Mazur clarifies campaign goals, issues

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert mayoral candidate Jerry Mazur drew approximately 35 people to a town hall meeting held Monday at Mi Ranchito restaurant as he dispelled rumors concerning his campaign, and also discussed his campaign platform.

Mazur, who currently represents the Third Ward on Van Wert City Council, first dispelled rumors that he planned to cut city personnel and make them pay more for their benefits if he was elected.

“We don’t have any plans to change that,” Mazur said. “That is not on my agenda.”

After a brief introduction that stressed his business management background and community service, Mazur then talked about what is on his agenda, with unifying the city and county economic development programs being a top priority if he is elected.

The mayoral candidate, who is running against Council President Ken Mengerink in the May primary election, talked about creating a unified economic development program that would encompass both the city and county programs, with an oversight board comprised of local business people, as well as a political appointee from the city and county and a non-voting “facilitator” who would run meetings of the group.

Under Mazur’s plan, there would also be one economic development director to oversee the program, with other economic development personnel reporting to that person, and some development activities still being done under contract with the Ohio State University Extension.

Mazur also talked about using process analyses and the creation of a five-year, citizen-driven plan to improve city operations. To get better feedback from local residents, Mazur talked about creating citizen focus groups that would allow residents to provide information on what they would like to see done in the city.

“I want to get an idea of what the people want,” Mazur said of the focus groups.

The evening also included a spirited, and mostly positive, discussion on what those attending perceived as problems facing the city, including getting local residents and property owners to clean up their properties.

Beautifying the city was listed as a priority by many of those who attended, including better trash/junk enforcement and the fixing and installing of sidewalks in the city.

Other city officials and candidates were also on hand at the meeting, including City Auditor Martha Balyeat, whose position Mazur said was critical to improving city operations.

“The most valuable person on the team is the city auditor,” he said, noting that knowing where the city is now, financially, is where any analysis must begin.

Others at the meeting include Council President candidate Pete Weir, Third Ward Council candidate Ken Markward, Second Ward Councilman Joi Mergy and Fourth Ward Council candidate Louis Ehmer.