Huber Ridge Area

Townships have a board of trustees just as cities have a city council.  They make many of the same types of decisions but perhaps not as extensive. I would suggest you listen to the audio of  the  meet the candidate that is accessible from the HRAA home screen. You will learn a lot.  Trustee/Candidate Welch has worked hard for the residents with water issues. He also has kept on top of the question of township consolidation. I suggest you listen for that particular question  - it is about half way through the meet the candidate recording. I think it will help you with your decision.    

My Opinion.....

With Jim Welch there are NO smoke and mirrors.  He has specific plans for action that has already been set in motion to keep Blendon moving in a forward positive direction with not only the water issue but other issues such as funding.  He will outright tell you as much as he can without compromising the success of such plans.  There is no learning curve because he already knows the job and is firmly ingrained in the process and the plan to bring success to fruition.  He needs your vote to continue the work he has begun and without your vote, there is no guarantee, in fact, it is MY opinion that the strides that have taken place here in Blendon will flounder and you'll see drastic nose dive in the commitment to a coordinated effort toward uniting our voices and making ourselves heard at the township level!  In the beginning of his efforts to fight the water issues, the Trustees on the BT Board at the time DID NOT and WOULD NOT support him! This is a FACT, trustee meeting minutes and meeting recordings back this up.  It wasn’t until Stewart Flaherty was appointed and re-elected that this issue got the boost it needed from the township.  His commitment to Blendon has been DEMONSTRATED for quite awhile and his actions certainly speak LOUDER than mere words and empty campaign rhetoric.  There are other big issues looming on Blendon in addition to the water rates such as that of decreased funding from taxes.  You could see a drastic decline in services we have all come quite accustomed to here in Blendon and it is my OPINION without Jim in there being a champion for us, we could very well see funding going toward projects that benefit a few and not for the greater good of the WHOLE.  Yes, both candidates are "nice" people and I can attest to that, but, we're not electing a Homecoming court here. When it gets down to it, the ONLY one who can be trusted to do what they can with the KNOWLEGE and CONNECTIONS they have to PROTECT your INVESTMENT and quality of life here in Blendon.....is James Welch.

This weekend's flyer from Jim's opponent was very tellling.....particulary on the water issue.  I have never once gotten a rate DECREASE on any utility and it's unrealistic and out of touch to indicate that thats what the whole fight against water rate hikes is about.  Costs go up.....the fight was against gross increases which was tharted successfully.  Granted there is more work to do, but to expect a decrease is just silly.

Thank you, Carolyn.  Well noted and said.

Jim Welch really was the catalyst for our community to "FIGHT THE HIKE" against OAW.  Many of us did our part in joining Jim; but were it not for his lead, his sounding the alarm, his perseverance, we would all being paying A LOT more than we are today for water and sewer. Jim could provide the figures better than I, but to refresh memories, OAW asked for a significantly greater amount each time than was granted, except for one instance where the PUCO caved to the utility. 

Voters in this neighborhood need to consider these facts.  We will all need to stand together again to fight this next outrageous rate increase request.  Jim is the water expert who works hard on our behalf.