WEOL AM 930 of Elyria hosted a debate beteween Nick Brusky and Ted Kalo on the morning of Tuesday 10/21/2008. The debate was moderated by Larry Wright. You can listen to the debate by clicking here.
As a citizen seeking to become one of your County Commissioners I propose not just to change policies of the county, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.
I offer a simple agenda for renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.
This year’s election offers voters the chance to transform the way County Government works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, and too easy with the public’s money.
On the first day I take office I will immediately propose the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of County Residents in their government:
• First. No general fund tax increases.
• Second. All agencies seeking an additional or renewal countywide property tax levies will be required to undergo an independent performance audit before being placed on the ballot. If the audit finds that we can propose a lower millage than requested, then the lower millage will go before the voters.
• Third. Select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of the County for waste, fraud or abuse.
• Fourth. Increase fiscal prudence by limiting year to year budget increases to a maximum percentage accommodating for the change inflation plus population growth only.
• Fifth. Let the people see how the County Commissioners spend their tax dollars by posting an “Online Checkbook” every month that lists each and every expenditure and its purpose.
• Sixth. The use of Solid Waste money for billboards, handouts, and other advertising is wasteful and will be discontinued. Use Solid Waste money to fully fund recycling programs of Municipalities and Townships first. Any remaining money leftover will be given to the taxpayers in the form of rebates for purchasing items that will help them “go green.”
• Seventh. Increase public participation by having our regular meetings at 7:00 pm, and televised live. Increase co-operation with more municipal and township officials by hosting Lorain County Community Alliance Meetings at night.
Respecting the judgment of my fellow citizens as I seek their mandate for reform, I hereby pledge my name to this Contract with Lorain County.
Sincerely,
Nicholas W. Brusky
Today 10/7/2008 Nick Brusky will be debating his opponent before the members of the Lake Erie Landlord Association. The debate will be at the Holiday Inn in Elyria on Route 57 and will start at 7:00pm.
From the Lorain Morning Journal:
By TOM SKOCH
SPEAKING of questionable government bailouts …
Since when is Lorain Mayor Anthony Krasienko, a Democrat, in the business of using the city’s federal grant money to take burdensome mortgages off the hands of quasi-public agencies? That is, the Lorain County Community Action Agency’s two mortgages. The agency is at 502 Broadway and part of 506 Broadway.
Council members, all Democrats, are being asked today to approve a deal that would use $450,000 in federal funds the city has to buy the LCCAA mortgages from a Texas company, which will write off another $400,000 and leave the LCCAA owing Lorain about $2,500 a month instead of owing the Texas firm $6,000 a month.
City officials spin the deal as a benefit that will keep the LCCAA out of a potential foreclosure jam and keep it in downtown Lorain, along with the income tax money from its 40-plus employees.
But wait, there’s more, as they say in those incredible deal TV commercials.
The city’s generous “rescue” of LCCAA would give the city title to the LCCAA property so that it can be turned over to the city Community Development Department for some kind of redevelopment.
And there’s more …. the deal opens the door for the LCCAA to move south into a building at 668 Broadway that County Commissioner Ted Kalo, a Democrat, needs to sell quickly to get out of a foreclosure situation of his own; the LCCAA would become the tenant Kalo needs in that building in order for his deal to click. Kalo said the LCCAA would benefit by getting more working space and better parking.
Everybody wins, or so they say.
The razzle dazzle pace of this has council being asked to approve the LCCAA loan purchase as an “emergency” measure that takes effect immediately, instead of after the normal 30-day period, because the Texas mortgage company wants it done by Oct. 31, according to the ordinance.
And Kalo is under even more time pressure. His time ran out Oct. 1 and a foreclosure request by his lender has been approved already. But if the LCCAA enters the picture for Kalo, he stands to have his foreclosure undone. Kalo intends to continue operating a retail floor covering store downtown in smaller quarters he leases from the city.
If all these deals are approved, the end result is that the LCCAA is off the hook, Kalo is off the hook (and looking better in his re-election campaign). And the city of Lorain is out $450,000 of its federal grant money that might have been used to benefit others in the city in other ways. And the city of Lorain owns another downtown Lorain building with an uncertain future occupancy. A building that is, coincidentally, a neighbor to the offices of Kalo’s lawyer, Anthony Giardini, who is the city Democratic Party boss.
This all ends up with taxpayers being the only party laying out big money with little to show in return.
Why couldn’t the LCCAA get financial help, if needed, from the county, or federal government or re-negotiate its own mortgages, rather that soak up $450,000 of Lorain’s federal dollars?
If Kalo couldn’t find a tenant for his own building, why does Lorain think it will find a tenant to replace the LCCAA if the agency moves into Kalo’s site?
Or would Giardini’s firm somehow enter this city-owned office space picture down the road?
So many questions, so little time given to City Council, and the public, to think about what is best.
In one way, these deals can be seen as “good” for downtown Lorain (not necessarily the taxpayers).
But they also look so cozy and all in the family, the political family.
Tom Skoch is editor of The Morning Journal.
