A recap of our endorsements

Updated 7:48 AM Monday, November 2, 2009

Nov. 3 is Election Day. As you prepare to go to the polls on Tuesday, here is a recap of our endorsements :

Hamilton mayor — Current Vice Mayor Pat Moeller is the best choice in this four-person race. Moeller, who has been a member of City Council for six years, simply has the experience advantage over fellow council members Carla Fiehrer and Archie Johnson, who joined council in January 2008, and Gary Gabbard, who is running for public office for the first time. However, our endorsement comes with a proviso: Moeller must demonstrate more resolve and leadership than he has to date.

Hamilton City Council — Rob Wile, Timothy Naab and Phillip Morrical Jr. are our choices from a field of eight candidates vying for three open seats. All three are smart, articulate and business-savvy, and have pegged their campaigns on making City Hall more friendly to business and improving the city’s economic development efforts.

Hamilton Board of Education — Board President Dr. Glenn Stitsinger, Vice President George Jonson and board member Anna Harvey all are seeking re-election to new four-year terms, and we believe voters should give them that honor and keep this accomplished team intact. The sole challenger, John Spohn, lacks the experience and knowledge of district operations to be considered a serious candidate.

Fairfield mayor — Considering that both candidates agree that Fairfield is well-managed and weathering the economic downturn, we see no compelling reason that Fairfield voters should want a change in leadership. Ron D’Epifanio deserves another term, in our estimation, to continue as Fairfield’s mayor. His opponent, Howard Dirksen, was defeated by D’Epifanio in 2005 by a handful of votes, so this race will be watched closely again Tuesday.

Fairfield Board of Education — This hotly contested race features two slates of candidates vying for three open seats on the board. Maverick board member Arnold Engel has enlisted two candidates (Anthony Steer and Erik Rivera) who also pledge not to seek new tax levies, and they are seeking to give Engel majority control of the board. They are opposed by the team of incumbent board members Mark Morris and Dan Murray, and newcomer Sharon Ko. However, we believe voters should look for the best candidates, and not feel obliged to vote for one slate over another. We recommend they keep the incumbents in office — Morris, Murray and Engel. We like the watchdog role that Engel plays on the board, but we don’t think voters are ready to give him control of the board and risk dismantling the excellent school district that Fairfield has.

• State Issue 1 — We recommend its passage. The measure would authorize up to $200 million, financed by the sale of bonds, to offer modest — and well-deserved — bonuses to Ohio’s veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

• State Issue 2 — We urge its defeat. The proposal — a constitutional amendment — would create an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board and give that group total authority over standards relating to the care of farm animals. If this year’s amendment passes, it would trump any future laws on livestock care that agricultural interests fear might be forthcoming. We don’t believe that agri-business should get this sort of constitutional protection.

• State Issue 3 — This proposal is another constitutional amendment that would allow the establishment of four casinos — in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus — and was written by and for the very developers who would own the casinos, down to the details of what tax rates they’d pay. Even if you like to gamble and believe it should be legalized in Ohio, this plan is a bad deal for Ohioans.

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How this ridiculous paper can endorse any candidate who refuses to participate in any candidate debate or forums (including the one this paper sponsored) is unfathomable to me. It just proves why it's been referred to as the "Hamilton Urinal"...since before I can remember...

Heidi Bruzina
4:26 PM, 11/3/2009

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To voter;-------YOU ARE SOOOOO RIGHT!

tired of it
3:02 PM, 11/3/2009

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to "no" - that ship sailed long long ago as far as the liberal hacks at the J-N are concerned.

The only usefulness I find in their "endorsements" is that if the pinheads at the J-N are for it, I am against it & vice versa.

voter
12:34 PM, 11/3/2009

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If any of you read the cincinnati enquirer on sunday you would have seen an article on one of the back pages that states that the qualifications for school ratings were lowered to get more schools and excellent rating. So you see it is all rigged and changes to make the school districts look good.

taxpayer
11:37 AM, 11/3/2009

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I don't think a newspaper should endorse any candidate or issue. A newspaper should be unbaised and neutral.

no
10:27 AM, 11/3/2009

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