Carroll Commencement
Fairborn commencement
Badin graduation
Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > October > 14
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Editorial: Schrimpf, Spolrich best for Kettering City Council
2009 ELECTION
Kettering is in a relatively good place right now. Its tax burden isn’t too high and it offers solid community services.
The big question is how to keep the momentum going at a time when the local economy is in decline and the city’s once-strong manufacturing base is a shadow of its former self.
Two at-large seats on the city council are on the Nov. 3 ballot. Four challengers have joined the two incumbents in the race.
The incumbents are Frank Spolrich, a retired Kettering principal elected to council in 2006, and Amy Schrimpf, who formerly worked for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery County Transportation Improvement District. Ms. Schrimpf, who was appointed to replace Peggy Lehner who went to the statehouse last December, left her job at the Transportation Improvement District to focus on this race.
The four challengers are:
• Timothy Allison, a supervisor at Kroger’s Springboro store;
• Ed Smith, a Dayton attorney;
• Debbie Waker, a teacher and former bank administrator;
• Ashley Webb, operations manager for a flooring distributor. While some of the challengers are good candidates with strong resumes, Mr. Spolrich and Ms. Schrimpf deserve to keep their council seats.
Mr. Webb and Ms. Waker argue that the city should be more hospitable to business. Ms. Waker, in particular, talks about the hurdles she faced helping her husband launch a small company in Kettering. She may have a point about the need to nurture small business more directly.
But the city overall has been proactive in pitching itself as a good place for business, especially by marketing its business parks at the former Defense Electronic Supply Center and in Research Park on the city’s east side.
A deep understanding of the local business community and its needs is a strength for Ms. Schrimpf. In her former role at the chamber of commerce, she worked closely with businesses. She was also deeply involved in developing the Austin Pike interchange along I-75. Those experiences should help her serve as an economic development ambassador.
Council picked Ms. Schrimpf from a pool of 28 applicants that included Mr. Webb, Ms. Waker and Mr. Smith. Given her chamber of commerce contacts, she was politically well-connected. But she was also a good choice.
Mr. Spolrich brings a long history of community service to the job. He is focused on quality-of-life issues — maintaining strong basic services, as well as assets that distinguish the city, such as quality parks and recreation.
Beyond his 40 years as an educator in both public and private schools (he was principal both at Fairmont High School and St. Albert the Great Catholic School), Mr. Spolrich has served on community boards in support of parks, youth health and the city’s annual Labor Day festival. He has demonstrated a deep commitment to the city and his knowledge of its people and institutions inform his decisions on council.
In this race, the incumbents are the best picks.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: 2009 endorsements, Editorials, Scott Elliott, Suburban Communities
