ELECT

Davidson, Martz, and Webbe

It's time for Change...It's Time for Progress!
Please vote Davidson, Martz, and Webbe
on 11/7/2023

Partnerships
In Progress

Kirtland has serious pavement challenges which get worse with each road destructive winter. Today's $17-22+ Million in road repairs will quickly become tomorrow's $50+ Million in road replacement if we do not act soon. Worse than roads, in my 55 years here, I have never seen sentiment in Kirtland so divided.

Kirtland voters deserve to know a candidate's/leader's specific plans to bring us back together and fix our issues. Unfortunately, the time for grand visions/dreams without credible and detailed supporting plans has passed. More discouraging is current leadership (Mayor Potter) ap­pears apathetic to Kirtland's divisions, leaving out some who could contribute to the cause, to achieve a narrow vision of success.

I have spent the last several years looking at other towns who have confronted and solved the same issues now confronting Kirtland. Towns like Avon, Avon Lake, Grafton, Perry, Sheffield Village, Westlake, and so many others. From these towns, I have drawn some conclusions as to how they have demonstrated consistent success, using methods which I believe could help solve our issues, WITHOUT RAISING TAXES as explained below.

Proposed
Plan to Unite
& Fix Kirtland

1. Davidson, Martz, and Webbe Ticket: Kirtland's issues are big. Leaders, no mat­ter how effective, are wise to humbly ask for help from those who share his/her vision for Kirt­land. Help from proven leaders, with a strong track record of results. I am pleased to announce the DAVIDSON, MARTZ, and WEBBE Ticket for Change. We are committed to change and progress in Kirtland. We are diverse. We are bipartisan. We have over 110+ years of combined experience living in Kirtland. We get things done. We bring people together. We are NOT poli­tician's looking for a ticket to Columbus (as Mayor Potter has vocalized his political ambitions). Our political ambitions are simple: DRAMATICALLY AND INNOVATIVELY RAISE REVENUE, FIX KIRTLAND ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES, CUTTING SER­VICES, OR SELLING CITY HALL WHILE BRINGING KIRTLANDERS BACK TOGETHER.

2. Unite Kirtland: In recent years, our beautiful town (like our country) has fractured. A growing division in our community, eateries, stadiums, schools, Council Chambers, City Hall, and most importantly social media has occurred. It saddens me to read what some neighbors say about others. As leaders, we (Mayor Potter included) can play a role in encouraging civility. I expect Mayor Potter has made efforts to deter the horrible online conduct of some supporters who ruthlessly attack others on social media, I hope so. Let's encourage and promote civility and respect online and off. Let's be the Kirtland I know and love. During my Campaign, I pledge that I and my supporters will challenge other's record and plans BUT will always respect the individual. I encourage my challengers to make the same pledge for their campaign and their supporters. Our strength is in our diverse ideas, approaches and solutions. When we decide to value/respect each other, we win. If elected Mayor, this divide is the very first thing I will work to fix.

3. Task Forces: During my first weeks in office, I will assemble 6 new Kirtland Task Forces to help bring our community back together. Each committee will be strategically populated by a cross section of very capable residents, with opposing views, and tasked to work together to better understand each other's perspectives and forge Partnerships for Progress. Each of the Task Forces would be associated with a Standing Committee of Council. The Fiscal Review Task Force in my first term brought both changes and some excellent continuing members of staff (Finance Directors) and boards (BZA).

4. Bring the Taxes Home Program: Communities across America are yielding the tax benefits of working from home. Employment Taxes can be declared and paid to the City where the work-from-home employee resides. As Mayor, I will establish Task Force I: Bring the Taxes Home to recognize, celebrate, harvest, and partner with all Kirtlanders who now work from home to channel their payroll taxes to our General Fund/Road Repair Plan. Estimated General Fund Impact: ADD $300,000 Annually (Public Relations Committee). This program WILL NOT increase any Kirtlanders' income taxes. Rather, it will re-direct current taxes paid to Kirtland.

5. Parking Partnership Program: Each year, Lake County gets an estimated 425,000+ visitors from all over the state and country coming to our beautiful parks, centers and attrac­tions. (Lake County Visitors Bureau website). Kirtland is pleased to provide our portion of those guests with use of our roads and city services. It makes sense to reach out to our attractions, to partner with them to help defray related expenses. As Mayor, I will establish Task Force 2: Partners in Parking to work with Kirtland's non-profit/non-tax paying organizations (Churches exempted) to implement a nominal parking fee for each paying visitor (Kirtlanders exempted) to help Kirtland maintain the roads and services necessary to support these great institutions. Estimated General Fund Impact: ADD $300-500,000 Annually (Finance Committee).

6. Tourism Partnership Program: Each year, a portion of the 425,000+ visitors coming to Lake County pass through Kirtland. Unfortunately, they arrive with full wallets and leave with the same, spending their abundant tourist dollars in Mentor, Willoughby Hills, and elsewhere. As Mayor, I will establish Task Force 3: Partnerships in Tourism to develop and implement lodging, retail, and dining offerings helping current and future Kirtland businesses flourish while providing much needed tourism taxes. Estimated General Fund Impact: ADD $200-300,000 Annually (Economic Development Committee).

7. Kirtland Home Program: Desirable municipalities across America have established Home Purchase Impact Fees where home buyers seeking to migrate to desirable communities' help share the burden of its infrastructure. As Mayor, I will establish Task Force 4: Home Buying Partners whereby the buyer of each Kirtland home will contribute a 1 % impact fee to the City to help fund our roads and infrastructure. This has been an enormously successful program nationwide where a 1 % premium is paid by homebuyers seeking to join wonderful communities like Kirtland. Estimated General Fund Impact: ADD $200,000+ Annually (Finance Committee).

8. Kirtland Grant Program: Each year, the State and Federal Governments enact massive programs to help small towns just like Kirtland with new schools and city infrastruc­ture. One just needs to drive through Andover, Grafton, Lorain, Painesville, Sheffield, and other Cities/Townships to witness the benefits of these amazing programs. As Mayor, I will establish Task Force 5: Grant Partnerships tasked to aggressively scout and secure any and all tax dol­lars available to small towns such as Kirtland to help us build new schools, buildings, roads, sewers, and infrastructure. It is time for our little town to realize the same beautiful growth as so many other small towns via funds provided by the State and Federal Governments. Estimated General Fund Impact: ADD $100,000-$500,000 Annually (Public Safety Committee).

9. Economic Development Partnership: Kirtland is a highly desirable location for developers. Unfortunately, some have been scared off, discouraged, or not approached, thus taking their assets, new jobs & taxes elsewhere. As Mayor, I will establish Task Force 6: Partners in Economic Development to bring new, exciting, beautiful, complimentary, and "Kirt­land Appropriate" developments to Kirtland starting with a Commercial Park to be located on Route 6 to attract new businesses, job, and taxes. I will not rest until we realize a minimum of 5 new, significant, and beautiful developments in Kirtland. Estimated General Fund Impact: ADD $100-500,000 Annually (Economic Development Committee).

If you're interested in hearing more about our plan or if you have any thoughts or comments that you'd like to share with us, we'd love to hear from you!

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