Election 2016

Xenia Voters Guide

Below is every contested race in Xenia.  I have linked to every candidate's campaign website to help you research each candidate. 

President

• Richard Duncan & Ricky Johnson 
• Gary Johnson & William Weld (Libertarian Party)
• Jill Stein & Ajamu Baraka (Green Party)
• Donald J. Trump & Michael R. Pence (Republican Party)
• Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine (Democratic Party)
• Evan McMullin  (Write In)
• Darrel Castle (Write In)

U.S. Senator

• Joseph R. DeMare (Green Party)
• Rob Portman (Republican Party)
• Scott Rupert 
• Ted Strickland (Democratic Party)
• Tom Connors 

Representative to Congress (10th District)

• Robert Klepinger (Democratic Party)
• Tom McMasters 
• Mike Turner (Republican Party)

State Senator (10th District)

• Matthew Kirk (Democratic Party)
• Robert D. Hackett (Republican Party)

State Representative (74th District)

• Bill Dean (Republican Party)
• Barb Niemeyer (Democratic Party)

Member of the State Board of Education (10th District)

• Nick Owens
• Braydon L. Bevens

Justice of the Supreme Court

• John P. O' Donnell
• Pat Fischer  

Justice of the Supreme Court

• Cynthia Rice
• Pat DeWine

18 Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal) Greene County Vocational School District

A renewal for a tax for the benefit of Greene County Vocational School District for the purpose of general permanent improvements at a rate not exceeding 0.75 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.075 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2017, first due in calendar year 2018.

21 Proposed Bond Issue Xenia Community City School District

Shall bonds be issued by the Xenia Community City School District for the purpose of paying for the local share of school construction under the State of Ohio Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and locally funded initiatives in the principal amount of $52,138,694, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of 37 years, and an annual levy of property taxes be made outside the ten mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the repayment period of the bond issue 3.9 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.39 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017, to pay the annual debt charge on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?

22 Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal) Greene County

A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Greene County for the purpose of providing funds for health and hospital services for current expenses of Greene Memorial Hospital Inc., including cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac care, satellite health facilities (Beavercreek, Fairborn, Cedarville, Yellow Springs) and emergency room equipment at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.05 for each one hundred dollar of valuation, for a period of 5 years, commencing in 2017, first due in calendar year 2018.

Understanding No-Fly zones over Syria

FARAI CHIDEYA of Five Thirty Eight Made an interesting point about No-Fly Zones over Syria.
From the Presidential Debate. October 9th, 2016


Hillary Clinton:


"Russia hasn't paid any attention to ISIS. They're interested in keeping Assad in power. So I, when I was secretary of state, advocated and I advocate today a no-fly zone and safe zones. We need some leverage with the Russians, because they are not going to come to the negotiating table for a diplomatic resolution, unless there is some leverage over them. And we have to work more closely with our partners and allies on the ground."



In one of the latest Clinton emails revealed by Wikileaks, she said in 2013:

“To have a no-fly zone you have to take out all of the air defenses, many of which are located in populated areas. So our missiles, even if they are standoff missiles so we’re not putting our pilots at risk — you’re going to kill a lot of Syrians.” Tonight, she reiterated her support for a no-fly zone.

163 Miles of Cycling

I'm hoping this summer to make my 3rd attempt the ride my bicycle from my home in Xenia to Nicholasville, Kentucky in one day. This is a 163 mile journey. I will post my planning progress here.

I'm thinking about changing my route a little bit for this attempt.  Google maps helped my find a route around Lexington, KY.  This way I can avoid all the traffic on Lexington and arguably one of the worse roads to cycle on: Nicholasville Road.

The new route around Lexington uses lower traveled side roads through the beautiful Blue Grass Region.  This should make for a more enjoyable and safer ride.  However, there are a few down sides  to the new route, less services available, more hills, more turns to navigate, and I will not be riding on the 8 mile Legacy Trail in northern Lexington. The


Original route via the Legacy Trail, Lexington, and the evil Nicholasville Road

The Blue Grass route around Lexington

According to Google it is only going to take 9 more minutes and a half mile longer to use the Blue Grass route.  What is 9 minutes when I am going to spend all day cycling?

There are two other minor changes to my route.  I'll be crossing the Ohio River using the John A Roebling Suspension Bridge simply because the bridge has a great history and I want to ride past the great American Ball Park. The Purple People Bridge was a great way to cross the river as well, but I want something different this time.

I will also be using Turkey Foot Road (KY - 1303). I love Kentucky Road names and numbers.  Turkey Foot Road has nice bike lanes and less stoplight. 

Create Maps or Search for a route from millions at MapMyRide

Here is a MapMyRide map on the whole route.
The elevation chart is in error, The Ohio part in flat, and the Kentucky part is constant hills.

Quizzing Game for Awana

I am suspending sales of the Quizzing Game.  After 15 years it is time to call it a very good run.  Thanks to everyone who purchased a game.  

2012 Fall Election Xenia, Ohio Voters Guide

Xenia's Sample Ballot

President/Vice President

• (Green Party) Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala (Web Site)
• (Socialist Party)Stewart Alexander/Alex Mendoza (Web Site)
• Richard Duncan/Ricky Johnson (Apparently Ohio is the only state he is on the ballot, and I couldn't find a website)
• (Constitution Party)Virgil Goode/Jim Clymer (Web Site)
• (Libertarian Party) Gary Johnson/James P. Gray (Web Site)
• (Democratic Party) Barack Obama/Joe Biden (Web Site)
• (Republican)Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan (Web Site)

U. S. Senator

• (Democratic Party) Sherrod Brown (Web Site)
• (Republican Party) Josh Mandel  (Web Site)
• Scott A. Rupert  (Web Site)

Representative to US Congress (10th District)

• (Libertarian Party) David A. Harlow (Web Site)
• (Democratic Party) Sharen Swartz Neuhardt (Web Site)
• (Republican) Mike Turner (Web Site)

State Senator (10th District)

• (Republican Party) Chris Widener (Web Site)
• (Democratic Party) Jeff D. Robertson (Web Site)

State Representative (74th District) (Web Site)

• (Republican) Robert D. Hackett (Web Site)
• (Democratic) Steve W. Key (Facebook Page)

Sheriff 

• Charles Barrett (Web Site)
• (Republican) Gene Fischer (Web Site)

County Recorder

• (Republican Party) Eric C. Sears (I could not find a Web Site)
• (Democratic Party) Martin Borchers (I county not find a Web Site)

Member of State Board of Education (10th District)

• Jeff Hardin (Web Site)
• Todd Book (I could not fot his Web Site)

Justice of the Supreme Court

• Mike Skindell (Web Site)
• Terrence O'Donnell (Web Site)

Justice of the Supreme Court

• William M. O'Neill (Web Site)
• Robert R. Cupp (Web Site)

 Justice of the Supreme Court

• Yvette McGee Brown (Web Site)
• Sharon L. Kennedy (Web Site)

 Judge of the Court of Appeals 

• Carley Ingram (Web Site)
• Jeffrey M. Welbaum (Web Site)

State Issue #1 Shall there be a convention to revise, alter, or amend the Ohio Constitution?

Issue 1 is a question that by law appears on the ballot every 20 years. It has never been approved since the 1910's. From what I can tell no one is pushing for this.

• Yes
• No

State Issue #2 To create a state-funded commission to draw legislative and congressional districts

Issue 2 deals with how the congressional district lines are redrawn every ten years. Currently, the lines are drawn by our electric officials in columbus. The republicans have been in charge and have drawn spaghetti lines across the state to keep as many republicans in power as possible. Issue 2 would set up a commission the draw the lines. Issue 2 is being pushed by a coalition of groups including ohio democratic party, Ohio Libertarian Party, a variety of labor groups and the League of Women Voters of Ohio. I am personally will be voting yes on this issue.

• Yes (Pro Issue 2 Web Site)
• No (No on Issue 2 editorials)

Local Issue 21 Proposed Tax Levy (Additional) Xenia Community City School District 6.5 Mills

About $200 per year on a 100,000 house.

School Levies are the hard.  I am not universally against them. I do want to support our local schools. It is reasonable to pay a little extra due the to state cuts. However, I do believe that the school district needs to make a strong case additional taxes. Simply stating there will be devastating if this does not pass is pathetic. I need to know, what will be cut, if the levy fails and what will be funded in the levy passes. From what I understand if this levy does pass Xenia will be one of the highest taxed school districts in the state. I think budget cuts should start with administrative salaries.   

• Yes (Facebook Group)
• No

Local Issue 22 A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Greene County Mental Health and Recovery Board 1.5 Mills About $47 per year on a $100,000 house

• Yes (Mental Health Board's Flyer) 
• No

2011 Fall Election Xenia, Ohio Voters Guide

State Wide Issues

Ohio Secretary of State web site about the Issues with Arguments for and Against.

Issue 1

If approved, Issue 1 would raise the maximum age when one can become a judge from 70 to 75.

Issue 2

According to the League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund, Issue 2 would: “Affect public employees, in particular, teachers, firefighters and police. Prohibit public employees from striking, eliminate binding arbitration as a way to settle contract disputes, require performance based pay for teachers, establish a minimum that public employees must pay for health insurance and pensions, allow the governing body (public employer) to impose its own last offer to settle a contract dispute.”

A “yes” vote on Issue 2 would affirm Senate Bill 5, which was signed into law by Governor Kasich this year, and enact the provisions stated above.




Issue 3

Passage of Issue 3 would make it illegal for Ohioans to be forced to buy health insurance or participate in any health care system. This attempt to block key provisions of Obamacare would likely be challenged in federal court, but it would be a clear signal that Ohioans wish to assert their 10th Amendment rights against a blatantly unconstitutional and potentially disastrous overhaul of a huge portion of the national economy that would greatly diminish personal liberty for every American.

Greene County Issues

Issue 13

Xenia Community City School District

Emergency Levy- Additional

4.8 mills- five years- Commencing 2011 ($147/year on a 100,000 house)

(Xenia School Board Statement)

Issue 14

Greene County Career Center

Permanent Improvements- Renewal

0.75 mill- five years- Commencing 2011 ($16/year on a $100,000 house )

(Greene County Career Center Statement)

Issue 15

Greene Memorial Hospital

Operating Levy- Renewal

0.5 mill- five years- Commencing 2012 ($13/year on a $100,000 house )

(Website)

Xenia City Council 4 to Elect

John Caupp (Website)

Michael Engle

Josh Long (Website)

Dale Louderback (Website)

30 by 30 list

Here is 30 by 30 list. I'm not completely satisfied with it, but here it is now, I might change a few things are the year progresses.

Bike Century

Visit Hocking Hills Statepark

Visit Columbus Zoo

Learn to grill a mean steak

Buy a gold coin

Run a 5k

Roller Blade to work

Buy a nice Road Bike

Cook a romantic dinner

Finish World Map Art for living room

Weigh 160 lbs

Make a new kind of ice cream

Goto a Michigan Football Game

Attend a Cedarville Basketball Game with Lily

Ride the Van Buran Bike Trail

Make Bed Frame and Headboard

Make over my office

Take our Awana club to AwanaGames

Memorize a scripture passage

See my cousin Dan

Visit Alicia & Kirk

See a 3D Movie

Disk Golf at a new Course

Finish the Great Miami Bike Trail

Bikeride with Lily to Youngs

Drink a new kind of pop

Take Danielle to a new Resteraunt

Buy Meat from grass feed cow

Plant a Fruit Tree

6 Months savings in the bank