LIBERTY TWP. TRUSTEE CANDIDATES
Name: Robert Coogan
Age: 61
Occupation: retired from Cincinnati Bell in 2009 as vice president of accounting and vice president of internal audit. Now director of grant accounting at HealthBridge Inc.
Previous political experience: none
Website: www.Coogan4Liberty.org
Name: Tom Farrell
Age: 56
Occupation: electrical engineering/business manager
Previous political experience: served on Liberty Twp. Zoning Commission for 10 years; appointed Liberty trustee in March.
Website: www.Farrell4Liberty.com
Name: Christine Matacic
Age: 62
Occupation: formerly bought and sold steel, owned and operated business, wrote grants for non-profits.
Previous political experience: three 4-year terms as Liberty Twp. trustee; past vice president and president of Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments; current board member of OKI’s Freight Working Group.
Website: www.ChristineMatacic.com
Name: Jeff Newman
Age: 48
Occupation: police officer
Previous political experience: former political director of the Butler County Republican Party (2005-2007)
Website: www.Newman4liberty.com
Residents here have a choice of four candidates for two spots as township trustee, each one with a different background and reason for running.
Incumbent Christine Matacic, who was elected trustee in 2001, 2005 and 2009, said she’s vying for a fourth term because of her love for the township and the direction in which it’s headed.
“We’ve got a balanced budget, we’ve got a great staff, we’re on the cusp of some phenomenal development that we’ve been working for the past 12 years to get, and it’s just my desire to keep things moving forward, she said.
Preparing for the future means examining things in a long-term context and planning accordingly, especially for the budget and infrastructure, she said.
It also means working with state legislators to give them feedback on how the implications of what they are doing affect the township budget and the ability for it to carry out its mission, Matacic said.
She said being re-elected as trustee would mean continuing the path the township is on, including maintaining involvement in planning for major road projects, including an Interstate 75 interchange at Millikin Road.
Carrying out such a project would help the township make the most of the meager 18 percent of land it has for commercial development and ease the property tax burden for township residents.
“In order to get high development along I-75, we are going to need to increase the access to the local roads, as well as to the interstate,” Matacic said.
She also wants to maintain fire and police services and upgrade existing roads, keeping in mind the challenges presented by Ohio cutting townships’ share of local government fund, estate tax and tangible personal property taxes.
Challenger Robert Coogan, who lost a bid last year to be the state representative for Ohio’s 52nd District, said he brings a “small, libertarian perspective” to the ticket for Liberty Twp. trustee.
“I’ve spoken out a couple of times in the trustee meetings and once in a zoning meeting against some zoning that would have restricted some individual property rights for some of the larger tracts of land,” Coogan said. “They’re looking to make it more difficult and put restrictions on owners of some of the larger tracts of land to put telecommunications cell towers on the properties. I’ve spoken out in favor of individual property rights and against putting restrictions on them.”
Coogan also said he takes issue from a “fiscal responsibility perspective” with trustees applying for a grant from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments for federal funds for township projects.
“To me, it was at a time when the federal government is out of money and shouldn’t be spending more money,” he said. “We shouldn’t be trying to get federal monies for the tasks at the township level.”
Coogan said he brings auditing, accounting, project management and compliance expertise from the time he served as a vice president of internal audit at Cincinnati Bell Inc.
His priorities include ensuring there are not zoning issues and restrictions that would be detrimental to businesses and try to ensure that taxation is equitably applied to all businesses.
“I believe it is, but wouldn’t want to make tax breaks or tax shelters, make it unfair to the (businesses) who are already here and make them say ‘I’m not getting a break, so I’m going to leave,’” he said.
Tom Farrell, who was appointed in March to serve out the remaining term of Patrick Hiltman, said he is running because the choices in any community involve individuals either “writing the book” about it or reading it.
“I was taught by my parents and teachers early on to get involved in the community and be the author of the book,” Farrell said. “In my opinion, Liberty’s future looks really bright, but execution of the current strategy and creation of the future strategies in a fiscally correct manner will impact this township for generations to come and I want to be the person that executes those strategies ”
Farrell stressed that his experience includes “a pretty good combination” of 10 years of local government experience, coupled with 30 years of business management, including running his own business for 22 years.
His top priority is to keep Liberty Twp. a bedroom community without bedroom community taxes.
That means bringing in high-end projects like a $118 million proton therapy center to Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus and Steiner + Associates’ Liberty Center, which is projected to bring $300 million of development to the township during its first phase.
“For every dollar we use as in services as a resident, it costs the township a $1.50,’ he said. “Businesses are the reverse, so the only way to balance the checkbook long-term is to go ahead and have the right mix of business and residential.”
With only 18 percent of its land available for commercial development Liberty Twp. can’t do that, so trustees must focus on creating equilibrium by creating special districts that require businesses contribute to the community, as opposed to what other townships do by offering tax deferments and abatements.
Also seeking a term as trustee is Jeff Newman, a West Chester Twp. police officer who worked behind the scenes running several state and local campaigns for other people, including former Liberty Twp. Trustee Patrick Hiltman, before deciding to run himself.
“I’d like to think I know what people want out here after interacting with the community for 15 years,” said Newman.
He said his best asset for the job is his ability to listen, then follow up on a matter.
“I’m not concerned about myself, I’m more concerned about what the residents, the developers, the business owners have to say instead of trying to make an agenda for myself to become something someday,” he said. “It’s more important to take care of other folks than it is to take care of yourself.”
Newman said he’s listened to small business owners, many of whom are friends, when they detail their struggles and complaints.
“Over the years, my wife and I have run small businesses here and there … so I understand what small business owners go through,” he said. “At least I think I do.”
Newman wants the township to shift some of the focus of economic development from the southeast portion of the township to the northeast area, which includes a shopping center with a Kroger as its anchor, plus various restaurants and businesses dotting Ohio 4.
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