Blomquist, Robert G
Candidate for Mayor; City of Olmsted Falls
Biographical Information
Address:
8171 Lynway Ave.
Olmsted Falls, Ohio 44138
Current Occupation:
Mayor; City of Olmsted Falls
Education:
B.A. Business Administration (Finance-Economics) Baldwin-Wallace College
A.O.S. Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park N.Y.
Please answer the following questions in no more than 300 words.
1. Why are you the best candidate for office?
I am the best candidate for this office because I have demonstrated the ability to lead my community making meaningful improvements on a number of critical issues of vital importance for our residents. I understand my town through service to the residents and staying connected to the business community and the school district. I have preserved our heritage and maintained our small town atmosphere through a period of time when our city has added 50% more housing units and 30% more people. We are growing, which brings a severe strain on services. I recognize this and have accomplished the following as Mayor. I have managed building a new city hall and police station and a new centrally located fire station improving efficiency and emergency response times. All city departments now operate out of modern facilities. Our streets are consistently well maintained. All major roads have been resurfaced in the last 6 years. Traffic flow has been improved by straightening out a dangerous offset intersection. I've directly brought over $14 million infrastructure dollars into the community to eliminate at grade rail crossings and to build sewers saving our residents up to 60% on assessments that improve their property and the environment. New park facilities have been built and more land acquired for recreation. I have worked well on regional issues. I serve on the board of NOCOP which has become the model for senior transportation in Cuyahoga County. Olmsted Falls was instrumental in having a state law passed to create Quiet Zones to eliminate train horns. I've worked with the state and county on an incentive package to expand our city's largest employer by 25%, attracting out of state jobs to Olmsted Falls and Ohio. New businesses are being established regularly in the city. I listen well and make commitments.
2. If elected or re-elected, what are your top three (3) priorities and why?
My first priority would be to follow through on three major railroad projects in process. The first being the Quiet Zone for the city. Over 90% of our residents are impacted by train horn noise. I have developed a local plan to comply with Federal and State Law and would prefer to make this a reality in mid-November than planning a transition for another administration. We are also in right of way acquisition and final design for an underpass project. Another overpass is being designed to help serve our city. My second priority would be to establish a program to assist citizens in the city that need help with day to day activities and do not qualify for assistance under the standard government programs. I have an idea that I believe will work at the neighborhood level with the city using existing people and resources. Third; I will promote the question of placing a merger study on the 2006 ballot for Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township. We pay more in Northeast Ohio for delivery of government services than many other areas of the nation. I believe regionalism will start with small collaborations first. We are two suburbs that share a school district and we need a stronger sense of unified governance and purpose. A merger may reduce the cost of local government, saving taxpayers' money in both communities. State law provides for a way to look in depth at the issue, it is a discussion we need to have for the future of both communities. There needs to be a unified approach to managing growth, economic development and unified planning on transportation issues and infrastructure development. We have lost time on the Joint Economic Development District and gaining efficiency on delivery of service because we act independently.
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