Huber council candidates share visions for city

ELECTION 2017

Voters will choose between three candidates for an at-large Huber Heights City Council seat in the May 2 primary election.

Nancy Byrge, Rick Stan and Chase Warden are candidates to replace incumbent Mark Campbell, who is running to fill Byrge’s current seat in Ward 5. Voters in the primary will cast ballots for one candidate, and the top two will compete head-to-head in November’s general election.

MORE: Dayton Daily News voter guide

To help readers better understand the positions of the candidates, the Dayton Daily News asked the candidates to fill out a voter guide of questions crafted by the newsroom.

Portions of those responses are part of this story, and the full voter guide, including mayoral responses, is available online at vote.daytondailynews.com. There, the candidates weighed in on issues including their visions of economic development, the role of social media among elected officials and residential chickens.

Top priorities

While candidates for mayor collectively focused on economic development and growth, the three at-large candidates focused on different priorities.

Byrge said her top three priorities will be public safety, quality of life and upgrading parks and recreation facilities.

“We must continue our commitment and success in providing a high level of public safety to Huber Heights, to allow our schools to flourish, our residents to recreate, and our businesses to grow,” she said.

MORE: 3 seek to be next Huber Heights mayor

Stan’s top priorities are increasing citizen input in setting the city’s budget, economic redevelopment and supporting small businesses.

“We have a high need for a member of council with a strong and broad-based competency in finance,” Stan said.

Top priorities for Warden include cutting wasteful spending, keeping taxes from increasing, and working with all of council.

“I want to work together with the entire council to benefit the city of Huber Heights and not align with one of the many factions that divide our leadership today,” Warden said.

Council disagreements

Disagreements on council have made headlines, with council members at times referring to themselves as “old council” or “new council” to advocate for policy. The newspaper asked candidates to identify the major source of the disagreement and how they would lessen fractures.

“I disagree with these labels, as they are themselves divisive and distract from the goal of serving the people of Huber Heights,” Byrge said, adding she does not “fall into either of these camps.” Byrge said she would continue to work to collaborate to implement initiatives as a team.

MORE: Huber Heights candidates speak out about Facebook fights

Stan said the city needs a common mission statement.

“I believe that we have not done a good job of identifying a set of common objectives to which everyone can subscribe,” Stan said. Once established, he said, “move on to the building of a dedicated and focused council team.”

Warden said watching the city council behave has brought him “embarrassment and shame.”

“When I say ‘I’m from Huber’ I’m usually met with a response of pity or a sarcastic comment such as ‘How about that city council?’” Warden said. “We simply have to get rid of the problem by voting them out, and we certainly can do that on Election Day.”

MORE: Huber Heights to pick new mayor


ONLINE VOTERS GUIDE AVAILABLE

Tuesday, May 2 is Election Day for a large part of the Miami Valley.

Our online voters guide allows you to compare candidates on issues in competitive races, as well as learn more about tax levies on the ballot.

Check out our online voters guide at VOTE.DAYTONDAILYNEWS.COM.

Also, don’t forget that you can vote now at your county board of elections office and by mail-in absentee ballot.

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