Six candidates in Liberty Twp. trustee race

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Six candidates are vying for two seats on the Liberty Township board of trustees in the Nov. 7 election.

Incumbent Tom Mitchell decided not to seek reelection.

Holly Adams

Adams has lived in Liberty Township for 11 years with her husband and two children. “My husband and I own a Manufacturer’s Rep Agency that helps American Manufacturers of steel and aluminum forgings and castings to grow their businesses,” she said.

Adams said she volunteers most of her time supporting the schools, community, and multiple non-profit organizations.

“I understand this election is about our community and what the residents and taxpayers want our community to be,” she said. “My votes and actions as trustee will always reflect the will of the residents and taxpayers.”

Adams said she believes the important issues facing the township are excessive development burdening the schools and roads, residential TIFs, and a proposed extend-a-stay hotel. As a trustee, Adams said she would work in partnership with the township, the City of Powell, and a committee of residents to agree to a 10-year, zero-tax increase development plan.

“I will never vote yes for a residential TIF. I will not support excessive development,” she said. “I will not support any tax increase or new levies.”

Shyra Eichorn

Eichhorn, the lone incumbent on the ballot, is owner of Eichhorn Events LLC, a corporate event planning company.

“I have resided in this community since 1999,” she said. “I am a member of the Olentangy Scenic River Advisory Council, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Representative, and a Republican Central Committee member. I’ve been married to Ken Eichhorn since 1996 and we have three children in the Olentangy Local School District.”

Eichhorn said the board has increased the township’s firefighter and EMS staffing and equipment acquisitions without increasing levy millage and consolidated departments to streamline costs.

Eichhorn believes the biggest issues the township faces are “development, fire and EMS, financial health, and roads.”

“We must position ourselves to be competitive for projects desired by the community and have an infrastructure that can support them,” she said. “I continue to support our fire department and the fire-based EMS model. (Seeking) grants and collaborating on projects are examples of ways we will continue to improve our financial health. We have increased the Roads Department budget by $300,000 and continue to utilize grants.”

Mike Gemperline

Gemperline has been a resident of Liberty Township for 29 years and married to his wife, Cindy, for 33 years. They have two children.

He has been the owner of MFG Ohio LLC for more than two decades.

“I have the experience and background to fix the problems facing our community,” Gemperline said. “As a results oriented person, I will not be satisfied with fruitless meetings, but will instead get results. I will protect our tax dollars from being wasted with a financially conservative approach to spending.”

Gemperline said the township’s biggest issues are development, property taxes, and fire/EMS. He said he would pursue changing zoning codes to protect the community against irresponsible development. He would collaborate with Powell to assure future development doesn’t burden the schools or traffic flow.

“No increase in township taxes, or fees. We can improve our service levels without raising taxes,” he said. “I will assure that our Liberty Township fire/EMS department has the tools and training to provide the best EMS service.”

Scott Lynch

Lynch is the owner of Patriot Medical. The business is licensed in six states and is currently expanding to additional locations in the midwest. Lynch and his wife, Nicole, have been married for 17 years. They have a son and a daughter.

“As a business owner who has started and grown a very prosperous organization, I believe I bring the best tools and skill set to manage and improve our township successfully,” Lynch wrote on his Facebook campaign page. “I know how to negotiate and operate multi-million dollar budgets to correctly run Liberty Township.”

Lynch currently sees development as one of the big issues in the township.

“I would like to see much more partnership with the city of Powell,” Lynch stated on his Facebook campaign page. “Parameters should be jointly set based on scale and the service requirements that best serve the residents as well as attracting a commercial base to help offset the tax burden put on us residents.”

Bryan Newell

Newell is a certified city and regional planner with 20 years of professional experience. He has been married for seven years and has lived in Scioto Reserve for almost 10 years before moving to an unincorporated part of the township in June 2013.

“The primary things that set me apart from all of the other candidates are my education and professional experience as well as my 18 months of service on the Liberty Township Board of Zoning Appeals,” he said.

Newell said the pressing issues in the township are increased traffic on aging roads, the fire/EMS levy, and development north of Home Road. He said his plans to address the issues are to use his knowledge as a regional planner to help preserve the roads and work to maintain the budget.

“The roads department is keeping up to preserve our pavement, however I’ll bring additional technical knowledge of pavement design and preservation,” he said. “I am in support of the renewal levy, talking with Chief O’Brien, I have full confidence in his ability to push our services higher while maintaining the budget.

“I have managed millions of taxpayer dollars, including finding creative cost saving options,” he added. “I will do the same for residents.”

Chris Shear

Shear has lived in the township for 11 years.

“I’m married with three daughters and a local business owner, Benefits One Consulting Inc., a graduate of The Ohio State University and a parishioner at St. Joan of Arc Church,” he said. “I will fight to preserve our rural roots and the diversity of our township. I support smart, responsible development and a strong financially secure fire and EMS department.”

Shear said the township’s pressing issues are a lack of trust in current leadership, transparency, and taxpayer funded lawsuits, annexation, business development, and the fire and safety services.

Shear said his plan is to revisit and update the cooperative economic development agreement between Powell and the township, and work with the fire chief and the Delaware County Sheriff’s office to increase coverage and funding in safety.

Shear said he would turn over relevant public documents and respect court decisions, work proactively versus re-actively, and improve communication through social media and other methods.

Adams
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/10/web1_Adams-copy.jpgAdams

Eichhorn
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/10/web1_Eichhorn-copy.jpgEichhorn

Gemperline
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/10/web1_Gemperline2-copy.jpgGemperline

Lynch
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/10/web1_Lynch-copy.jpgLynch

Newell
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/10/web1_Newell-copy.jpgNewell

Shear
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/10/web1_Shear-copy.jpgShear

Gazette Staff

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