Trotwood candidates focused on job growth
Rap Hankins, Yvette Page vying for city’s District 2 council seat.
Trotwood City Councilman Rap Hankins is facing a challenge from Yvette Page in the November election for the city’s District 2 seat.
We asked both candidates several questions about what they would do if elected. Look for more answers to their questions in our online voters guide publishing on Oct. 11.
Trotwood also has a contested race in District 4 between Tyna Brown and Councilman James D. Williams II.
Remember that today is the deadline to register to vote.
Q: What are the biggest problems facing the community? What do you propose doing to tackle these challenges?
Rap Hankins: Our citizens are concerned about property taxes, infrastructure, schools, safety and jobs.
We have survived two major recessions during my tenure on City Council. Our citizens are resilient and proud of the city in which they live.
On the issue of jobs, over 265 living-wage jobs have been created citywide in new and existing businesses over the last 16 months along with $10 million in new capital investments.
This is important because Trotwood has lost many of its big retail boxes. It is the strategy of City Council and staff to use the new jobs and expanding industries as a catalyst to begin rebuilding meaningful retail in the Northwest Corridor.
I am advocating for the paving of neighborhood roads in Ward 2 in the 2018-19 budget. Major roadway, water and sewer improvements are slated for 2017-18.
Our biggest and most serious threat is the danger of the ongoing attack by Columbus’ legislature on Home Rule. Trotwood has lost approximately $2 million due to cuts.
Proposals allowing the State of Ohio to collect city income taxes will remove needed income and weaken the very fiber of our community, forcing City Council and staff to propose additional tax increases to provide needed services for the citizens of Trotwood.
Yvette F. Page: The biggest problem facing our community is economic growth. Understanding the people and their income base and how they spend their money will be my first priority. Utilizing this information, I will solicit ideas and create ways to
grow wealth in our community.
Q: What can you do if elected to help grow the local economy and add jobs? What ideas do you have for attracting new jobs and investment?
Hankins: Job creation is done in cooperation with City Council, staff, the county and the state.
No one person will create jobs in the Miami Valley. The role of a council member, as stated in Trotwood’s City Charter, is to create the general vision for the City of Trotwood, and to equip staff and the city manager with the tools to implement said vision on a day-to-day basis.
Council members in cities the size of Trotwood, (24,000 people covering 30 square miles), communicate with potential business opportunities, as well as visit existing local businesses, and inquire what services/ resources the city, county or the state may provide to help grow and/or expand their businesses.
The Trotwood City Council and staff has developed a policy, along with Montgomery County, designating the Northwest Corridor as a distribution corridor. To date, this policy has created 300 or so jobs with more to come.
These added jobs and industries will create disposable income that will bring retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues to the Northwest Corridor.
Page: I would like to partner with neighboring communities that have greater economic growth.
Working with our neighbors on a joint project could open doors of opportunity for all parties involved. I would like to see a multiplex that would incorporate meeting rooms, a convention center and sports arena. Adjacent to the multiplex would be a hotel.