her resume by claiming to serve on a local school board on which she would oversee massive budgets and thousands of students.  In conversations with this editorial page, Roegner has done nothing of the kind.    If anything, she makes a point of noting that the school is small.”

Time to get the facts.

Trotting Twinsburg’s Trails ~ Not Just for Turkeys!

Beauty is the promise of happiness.  ~Stendhal

Last May, I attended the grand opening of the City of Twinsburg’s Old  Hickory Trail, a .87 mile nature fest of trees, cattails, ferns, dragonflies, butterflies, rock formations, and wildlife, not to mention home of the 100 plus year old hickory tree that stands alone in the marsh lending its name to the trail and provided a home for bats.  My senses were touched and my feet stayed dry, thanks to the bridges and boardwalks that go over some of the fabulous scenery…when walking through it might be a bit icky. I knew I’d be back.

One thing led to another, and, with the suggestion of Derek Schroeder, Twinsburg’s Parks and Recreation Director, I found a way to combine the nature fest of Old Hickory with the Center Valley Bike Path, and nearby streets of Croydon, Sherwin Drive, Joshua T. Miktarian Parkway, and Glenwood Drive to wind up with what has become my favorite 4.4 mile running loop.  I usually begin the run wondering if I’ll finish and end with a smile, or, as Phyllis Diller would say, a curve that sets everything straight.

And then the other day, I discovered that this path, my 4.4 favorite loop, is the basic new route for the City of Twinsburg’s 5 mile Turkey Trot on November 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.  Check the Twinsburg Parks and Recreation website for more information.  Maybe lacing up and spending time on Twinsburg’s trails will put a smile on your face, too!

Meet the Fresh Faces, Roemer and Schwan: Summit County Council-At- Large Candidates

On November 2, 2010, Summit County residents will get the chance to vote for the 3 at- large members of the Summit County Council.  There are six candidates running for the three seats, four of whom are currently on Council, two of whom are fresh faces.  The four existing Council members:  Pete Crossland, Gloria Rodgers, Ilene Shapiro, and Jon Poda.  The two fresh faces:  Bill Roemer and Amy Schwan.

I sent out four questions to each of the candidates indicating that I would simply print their responses -without commentary or opinion.  None of the existing Council members responded.  The fresh faces, Roemer and Schwan did respond.  More information about each of the six candidate’s position on money issues, as well as links to their respective websites was published in the Akron Beacon Journal on October 12, 2010

1. Give a brief bio of yourself:  employment, education, hobbies, anything else you’d like people to know about you.

Roemer:

 I am an honors graduate of Normandy High School and have a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) – Summa Cum Laude.  In addition I have a Master of Business Administration in finance from the Weatherhead School of Management.  Coupled with my Certified Public Accountant (inactive) I can benefit Summit County through sound fiscal management.  As Director of Sales for Ameritech (AT&T) I managed a $250,000,000 budget.  My group designed Summit County and City of Akron voice and data telecommunications infrastructure.  Currently, I am a long term substitute teacher for the Revere School District teaching upper level math.  I am a dedicated community volunteer serving as treasurer, commissioner, coach and umpire director for the Revere Baseball/Softball League. Additionally, I am president of a Slovak fraternal organization in Summit County.

 

Schwan:

I am a retired small business owner and have also worked in the Hotel management field. I was raised in Akron, graduated from Buchtel High School (’72), then Ohio University (BSEd ’76). I love to garden, travel and spend time with my family. I Started the Tea Party movement in Akron in early 2009 as I noticed our freedoms slowly being eroded on the Local, State and Federal levels.

2.  What is your number one goal if elected?

Roemer:

I am running to bring fiscal responsibility to Summit County.  In the last four years, Summit County has experienced over $30,000,000 in budget deficits.  The accumulated surplus has been eliminated.  Summit County Council has to restore financial responsibility.  This is the first step in fostering a business friendly environment in Summit County.  This will then promote job growth.

 

Schwan:

My number one goal, if elected, is to concentrate on the core responsibilities of County government   (public safety & environmental), and reduce taxes and regulations to create a more business friendly environment in Summit County.

3.  Who do you admire most and why?

Roemer:

I have always admired Douglas Macarthur, the American general from World War 1, II and Korea.  He was both a general and statesman.  He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery but also was a master military strategist.  He ran for president against Truman but was unsuccessful.

 

Schwan:

The person I admire most in my lifetime is my Dad. He, like Ronald Reagan believed in individual freedoms, American values and the United States Constitution.

4. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, A recent poll, the 2010 Summit County Collaborative Poll, shows county residents don’t have a high opinion of local job opportunities or the economy but do like living here.  What are your thoughts about how to improve local job opportunities and the economy?

Roemer:

I agree that Summit County is an excellent location to raise a family but there are limited job opportunities.  Summit County, the City of Akron and the State of Ohio have done a good job retaining very large employers (Goodyear and Bridgestone).  We now need to concentrate on growing jobs in the small business sector.  With my corporate and financial background, I have an outstanding set of skills to accomplish this.  Through streamlining Summit County operations, focusing on fiscal responsibility and meeting daily with constituents, small business growth will be enhanced leading to job creation

Schwan:

Real jobs are created by small business, not by government or government funding. Small businesses create a sustainable revenue stream in the county, whereas government is dependent on a tax stream and outside funding. The County needs to get out of the way of small businesses with less regulation and taxation to encourage job growth in the area.

Hudson Weekend for Art and Music

Last night I walked through charming downtown Hudson enjoying what I’ll call the “picture perfect”.  There were lots of happy faces in the First & Main shopping area, some getting their groove on to the reggae sounds of Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band performing in sun-packed seventy degree ideal conditions, with anticipation of the weekend.     More music on the way tonight at First & Main as the Cleveland Brass Quintet gets started at 7:00 p.m.  And there is more!

Saturday, August 28, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 29, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is the Art on the Green held at the Green in Hudson, at the intersection of 91 and Ravenna Road where artists display fine art in the white tents that fill the Green.  Sponsored by the Hudson Society of Artists each year, the show features many favorite artists from around the country, as well some exciting new talent.

Happy weekend and hope you get a chance to enjoy Hudson’s picture perfect!

Twins Days Double Take Parade 2010