Thank you to all of my fellow residents for choosing me to serve our community on city council. During my campaign I had a chance to meet many of you. I keep with me your ideas and desires. Our conversations are only the beginning of the work we will do together.

The ideals I ran my campaign on will guide me as I serve on council: open communication, responsible investments in our community, and greater partnership with community members and organizations.

I look forward to working together, creating an even brighter future for the already great City of Upper Arlington.

Sincerely,
Debbie

The audio from the UA Chamber of Commerce and Leadership UA debates can be listened to here by clicking this link to WUAR Upper Arlington Radio and then choose the appropriate program.

If you would like to view the video of the Leadership UA debate please click here or the video below.

Leadership UA Candidates Night Debate 2009 from Andrew Miller on Vimeo.

Candidate Debbie Johnson participated in the Stay UA conversation at the UA Senior Center. Almost 70 participants representing senior/aging support network providers across Upper Arlington and Central Ohio helped to define a path to move the Stay UA Pilot program forward.

Several participants felt the event, hosted by UA Art of Hosting member Andrew Miller, provided them with the opportunity to be a part of the solution; to want to work collaboratively to make the Stay UA program a further success.

Candidate Johnson wasn’t alone in feeling that the event was a success and hopes that more of our community issues can be dealt with in this thoughtful, innovative and empowering way.

Debbie will work with ESCCO to assist in coordinating a leadership development program for emerging Principals. She will also be working with many other Central Ohio organizations to develop leadership programs like this one for ESCCO. These organizations include MORPC, Franklin County Children Services, State Auto, Ohio Society of CPAs, Human Resources Association of Central Ohio (HRACO) and many more. Candidate Johnson is excited about these programs and remarked that; “Good things are happening to promote leadership development!”

Debbie attended the STAY UA Subcommittee meeting to plan for the October 15 Provider Forum. This forum will help the city and providers gain a better understanding of the aging network and look for ideas of how the delivery of the STAY UA pilot program can become sustainable and continue to enhance the lives of residents of Upper Arlington.

At the City Council Conference Session, we heard from the Upper Arlington Community Foundation. The Foundation has taken on the task of raising funds to erect a barn at the new Sunny 95 Park. This barn will be used by the community for activities such as music, performance arts, and community meetings. This project will be a great addition to our Parks and Recreation division.

For more information on where Candidate Debbie Johnson will be next check out the events page here.

SNP Wednesday, September 30, 2009

To the Editor:

Every now and again, a very special resident steps forward to offer to give time and talent to better our community. Debbie Johnson is such a person.

I am excited for the prospects of Upper Arlington having Debbie, if elected, to serve on our City Council. This is an exceptionally committed and organized person.

Debbie is currently a leadership development consultant with the Franklin University Leadership Center, implementing leadership training programs for corporations, associations and nonprofit organizations throughout Central Ohio. She previously was a planner of public information campaigns for a communications firm.

If we ever wanted an advocate who would work to keep all of us as residents informed and included, it is Debbie Johnson.

I urge all Upper Arlington residents to thoughtfully consider and vote for Debbie Johnson for Upper Arlington City Council on Nov. 3.

Chris Widing

Former president, Upper Arlington Board of Education

The conversation was very productive with a harvest of all of the insights to be delivered to participants and the UA School Board over the next week.

Debbie Johnson noted, “Preparing our kids with the skills to let them thrive in this shifting economy must be addressed. I’m proud of our school and business leaders for coming together to tackle such an important issue.”

Residents write in support of Johnson for council seat

We are writing in support of Debbie Johnson for Upper Arlington City Council in the Nov. 3 election.

We have known Debbie for many years through her work in the Upper Arlington School system. She has been a tireless volunteer in championing school issues, including service in several PTO leadership positions and participation on multiple school levy campaigns.

Debbie co-chaired the successful 2007 school levy campaign, and she currently participates on the Upper Arlington School District Revenue Review Committee that has responsibility for identifying optimal revenue streams for our school system. Visit johnsonforuacouncil.com to learn more about Debbie.

Debbie would bring the leadership and communication skills to city council that are needed to get things done. We urge everyone who believes residents should have a voice in the development of our city to take a strong look at what she can offer.

-Frank & Jana Tice

• A representative from the United States Postal Service addressed Council in regards to a change for the 43221 Post Office located on Riverside Drive. The USPS will move operations for mail carriers out of that location and is looking for a retail-only space in the 43221 zip code to better serve their customers.
• Representatives from SWACO also addressed the Council to notify them that they will be recalling a percentage of trash that is currently being shipped out of Franklin County and direct it to the county landfill. They’ve noted a decline in tonnage due to the economy and are taking this step to break-even.
• Next week is Fire Prevention Week.
• The City’s Finance Director presented her August 2009 Finance Director Report. The General Fund revenue is approximately .6% below projections to date. Due to the economy and the loss of AOL, withholdings are down approximately $191,000 less than 2008. On the operations budget side, expenditures remain 4% below anticipated levels and Department Directors continue to closely monitor their budgets and conserve where possible.
• The Community Improvement Corporation presented its new video and gave an update of their progress of the Economic Development Incentive Portfolio.
• The Council also reviewed the Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) and voted to accept their recommendations.

 To view the agenda and minutes, visit the City’s website: http://www.ua-ohio.net/news/meetings/councilagendas/default.asp

Debbie provides her plans and ideas for our community’s future when she is elected to city council. Hear from Upper Arlington residents and supporters about why they will be voting for candidate Debbie Johnson.

Here’s some information and a reminder that absentee voting begins Tuesday, September 29.

It’s a good time to check your voter registration (and those in your household) to make sure you are filed correctly. You can check by going to the Franklin County Board of Elections website: To do that, simply click here.

If you are not registered, click here to get started. The deadline to register for the November election is October 5.

If voter registration is complete and correct and you wish to vote absentee, an absentee ballot can be requested from the Franklin County Board of Elections. To request an absentee ballot application, click here. You can only request that an absentee ballot application be mailed to you; no one can request the actual ballot online nor can we vote online.

The application deadline to request an absentee ballot is noon on October 31 and the ballot must be returned in person by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day; if mailed, the absentee ballot must be postmarked by November 2.

If you prefer, you can vote in person before Election Day by going to the Board of Elections. This “in-person absentee voting” can be done at 280 East Broad Street, from 8:00 – 5:00 Monday through Friday after September 29.

As many of you know, the November 3rd election is very important to me, as I am a candidate for Upper Arlington City Council. If you would like more information about my positions check out the rest of my website and invite others to do the same! Feel free to forward this to your family and friends.

Please exercise your right to vote on November 3

Sincerely,

Debbie