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    City Council Selects 13 Finalists for Appointment

    Columbus City Council has narrowed down their list of 36 appointment applicants to just 13. Coming from an array of backgrounds, each will have an interview with council before the decision is made. Interviews are scheduled for next Thursday and Friday, January 4 and 5.

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    Nancy Day-Achauer

    Ordained Minister at the United Methodist Church since 2008.
    Member and chair of public health and safety for the Westland Area Commission.
    Chairperson of Westland Area Business Association.

    Also involved in a number of other community organizations:
    Prairie Township Community Health Action Team
    Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone
    Franklin County Food Action Plan
    Franklin County Opiate Action Plan, serving on Steering Committee, Recovery and Community engagement and harm reduction subcommittees
    Community partner with DeWine’s Drug Abuse Outreach Initiative

    Main issues are the opiate crisis and economic segregation.

    Notable quotes:

    “Columbus does not have enough detoxification and treatment centers for people seeking treatment and treatment is not available in all communities. Additionally, Columbus lacks a sufficient number of recovery houses for people released from treatment.”

    “Half of Columbus neighborhoods are low-income (Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland) with neighborhood disparity evidenced by median household incomes in Weinland Park being 76.4 percent below the most affluent community in the Columbus Metro Area (Bexley) and North Linden’s median household income of $27,702 compared to its neighbor Clintonville at $100,284.”

    Jasmine Ayres

    Ran for city council in the latest election, earning the fourth most votes.
    Worked with Columbus People’s Partnership as their Government Affairs Liaison, which entailed budgeting, legislative analysis, and leadership development, among other tasks.
    Handled recruiting, hiring, and training while managing teams to conduct voter education and registration programs.
    Also worked for Organizing for America and Policy Matters Ohio.

    Main issues are housing, equitable economic development, and safety.

    Notable quotes:

    “Housing instability often tears families apart and forces our youth to move from school to school, having to re-establish transportation to school, work and extra-curricular activities. For a single mother or father relying on public transportation it can be difficult to provide all of the necessary resources for their children.”

    “Establishing small business incubators on each side of town will allow for greater access to financial literacy programs, small business cultivation, access to capital through public private partnerships, and mentors for long term development.”

    “Violence, economic despair and opioids are robbing our families of their loved ones daily. The drastic nature of the problem requires directing policies and resources to those affected by poverty, drug use, and violence through long term community led investment from the city.”

    Stefanie Lynn Coe

    Serves as a commissioner for the Civil Service Commission, adjudicating disciplinary hearings of some city and public school employees.
    Also works with MPW Industrial Services, based in Hebron.
    Previously served as Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecutor Division from 2004 to 2006 after filling other capacities there, including legal intern, night director and intake officer.

    Largely thinks Columbus is on the right path, especially with new leadership in the city auditor’s office, the city attorney’s office and in a new City Council President.

    Main goals are improving government-resident communication, creating jobs within neighborhoods, and addressing crime.

    Notable quotes:

    “I believe Columbus can continue to be the leader in addressing some of these issues. We have seen Columbus demonstrate the success of private and public partnerships, now we are working to address the gender pay gap still plaguing our workforce nationwide and working to combat growing crime while improving relationships between law enforcement and the community.”

    Michael Dalton

    Director of State Government Relations for the MetroHealth System.
    Also served as system director for Advocacy and Health Policy at Summa Health in northeast Ohio.
    Served as district director and campaign and district fundraising coordinator for the office of Congresswoman Betty Sutton from 2008 to 2009.
    Worked for the Summit County Board of Elections, campaigned for Ted Strickland during his 2005 gubernatorial run, and interned at the office of Senator Hillary Clinton in 2003.
    Currently a board member for the Cultivate Community Development Corporation (Milo-Grogan).

    Believes greatest challenges are income inequality and economic segregation. Sees investment in Smart Columbus as well as strategic housing development as a route to addressing unemployment and poverty.

    Notable quotes:

    “We must tackle the issues of affordable housing, job preparedness and job access. It is a moral imperative that we work with our partners to help break the cycle of generational poverty.”

    “Second, we need to create incentives for high density development that includes both market rate and affordable housing along rapid transit corridors that connect our citizens to jobs.”

    Also wants Columbus to establish a set brand or identity to attract business and talent as the city continues to grow.

    “It will be essential that we can clearly espouse what Columbus represents and what it has to offer in a way that distinguishes it from other cities and compels potential residents to want to live here.”

    Rob Dorans

    Currently serving as Legal Counsel for the Legal & Research Department at ACT Ohio.
    Commissioner for the Recreation & Parks Department of Columbus.
    Interned for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s office in Toledo while studying at the University of Toledo College of Law.
    Served as both Law Clerk and Legislative Aid for the Ohio House of Representatives.
    Was campaign manager for Debbie Phillips during her run for state representative in 2008.

    Main issues are affordable housing, workforce development and transportation.

    Notable quotes:

    “According to the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, Columbus is in need of 54,000 units of affordable housing. Many cities that have experienced similar rapid growth failed to adequately address this need, which has resulted in working and middle-class families being forced further from transportation infrastructure and job opportunities.”

    “Columbus is at a watershed moment. The decisions made by our leaders over the next decade will dictate whether the prosperity of our City continues and whether that prosperity is shared with all community members.”

    Gregory Lee

    Currently working as consulting manager for Accenture, a local business consultation firm.
    Has also served as Technical Sergeant for the U.S. Air Force Reserve since 2001.

    Main issues are economic segregation, workforce development, and transportation.

    Notable quotes:

    “Geographically distributing subsidized rental properties among owner-occupied homes helps with landlord accountability for property maintenance and ensures our community members with lesser means are not clustered together and left behind.”

    “After the economic recession of 2008, Columbus regained its 41,000 lost jobs plus an additional 146,000 jobs; more than Cincinnati or Cleveland. To continue growing, we need to remain attractive to existing companies while encouraging entrepreneurship, and we must ensure we have the talent these businesses need.”

    Glenn Mueller

    Has more than 20 years of experience in developing and managing security programs.
    Currently the Security Manager for the City of Columbus.

    Main issue is public safety.

    Notable quotes:

    “The major challenge that our city faces is the distrust in law enforcement…What we need to promote is more training on how to work with the public on all levels to include mental illness, cultural diversity, and sensitivity training. We also need to have a Community Policing Program that works with the community and builds trust while working with neighborhood youth.”

    “Living in the Hilltop area, I have realized that there is room for improvement. I have experienced violence in the area, an overabundance of homelessness and panhandling, and commercial sexual exploitation of women in this area…We need to work to protect our citizens on all levels. We need to provide programs to combat violence in our streets and to get people back to work and off the streets.”

    James Ragland

    Former mayoral candidate, running in 2015 against Mayor Andrew Ginther.
    President of Ragland Enterprises, a consulting firm “specializing in community outreach, minority business capacity building, and development services.”
    Served as Development Director for Cristo Rey Columbus High School from 2012 to 2015.
    Currently works with the Policy Review Committee and Linden McKinley STEM Academy Site-Based Council for Columbus City Schools, as well as the Recovery and Community Engagement Sub-committee for the Franklin County Opiate Action Plan.

    Main issues are minority business development, public safety, and neighborhood development.

    Notable quotes:

    “The time has come for us to measure the gains for small and minority businesses through contracts that expand their capacity to grow companies and hire more Columbus residents to living wage jobs. While the city shares in this responsibility, it is imperative for the City Council and Administration to leverage their relationships with the corporate sector to make certain that an atmosphere of growth exists for this who are capable…”

    Mike Rankin

    Currently working as a lawyer while consulting for the motor vehicle regulatory community and The Gemalto Company.
    Formerly served as general counsel & state and national BMV/DMV leader, as well as Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Board Chairman, Lucas County assistant prosecutor, and Columbus City Prosecutor.

    Main issues are public safety, education, and economic inequality.

    Notable quotes:

    Wants to break “the cycle of violence, homicides, drugs and despair by beefing up public safety initiatives” and “creating pathways & opportunities for all who want to join the middle class.”

    Emmanuel V. Remy

    Currently President of the Northland Community Council and the Clinton Estates Civic Association.
    Works as a realtor with Coldwell Banker King Thompson.
    Served on the One Columbus Advisory Group, No on Issue 1.
    Served on the Election Cabinet in 2015 for Andrew Ginther for Mayor.
    Served on the Finance Team in 2015 for Eileen Paley for Municipal Court Judge.

    Main issues are economic development, housing, and immigrant assimilation.

    Notable quotes:

    “Economic development is at an all-time high, yet success has not been felt by all. In fact, the disparity levels have remained relatively constant over the past decades leading to an opportunity to help those that may feel disenfranchised.”

    “Mixed-income developments are worthy of exploring in areas like the Greater Linden, Franklinton and the Hilltop. Incentives for adaptive reuse of properties throughout the city would help to meet the needs of our community.”

    “As one of the hubs of immigrant migration into the United States, Columbus faces the challenge of providing basic services, educational programs and helping assimilate these new residents into our vibrant community. The school system faces tremendous growth with students from other parts of the world. Language barriers within the home present communication issues between teachers and parents.”

    Tiffany White

    Currently the Litigation Review Representative for Progressive Insurance Companies since 1996.
    Been involved with a number of organizations and committees, including the North Central Area Commission, YWCA Family Center Neighborhood Advisory Board, Residential Housing Council, among about a dozen others.

    Main issues are the opioid epidemic, workforce development, and police-community relations.

    Notable quotes:

    “I strongly support the rehabilitation of sound vacant structures whether that be a residential or commercial conversation into more Sober Living Housing with the average stay of a minimum thirty days.”

    “The educational and employment statistics in many of Columbus’ zip codes are concerning. Children today are dealing with adult situations and we as a community and government need to be able to identify and offer services not just to the students but the entire family unit.”

    Christopher L. Wyche

    Has served as Director of External Affairs for AT&T Ohio since 2014.
    Served as Development Manager for City Year Columbus’ AmeriCorps Program from 2012 to 2013.
    Worked as Corporate Relations Manager for United Ways of New England from 2007 to 2011.

    Main issues are job creation, transportation, and education.

    Notable quotes:

    “Educating the population is critical for growth this includes both our youth, and adults reentering the workforce or transitioning to other sectors…Columbus has already begun implementing strategies to improve, including expanding pre-k programs that will ensure students enter kindergarten ready to continue their learning…However, 65% of today’s grade school kids will end up at a job that hasn’t been invented yet; with many of them in the STEM fields. So it is incumbent on the city of Columbus to expand access to STEM based programs and job training.”

    Joshua Zimmerman

    Owner and COO of JJCBUS Holdings.
    Served as Vice President of the German Village Society, Board Member of YMCA – Downtown, President of Jimmy John’s Franchise Association, and Board Member for the Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association.

    Main issues are underemployment, homelessness and the opioid crisis.

    Notable quotes:

    “Small businesses comprise much of our economy. Leveraging those passionate entrepreneurs to help with training and development within underserved communities is a good starting point. “

    “As a licensed Realtor, I believe that taking pride in one’s home is the foundation needed to drive an individual towards personal success. So, it is with good reason that we continue to place an emphasis on neighborhood revitalization in Columbus and ensure we connect everyone to the opportunities our city has to offer.”

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