Fallsnewspress.com - Two compete to lead Silver Lake

by Phil Keren

Editor

Silver Lake -- On Nov. 6, Silver Lake voters will decide whether they want to keep current Mayor Bernie Hovey in office, or have former Councilwoman Pat Grant ascend to the leadership post.

Grant and Hovey agree village leaders must find ways to fund repairs to the village's infrastructure and examine ways to save money and be fiscally responsible.

Residents also have cited concerns about trash pickup, utility rates, the dinner theater train possibly running through the village, fire/EMS services and a desire for the village to retain its unique character, the candidates said.

When he spoke with the Falls News-Press this past week, Hovey said he was passing out a brochure listing his accomplishments and explaining why voters should cast their ballots for him.

Grant told the Falls News-Press she was going door-to-door in one more neighborhood this week and then she and a team of supporters will pass out literature over the weekend leading up to Election Day.

Hovey, 60, said his insistence that Council exhaustively examine the budget has "trimmed the fat" out of the spending plan and makes Council "much more knowledgeable" about the village's monetary activities.

Grant, 56, said her past service on Council's finance committee has equipped her with a healthy knowledge of the village's budget.

But along with the financial belt-tightening, Grant said "It's time for us to build up that little cushion again," explaining she would like to put together a long-range capital budget.

Grant said she also wants to ensure franchisees such as trash collectors and cable providers are meeting their contractual obligations.

"If you have a contract, I think they need to follow that," said Grant.

Hovey said he would like to continue building up money in the village's utility funds without raising any utility rates. He explained he would like to implement a policy to improve planting methods so trees have a "better chance to survive," and to "very aggressively replace the ones we are losing."

Grant said she would like to see Village Hall used as a site for senior citizen activities. She suggested having meetings for a book club, a travel club and perhaps a day to play cards.

In 2003, then-mayor Warner Mendenhall ran unopposed for re-election. Hovey then took over as mayor in April 2006 after Mendenhall resigned for health reasons. At the time, Hovey was serving as Council President and the village charter stipulates the President take over as the chief executive if the mayor is unable to finish the term.

The mayor of Silver Lake makes $22,500 per year. The office carries a four-year term which begins Jan. 1, 2008.

Polls will be open Nov. 6 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call the Summit County Board of Elections at 330-643-5200.

E-mail: pkeren@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3940