Letters: Voters asked to support Newark school board and Etna Township trustee candidates
Bline asks voters to reelect him to Newark School Board
During my time on the Newark City Schools Board of Education, I've had the privilege of participating in many diverse programs and initiatives. Student social and emotional well-being has been the focus of many of these.
The most recent movement in this area has been the contract with Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, which went into effect this year. This contract will provide counseling services to those students in our district who need them. We also started a Workforce Development program this year in order to help our students transition into the workforce.
The COVID pandemic was a challenge, but we got through it. Newark City Schools provided meals to our students throughout the community and conducted a superintendent search at the height of the pandemic.
During my tenure on the board, we've upgraded White Field and purchased the former State Farm building. This investment will centralize our preschool program, upgrade our digital school, and — as needs change over the next few years — will save the district millions of dollars.
Throughout these times, the district has not asked for any new taxes since 2009 and has gone from an unstable financial position to currently having a significant cash reserve.
More improvements and changes are coming. With plans for at least 1,000 new housing units citywide, the influx of students will challenge the district educationally and financially. I hope to utilize the experience I have gained over the past 15 years to help the district navigate through these changes. I would appreciate your vote on November 7.
Tom Bline, Newark
Longtime Newark City Schools resident supports 3 incumbents
I’ve been involved with Newark City Schools for 48 years as a parent and volunteer. I watch closely how the district is run and funded and am proud to ask for your vote for three current Board members: they are Warren Weber, Tim Carr and Tom Bline. Why do I ask? Because there is no doubt they are dedicated to their volunteer positions, are always willing to share information, bring their professional knowledge to the table, and just plain care about our kids. Newrk City Schools' financial situation continues to be stable, and I trust these three candidates to make excellent decisions in the future.
Paddy Kutz, Newark
Burkholder has business expertise Etna needs, resident says
As a 48-year resident of Etna Township, I am proud to endorse Gary Burkholder for Township Trustee. I have attended nearly every township meeting for the last 1½-plus years and have witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly of our local politics. I believe that Gary has the both the business expertise and professional demeanor that Etna Township needs at this time to help guide us through this “murky mess.”
Throughout this campaign season, Gary has managed to “stay above the fray” as big money interests from Cleveland sponsor and support childish and petty billboard ads that are intended to disrespect, ridicule and belittle him. He refuses to let these personal attacks deter his enthusiasm for serving Etna Township residents.
I firmly believe that Gary Burkholder will work tirelessly on behalf of all citizens in Etna Township without any “conflict of interest” baggage others might carry.
Judy Cafmeyer, Etna
Former Brookville mayor supports Burkholder for Etna trustee
As the former Mayor of the City of Brookville, I am writing in support of Gary Burkholder’s candidacy for Etna Township Trustee.
During my tenure as mayor, I got to know Gary very well. We worked together when he served as our city manager. Gary continued to reside in Etna, but worked in Brookville during the week and traveled home on the weekends. He made this sacrifice for over 3 years because he was dedicated to making Brookville a better place.
In short, he was the best city manager Brookville has ever had. Together with City Council, staff and myself, we accomplished more in 3 years than had been accomplished in the previous decade.
Under his leadership and vision, we built a $6-million, state-of-the-art firehouse; collaborated with ODOT to build a $5-million Interstate70 overpass; built a $2.2-million, three-lane connector road from downtown to the new firehouse; and was awarded a $300,000 grant for a Safe Routes to School program.
Gary had the vision to build the infrastructure needed to bring GM’s diesel engine manufacturing plant to Brookville with $175 million in capital investment. Now in 2023, GM has announced a $920 million plant expansion and 800 more jobs for Brookville.
I enthusiastically endorse Gary Burkholder for Etna Township Trustee. He is a leader with exceptional experience and vision dedicated to public service. Brookville remains indebted to him for his service to our community.
David Seagraves, former mayor of City of Brookville
Burkholder an advocate for ignored residents, citizen says
Committed to attending trustee meetings for over two years, Etna Township Trustee candidate Gary Burkholder has proven to be a leader in advocating for many issues and violations presented by Etna Township citizens who have been ignored by local township leaders. In my case specifically, for the past year, he has fervently fought to ensure that the CORE5 Mink Street warehouse violations have been and are still being investigated and remedied.
In addition to his abundant experience in local government and business, Mr. Burkholder has displayed tremendous patience, integrity, and professionalism in all the work he has done and continues to do for Etna.
Despite the recent and numerous shameful satirical attacks to ridicule candidate Burkholder, he has continued this race with that same patience, integrity, and professionalism. He focuses on truth, justice, and what is good for Etna, rather than wasting time on scheming or retaliating against other candidates with satirical attacks.
That’s why I highly suggest you vote for Gary Burkholder for Etna Township Trustee on November 7th, 2023.
Doris Cáceres-Schumick, Etna Township
Can a city employee unilaterally alter a binding contract?
The Ohio Special Audit Task Force has asked Newark Law Director Tricia Moore for this opinion: Did Newark Service Director Dave Rhodes have the authority to raise the annual management fee for Don Edwards Park from $30,000 to $38,500 when the signed contract stipulates that the annual management fee will be $30,000 until 2028?
If Law Director Moore’s opinion is that Rhodes has the authority, it can only mean one of two things: 1) Moore is wrong or 2) City Council decisions regarding contract approvals are meaningless and contracts with the city are not binding.
Let’s further consider 2) above. Newark's City Council members, elected by the voters at-large or from their respective wards, voted unanimously to authorize a management agreement contract dated Jan. 11, 2019 based on provisions Director Rhodes and Adam Jenkins presented to City Council.
Rhodes and Mayor Jeff Hall signed that management agreement on behalf of the city, and Edward Bohren, then CEO, signed on behalf of the of the Licking County Family YMCA. The contract states that the agreement is binding on both parties.
If, however, Moore says Rhodes has the authority to unilaterally change a binding contract approved by the people’s representatives, imagine the possibilities for city employees to secretly move taxpayer funds. This would be the fourth breach of this “binding agreement.”
I struggle to find the words to adequately describe the logic of having such authority. Oh, now the words are coming to me —Dumb and Dumber!
Dave Froelich, Newark
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Voters urged to back Newark school board, Etna trustee races
