Candidate Profile - John Nixon
Lima City Council President

(as printed in the Lima News Election Coverage Feature)

Question from The Lima News
Major issues:

Answer from John Nixon
Safety services, budget stability and economic development are all interdependent.  Economic development can generate tax dollars without increasing tax rates and stabilize our budget.  As the budget revenue increases, the city can provide higher levels of services. As the city increases services, we become more attractive to businesses and families looking to relocate here. 

Safety services have been the most important to our community and my highest priority.  I have a proven record through 16 budgets of demonstrating the ability to maximize all services while being a good steward of tax dollars, twice preventing layoffs of police, fire and public works personnel. 

Budget stability is being achieved by prioritizing services provided. Until we realize revenue increases, City Council and the administration must continue to prioritize services to achieve a balanced budget.  While never enjoyable, "doing more with less" is a concept that the private sector has had to embrace. 

Economic development is critical to stabilizing the budget and helping the city afford more services.  Council is limited to a legislative role and must work with the administration to assist in these efforts.  City Council can contribute to creating a "business-friendly" environment through cooperation and legislative action.  Council and government in general must be cautious of direct involvement in private-sector investment to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.  Council has passed over 35 ordinances related to the Greater Ohio Ethanol plant.  Council voted to close portions of Collett and High Streets to accommodate St. Rita's expansion. 

Question from The Lima News
We've heard about the city's strapped general fund budget. If you could add money for one thing, what would it be and why?

Answer from John Nixon
Safety services. The single-biggest obligation the city has to its residents is providing for their safety. The challenge we face is increasing the number of police officers and firefighters in a sustainable manner.  We cannot simply hire personnel one year without the certainty that we will not be required to lay them off the following year due to budget constraints.  In the future, I will continue to hold safety services as the highest priority as I have demonstrated over the past 16 years.  Twice in my career, I have challenged the administration's proposed budget and found ways in the budget to recall laid-off police officers and firefighters and prevent layoffs while maximizing all services throughout the city operation to the benefit of all eight wards of the city.  Other city services are important and necessary, but the vast majority of residents hold Safety Services as their highest priority. 

Question from The Lima News
How long have you lived in the ward, and how does the length of time living in a place affect how a person best serves the area?

Answer from John Nixon
I have lived in the city for more than 25 years, 12 years in the 1st Ward and 13 years in the 2nd Ward. My parents lived on North Main Street when I was born and moved to Bath Township when I was 5. I grew up in Bath Township and moved back into the city in 1982.  Actually living in the area for a long period of time gives an officeholder a perspective of history and community. One gets a feel for the concerns of the residents and is better able to represent their opinions and concerns in City Hall.  Two events in my life have provided insights which afford me unique perspectives from which to approach the Council president position.  Having grown up in Bath Township, I remain in contact with many people and receive their opinions and views on issues throughout the community.  This perspective affords me the ability to understand the concerns of the residents outside the city.  As Lima continues to find ways to grow, it inevitably will impact the broader community.  The second event is my career as a route salesman for Nickles Bakery.  I sold bakery products to customers throughout every part of Lima, making contact with a true cross-section of residents.  I was able to obtain a wide variety of opinions and broader understanding of issues concerning Lima residents.  I have been able to use the knowledge gained from these experiences to guide issues affecting the entire city through the legislative process.

Question from The Lima News
How do you view the responsibilities of council president, and how are you suited for those responsibilities?

Answer from John Nixon
Lima City Council president is responsible for running the council meetings.  Each councilor is a duly-elected representative of a ward.  Regardless of their points of view, it is imperative that the president allow every member to be heard on the issues before the council on behalf of their constituents.  Public debate can, from time to time, become contentious, passionate and spirited, but the president must ensure that the dialogue is respectful and decorum is maintained.  During my 16 years on council and over the past several months as council president, I have demonstrated my commitment to these principles. 

The council president is responsible for designating committee appointments to council's standing committees, which requires a working knowledge of the committees and rules by which we must operate.  My experience on council affords me the knowledge and the ability to match the interests and abilities of council members with these committees. 

The council president has the authority to authorize legislation.  This power is granted by the charter to the council president, a majority of a council committee and the mayor.  It is an integral part of the "checks and balances" that are necessary between the legislative branch and the administrative branch. 

The council president is designated by charter to become the mayor in the event that the Mayor is unable to fulfill the duties of the office. 

Conducting the public's business in government must be done in an orderly and transparent fashion that is open to the public.

Experience does count.

Question from The Lima News
In what ways can council and the council president help improve economic development in the city?

Answer from John Nixon
It is important to understand that council is limited to a legislative role.  The council president and members of council do not have the authority to negotiate with businesses concerning the terms of incentives.  Negotiation is an administrative function, and council members are prohibited by charter from engaging in or interfering with administrative functions.

The council president and City Council can help improve economic development by working with the administration and businesses to identify and eliminate legislative impediments and create incentives for existing and new businesses.  Council members must prepare themselves to make decisions on issues that will facilitate business development "at the speed of business." 

While business is operating at an accelerated pace, the laws that government must abide by often have the result of "slowing down" progress.  In 2008 and through the coming years, Lima City Council and businesses must communicate when we encounter impediments to development and then commit to eliminate them.  As council president, I extended this invitation to business leaders earlier this year at the Chamber of Commerce's annual Forecast Breakfast.

I have demonstrated my commitment to solid business growth through legislative actions, which involved closing streets, vacating alleys, rezoning land and infrastructure improvements.

My commitment is to the future: I am committed to welcoming new businesses and to assisting existing businesses with job creation and retention.

I will continue to do what's best for Lima as I have for the past 16 years.

Reprinted with permission of The Lima News