Donegan, Ann Marie
Candidate for Mayor of Olmsted Falls
Biographical Information
Address:
8845 Columbia Road
Olmsted Falls, Ohio 44138
Current Occupation:
Own a Consulting Management company specializing in Project Management - Healthcare Management; Registered Nurse
Education:
Fairview General Hospital School of Nursing; Baldwin Wallace College
Please answer the following questions in no more than 300 words.
1. Why are you the best candidate for office?
I believe Mayoral leadership has been absent in Olmsted Falls over the past six years. Through an approach based upon integrity, honesty and accountability, I promise to offer a Mayoral administration that is open, inclusive and one that is responsive to taxpayers. Leadership means listening and responding to the needs of the citizens. This has been the hallmark of my tenure on Council as one of your Council at Large representatives. The Mayor is the CEO/ Administrator of a community. I am an experienced administrator in the public and private sectors coupled with the sense of what it means to be an entrepreneur. I possess excellent creative "outside the box" planning and organizational skills, coupled with project management and fiscally conservative financial / budget management skills. A Mayor must be a collaborator and team builder not only utilizing those skills within the organization but also utilizing those skills when collaborating with other communities, especially those surrounding the community in which she serves. I utilize a win/win philosophy which is inherent in building and maintaining a winning team. Communication both internally and externally is essential to establishing a credible solid organization and good working relationships, I posses strong communication skills. Lastly but most importantly, I am passionate about public service. I believe it is an elected official's responsibility to improve the quality of life of the citizens we serve.
2. If elected or re-elected, what are your top three (3) priorities and why?
Financial Planning and Management: In the short term, we need to immediately assess our financial situation. Developing departmental planning routines and direction is essential in establishing a clear and concise objective. Continuing on that theme, we need to establish both short and long term organizational goals and department priorities. Every position and job process needs to be reevaluated and reengineered thereby creating a more flat organization. In the long term, we need to more aggressively seek outside funding for city projects and we need to reexamine our current tax levy system. We have very little economic development to offset our tax burden; we must shift that burden and work aggressively to stimulate economic development by updating our Master Plan which will specifically emphasizing a more comprehensive plan for the use of the MUPD and other available land within our borders while we work with much more actively with the JEDD Board to assist in the development of an infrastructure / implementation plan. Infrastructure Needs Assessment: Initiating more effective short and long term planning strategies to address issues such as traffic congestion, road repair, and noise from planes, trains and the turnpike. Safety and Service forces have been reduced over the last year or two due to poor fiscal management. These issues are critical to the success of any community and need to be enhanced. Establish Service Oriented Efforts: We need to become a more service oriented community; establishing and building on initiatives such as a comprehensive recreation program which speaks to the quality of life in a community. I support public / private partnerships which I believe are more cost effective. The Park and Recreation Board already play an active role in a variety of these efforts; the Mayor and Council should provide more direction and support in enhancing these efforts.
back to list of candidates