CH City Council candidate Julie Love deserves consideration

To the Editor:

I’ve been a Cleveland Heights resident for over 35 years, and this year is the first time that I’ve noticed such general interest in a city council race. I would like to thank all of the candidates who are offering to serve our city. I’ve attended several events where candidates offered their views on how to advance Cleveland Heights. We are indeed fortunate to have so many candidates devoted to our city. 

I conclude that candidate Julie Love more than deserves our serious consideration. She analyzed CH financial statements and recommended a different choice for voters. Using her training as a certified public accountant, she offers us a viewpoint that is unique. Unlike all of the other candidates (or existing council members), she opposes an income tax increase at this time. She has taken a courageous stand, since it will be CH voters who will make the final decision in November, not city council. I agree with her that a tax increase will not be effective at “protecting” the city, as some people have argued. Our population is steadily declining, and payroll taxes will be declining too, until that trend can be reversed. A tax increase will not attract new businesses or residents. In fact, it could make our community less attractive than other Greater Cleveland locations that have held the line at 2 percent. We can cut expenses by reducing our reliance on outside consultants. We really do need to focus on economic development, as a number of candidates have wisely suggested. 

I like how Julie Love is unafraid to give citizens her thoughtful reasons to hold the line on raising taxes. I think our city will be better off electing new council members with a variety of experiences, so that our beautiful city can be restored. I think she would challenge the status quo, and give us the fiscal experience that we really need.