Solon City Council Election 2011: Ward 7 Councilman Bill Russo

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Name: Bill Russo

Age: 57

Occupation: Own Securus Financial Strategies

Education: John Carroll University BS/BA Accounting, Wright State University MBA, Finance

Political Affiliation: Republican

Office Sought: Ward 7 Council

Previous Political Office Sought or Held: Ward 7 Council

Candidate Statement: Over the past term I have improved the level of communication with the residents in Ward 7 with a semi-annual newsletter and have responded to every call and email received.

I investigated quiet zones and met with the gentleman from Hudson who received a Federal grant for quiet zones for Railroad traffic through residential zones and found it was not practical for our Ward. Met with management of Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad to address early morning runs through Ward 7. We have been able to minimize the disturbance but not completely eliminate it. 

I am for a comprehensive deer management plan that will provide this and future administrations the tools needed to manage our deer population. It has been proven that non-lethal means of controlling deer do not work and enable the deer population to continue to grow. This leads to increased number of deer and motor vehicle and deer accidents. Hudson is the most recent example of a community that used non-lethal means only and they have finally given up with the use of streiter lights and are looking to initiate a bow hunting program to reduce the number of deer in their community. 

I am against the rental ordinance that has been placed on our council agenda. While I agree with rental registration, I do not agree with rental inspections for the reasons used to justify moving forward. The overwhelming majority of citations are for owner occupied or vacant homes. There are ordinances on the books now that address the concerns raised in public hearings. It is a matter of enforcing existing ordinances. Passing this legislation will not lead to any noticeable change except an increase in costs to tenants. They will pay for the cost of inspections.