BUCYRUS — Four republican candidates for Bucyrus mayor recently answered questions pertaining to how they plan to act in the position if they are elected and what life experiences will help them in the role.
The candidates’ answers are published as they were submitted.
Q: Please give your background information including details of why you believe you would be the best choice for the position you are seeking.
Mike Allonas: Raised here. Been in business here all my life. Been working with people in Bucyrus for over 40 years. Always have worked and listened to residendents. Know their concerns needs and wants. People that know me know I’m all in for everything I do!
Louis Katona III: I didn’t chose Public Service, It chose me. From the time I was a young Cub Scout, moving to a Boy Scout, then Eagle Scout, all I could think of was how I could help others. I’m not sure how one can explain such a thing? But I am involved in numerous local Charities where I function both on the boards and doing the field work. I constantly am coming up with new and innovative ways to increase awareness for the cause, while increasing revenues to further the causes I believe in. Moving past that I have spent 36 years in Law Enforcement, both full and part time, working for numerous Local, State, and Federal Agencies all over the country, including helping to protect Presidents, Governor’s, and securing 2 of the Olympic Games held in the US. The issues you must deal with in Real Time with 100,000’s of lives at stake, prepares one for the more civil side of life. I’ve also been a State of Ohio Certified Medic for 25 Years, and Cross Trained Medic in a Military Reserve Unit for 10 Years where I commanded and instructed a Dive Rescue Team. We located many bodies for the FBI, and recovered persons from the Charles Mill Dam, Septic Tanks, Cistern’s, Sewers, etc. I have been is some pretty scary and dangerous places and in every case brought every one of my team member back I’m happy to say. When Men and Woman follow you into houses filled with armed Felons, intent on killing you, into places where drowning is the least of your worries, and you bring them back, you learn what trust and leadership is all about when your decisions put folks in harm’s way. Yet beyond that I have seen the lack of leadership being taught to today’s youth, and I have proudly been a Scoutmaster of the Local Bucyrus Troop for now over 20 years, instilling values and character to the future leaders of Bucyrus, and America. When a parent Trusts you with their most precious thing in the world, their own child, trusting you to lead the city of Bucyrus should be easy. Finally as the Youngest Realtor ever licensed in Ohio, attending The Ohio State University while still in High School, I very early on became an entrepreneur. Selling Real Estate for now over 40 years the stories of the citizens I can tell. I know them, their parents, grandparents, kids, grandkids, great grandkids, it’s simply amazing the effect that being a Realtor has on the individual lives of folks. I’ve made numerous folks in this town millionaires with the investments I have recommended. I’ve brought joy to young recently married couples on the purchase of their first home, made divorces a little easier by helping both parties with the money issues, so they could take care of the important issues, and brought closure to many widows and widowers helping them move out of the big old dusty home where they spent their life with their true love. Many, many times I was the only one that attended their funeral. When someone trusts you with their family’s home, their financial wellbeing, it’s pretty easy to trust you to be their Mayor.
Jenny Vermillion: I have spent the last 8 years as Crawford County Commissioner working with an annual budget of over $40 million dollars. I have worked with the townships and I understand and appreciate the jobs they do to keep the county as a whole working smoothly and I plan to continue working with each of them. During my time as commissioner I spent time in Columbus working with our association as well as a few of our legislators for the benefit of not just Crawford County but all counties in the state. My husband and I owned & operated the Sears Store for several years, most memorably during the flood of 2007 that ransacked Bucyrus and Galion. I have a working career that reaches back to my early teen years and during those times each experience has enabled me to grow into my next role.
Jeff Reser: I was born and raised in Bucyrus, graduating from BHS in 1972 and from Ohio State in 1976 with a degree in Administrative Science. I have completed eight courses toward my Masters in Business Administration Degree from BGSU. My family is the third generation owner of a small business and we just celebrated our 70th year of operation. I am a state licensed orthotist and pedorthist. I am the best choice for mayor because of my background in owning a business which includes expertise in budgeting and finance but especially in customer service. I am also the best choice for the job because of my five year record as mayor. It’s a record of progress for our community. We have saved taxpayers over $400,000 annually by combining supervisor positions and cutting expenses. We are very proud of our first term accomplishments and plan to build on a strong record to keep Bucyrus moving in the right direction.
Q: Do you believe supporting locally-owned businesses outweighs bringing chain businesses to Bucyrus? Please explain.
Mike Allonas: Local business is the backbone of Bucyrus! Being a businessman myself I know how important that it is to a local economy I will promote local business and promote new local business to Bucyrus.
Louis Katona III: As a local businessman with many successful businesses over the years, I always support local business. With that being said one must step back and understand that we can’t function as the Bog Fish in a little pond. The economy is global and we need services and products locally available that keep our citizens shopping and employed here. I will always buy local produce and meat when I can, regardless of the cost, but these national chains employ lots of our local citizens that need jobs and we collect the income taxes from said jobs. One of the easiest solutions is for local businessmen and woman to buy into a franchise and bring a national chain to Bucyrus, where a local person benefits and again local folks are employed.
Jenny Vermillion: I think there is a healthy balance that can be sustained for both. If we don’t have the chain businesses then we don’t have those people employed who are there currently. When most people think of locally owned businesses, I believe, they are thinking of specialty stores. However, if you look at those chain stores, from my personal experience, my Sears store was locally owned and operated with the support of a national chain. If products or services are not provided by a local business, then where does a consumer go to fulfill that need. If we do not support chains within our community and only focus on local business then the consumer will spend more time and money in Mansfield or Marion. Again, a chain can be owned by a local business person, does that mean we do not support them? is their business not local?
Jeff Reser: A successful business community has a combination of local and chain businesses. Being a small business owner I know that a climate that encourages entrepreneurs is essential to our community’s prosperity. Small business owners tend to be the members of service clubs and are very generous with their time and resources. At the same time, large businesses have been important employers and generous contributors to our causes. We need them both.
Q: Do you believe in following a “majority rules” mindset when making decisions, or are there times to go against the majority? Can you give examples?
Mike Allonas: The needs of the many outweight the needs of the few however everybodys voice is important to me. I will listen to everyone for their view on everything. I’m for all and everyone.
Louis Katona III: We live in a Republic, NOT a Democracy. If you don’t understand the difference? Ben Franklin put it very clearly, a Democracy (Majority Rules) is 2 wolfs and 1 sheep sitting down and deciding what is for lunch? When Majority rules, Always the sheep (the least of our citizens), gets eaten every time. In a Republic, we understand that we just can’t eat the sheep because we want to, or often because it’s the easiest thing to do. Understand that at times the sheep is going to be eaten, but a good society and government should strive to protect all of us, big and small, rich and poor.
Jenny Vermillion: As a representative of the people, then yes, the people need to speak and be heard. As a representative of the people, it is incumbent upon the elected individual to keep informed not only the general public but also the members of council. Together, decisions can be made that are the best for everyone.
Jeff Reser: A strong mayor has to make the tough decisions, including decisions that are not supported by all. The best example is my decision to endorse the addition of EMS to our Fire Department for improved service and financial reasons. I informed city council that we would have a significant subsidy with the new EMS contract and, at the same time, we could operate EMS out of our own FD with minimal investment, following Galion’s model which would have added several hundred thousand dollars to our General Fund. City Council voted 7-0 against my plan. The result will cost the taxpayers of Bucyrus over $300,000 in subsidies and approximately $900,000 in lost revenue over the three year life of the EMS contract. History is proving me to be correct in my attempt to bring EMS to the Bucyrus FD and I believe we will have our own EMS in the future.
Q: What do you believe is the main role of the position you are seeking?
Mike Allonas: To make sure Bucyrus is ran properly to look over all things in the operation of the city to cut expenses when needed to. Work with city console to make the right decisions.
Louis Katona III: To step back to and be a voice for all the citizens in the town, and the business owners, their elected voice when they are having an issue with certain city services and can’t find a solution, and to basically make everyone’s lives just a little better. Folks need to know there is one place where all attempts fail, that someone, some office will be there to assist, and that will be My Mayor’s Office. The Buck will stop with me. To be the Cheerleader and Promoter of the City of Bucyrus, attending the various Charities and such. To Promote Bucyrus to the rest of the world and always strive to be a Great Public Image of Bucyrus.
Jenny Vermillion: The role of mayor is the “face” of the city both within the county but also at the state level. The mayor is the executive branch of our governing system just as city council is the legislative branch who specifically represents their ward and the city as a whole. The mayor has no power unless specifically granted by council which is why working together is critical.
Ohio Revised Code 705.79 states:
(A) See that the laws and ordinances are enforced;
(B) Recommend measures to the council for adoption;
(C) Keep the council fully advised of the financial condition and future needs of the municipal corporation;
(D) Prepare and submit to the council such reports as are required by that body;
(E) Appoint competent, disinterested persons, not exceeding three in number, to examine without notice the affairs of any department, officer, or employee, and report the result of such examination to the mayor, and such result shall also be transmitted by him to the council without delay;
(F) Perform such other duties as the council determines by ordinance or resolution.
I intend to fulfill this statute to the best of my ability.
Jeff Reser: The main job of the Mayor is to work to create an environment in Bucyrus that allows residents and business owners the very best chance to not only survive, but thrive thereby making us an attractive community to future residents.
The 2019 primary and special election is May 7 and polls will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.