John Meek: Sugarcreek Village Council
Personal information
Office sought: Sugarcreek Village Council
Age: 34
Family: Married to wife, Shannon, for 10 years, and two children, Caleb, 7, and Erin, 3.
Education: 1996 graduate of Garaway High School, 2001 graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in special education, 2005 graduate of Ashland University with master’s degree in education
Hometown: Sugarcreek
Occupation: Third and fourth-grade special education teacher at Baltic Elementary in the Garaway School District. Fireman, village of Sugarcreek.
Political party affiliation: None
Previous elected offices: None
Applicable experience: In the 15 years as a fireman in the village, I have been able to see how the village operates as a government entity. In those 15 years I have seen what can happen when people work together for a common goal. There are times when the police, fire, street, and water departments have had to work together to fix a problem in a quick and efficient manner. In the 15 years as an employee I have seen how the village government works. I want to bring that “teamwork” attitude that all the departments in the village have to the council, and create a teamwork atmosphere with the council, employees, and citizens of Sugarcreek.
Questions
What is the primary reason you are running for this office? Why should someone vote for you?
I feel a need to build some integrity and purpose back into the Sugarcreek Village Council. I want to try to get all council members and mayor to work together and compromise on issues facing Sugarcreek. We also need a council that will listen to and answer questions that the citizens have. I feel people should vote for me because I will try to build a unity with council members and the mayor so we can get down to the issues facing Sugarcreek.
What is the biggest problem(s) facing your community? How do you propose to solve it (them)?
The biggest issue is the village finances, and infrastructure. With the state making cuts and how the economy is, the village needs to watch every penny that it spends. Council needs to decide if the money being spent is a need or want, and ask the question, if we wait will the situation cost more down the road. Like the finances, the village infrastructure is in terrible shape. Council needs to start looking at replacing some water and sewer lines each year, and make needed repairs to buildings and roads that the village owns. The village could ease the pain in the future by doing a little repair and replacement to infrastructure each year. I would like to see some kind of vision for the next five years. I have not seen one and want to have a five-year vision made for guidance for the next five years.
Limited only to the office you are seeking, where specifically would you cut budgets if needed?
If I had to make cuts to the budget I would look at areas that are not that important to the function of the village. The goal would be to things that would not be noticeable to the citizens of Sugarcreek. Try to make cuts in areas like office supplies or utilities to save some money, and have each department try to cut cost by so much. The goal of mine would be not to cut any employee of the village at any cost.
Why are you running for public office? Why do you think you can make a difference in your community?
I am running for village council to give back to the village and citizens of Sugarcreek. I am running to create a connection between council and the citizens of Sugarcreek. Sugarcreek has a lot to offer and I want to continue to make Sugarcreek a great place for everyone. I feel I can make a difference because I have the energy and enthusiasm to move Sugarcreek in the right direction, and let the citizens of Sugarcreek be part of that direction.
How can local cities and towns work together to improve the entire area, rather than just do what’s best for them?
I think with all the budget cuts all cities and towns need to start looking at sharing resources. The sharing of street equipment from another town instead of buying something that may only be used once or twice a year would be better financially. I could also see local villages and townships sharing resources and manpower to cut cost in each budget. I think sharing police, fire, and EMS protection could cut a lot of cost and help with the budgets of many towns and townships.
Office sought: Sugarcreek Village Council
Age: 34
Family: Married to wife, Shannon, for 10 years, and two children, Caleb, 7, and Erin, 3.
Education: 1996 graduate of Garaway High School, 2001 graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in special education, 2005 graduate of Ashland University with master’s degree in education
Hometown: Sugarcreek
Occupation: Third and fourth-grade special education teacher at Baltic Elementary in the Garaway School District. Fireman, village of Sugarcreek.
Political party affiliation: None
Previous elected offices: None
Applicable experience: In the 15 years as a fireman in the village, I have been able to see how the village operates as a government entity. In those 15 years I have seen what can happen when people work together for a common goal. There are times when the police, fire, street, and water departments have had to work together to fix a problem in a quick and efficient manner. In the 15 years as an employee I have seen how the village government works. I want to bring that “teamwork” attitude that all the departments in the village have to the council, and create a teamwork atmosphere with the council, employees, and citizens of Sugarcreek.
Questions
What is the primary reason you are running for this office? Why should someone vote for you?
I feel a need to build some integrity and purpose back into the Sugarcreek Village Council. I want to try to get all council members and mayor to work together and compromise on issues facing Sugarcreek. We also need a council that will listen to and answer questions that the citizens have. I feel people should vote for me because I will try to build a unity with council members and the mayor so we can get down to the issues facing Sugarcreek.
What is the biggest problem(s) facing your community? How do you propose to solve it (them)?
The biggest issue is the village finances, and infrastructure. With the state making cuts and how the economy is, the village needs to watch every penny that it spends. Council needs to decide if the money being spent is a need or want, and ask the question, if we wait will the situation cost more down the road. Like the finances, the village infrastructure is in terrible shape. Council needs to start looking at replacing some water and sewer lines each year, and make needed repairs to buildings and roads that the village owns. The village could ease the pain in the future by doing a little repair and replacement to infrastructure each year. I would like to see some kind of vision for the next five years. I have not seen one and want to have a five-year vision made for guidance for the next five years.
Limited only to the office you are seeking, where specifically would you cut budgets if needed?
If I had to make cuts to the budget I would look at areas that are not that important to the function of the village. The goal would be to things that would not be noticeable to the citizens of Sugarcreek. Try to make cuts in areas like office supplies or utilities to save some money, and have each department try to cut cost by so much. The goal of mine would be not to cut any employee of the village at any cost.
Why are you running for public office? Why do you think you can make a difference in your community?
I am running for village council to give back to the village and citizens of Sugarcreek. I am running to create a connection between council and the citizens of Sugarcreek. Sugarcreek has a lot to offer and I want to continue to make Sugarcreek a great place for everyone. I feel I can make a difference because I have the energy and enthusiasm to move Sugarcreek in the right direction, and let the citizens of Sugarcreek be part of that direction.
How can local cities and towns work together to improve the entire area, rather than just do what’s best for them?
I think with all the budget cuts all cities and towns need to start looking at sharing resources. The sharing of street equipment from another town instead of buying something that may only be used once or twice a year would be better financially. I could also see local villages and townships sharing resources and manpower to cut cost in each budget. I think sharing police, fire, and EMS protection could cut a lot of cost and help with the budgets of many towns and townships.
Published: October 25, 2011
