Doug O'Meara

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • October 17, 2011
  • 825
                        
PERSONAL INFO Office sought: Dover law director Age: 60 Family: Spouse: Diana O’Meara; Children: Brent Tripp, age 38; Brian Tripp, age 32; Nathan O’Meara, age 28; Marc O’Meara, age 23; Scott O’Meara, age 22. Education: Graduated St. Edward’s High, 1968; Ohio University, 1972; juris doctor, Case Western Reserve University, 1977 Hometown: Dover Occupation: Attorney and Dover law director Political party affiliation: Democrat Applicable experience: Assistant Tuscarawas County Prosecutor 1977 and 1978 Assistant Attorney General, State of Ohio: In the 1980s and 1990s (during terms of Attorney Generals Brown, Celebreeze and Fisher). City solicitor/law director for Village of Roswell, Mineral City, city of Uhrichsville and Dover, Ohio for approximately 25 years; Law Director city of Dover since December, 2006. QUESTIONS What is the primary reason you are running for this office? I should be elected as I am the only candidate with any municipal law experience. I possess the experience and knowledge to best serve the people of the city of Dover. I have an extensive background in many areas of the law that provided knowledge and experience in direct contrast to my opponent’s background as a criminal public defender for 23 years. Not only have I been an assistant prosecutor working with the police and the victims of crime but I was also an Assistant Attorney General. In my 30 years of private practice, I had concentrations in areas of municipal law, contract law and employer/employee relations. These areas of concentration provided me with an extensive background in areas of direct application to the issues as they arise in the city of Dover. In my twenty-five years of service to the city of Dover and other municipalities, I have worked well with mayors and councilpersons of all political persuasions, as well as service and safety directors and city supervisors. I have worked with city boards and commissions including civil service commissions, planning and zoning commissions, records commission, and board of zoning appeals, the architectural review board, the revolving loan fund board, the insurance committee, the various committees of city council and others. I have an excellent relationship with the present council and administration. I will be able to continue those positive relationships to the benefit of the citizens of Dover. Dover has a unique aspect that is not present in all municipalities. The power plant and electric distribution system present unusual and potentially costly legal issues. I have dedicated myself to learn about the electric system from both a legal and regulatory point of view. I have also attended seminars about the functional problems that exist with electric production and distribution. Knowing both aspects enhances my ability to best represent the city in this area. Why should someone vote for you? I believe I have been an asset that helps the city to move forward. Dover has all the complexities of a mid-sized corporation. A wide background and the experience to apply that background to the problems and issues as they arise in the city are important. In contrast to this wide background, experience and dedication to Dover, my opponent has no experience and has shown, in the past, no interest in Dover city government. What is the biggest problem(s) facing your community? As with most communities in this area, keeping and adding employment. Towards that end, Dover has worked with the Tuscarawas County Port Authority (TCPA) and other local and state agencies to add jobs to the city of Dover. How do you propose to solve it (them)? Through cooperation with those agencies and the actions of the Dover revolving loan fund board (I am a member), we have extended the Dover electric development rate to the new employer, Tremcar USA, Inc. and will work with them in the future to help expand operations by granting a low interest rate loan to Tremcar from the revolving loan funds administered by the city of Dover. That fund allows employers to purchase equipment to aid in the retention or creation of additional jobs in the city. We will work with other employers to extend either the electric development rate or low interest loans to facilitate job creation in the city of Dover. Limited only to the office you are seeking, where specifically would you cut budgets if needed? I will continue to limit the costs associated with the retention of outside counsel to advise the city of Dover. In my five years as Dover Law Director, I have successfully managed the retention of outside counsel. My extensive background in municipal law and my experience will allow me to continue to limit this expense. My opponent (who has absolutely no municipal law experience and no experience except as a criminal lawyer) will need to substantially increase the use of outside counsel as he will and does not have any understanding of this area of the law. Why are you running for public office? I have the knowledge and experience to help Dover to continue to move forward. My 25 years of municipal law experience facilitates an effective and well run Law Director’s office. My background and proven record of accomplishment, in contrast to my opponent’s total lack of experience, will allow me to continue to serve the people of Dover well and in a cost effective fashion. I can make a difference by continuing to be a member of a team that has Dover’s best interests at heart. I enjoy my service to the city and will continue to bring my depth of experience to the job. Why do you think you can make a difference in your community? I can make a difference by continuing to be a member of a team that has Dover’s best interests at heart. I enjoy my service to the city and will continue to bring my depth of experience to the job. Why do you think you can make a difference in your community? How can local cities and towns work together to improve the entire area, rather than just do what’s best for them? As we were able to demonstrate, Dover works well with other municipalities and governmental units. Dover worked with the Tuscarawas County Port Authority (TCPA), the Tuscarawas County commissioners, and the state of Ohio to bring Tremcar USA and good high paying jobs to Dover. Dover will continue these cooperative relationships to bring jobs to the area and better the city of Dover and its citizens.


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