Gary E. Franks: Bolivar Village Council

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • October 22, 2011
  • 374
                        
Gary E. Franks PERSONAL INFO Office sought: Bolivar Village Council Age: 66 Family: Wife, Judy, four children and seven grandchildren all in the area Education: Graduate Tusky Valley High School Hometown: Bolivar Occupation: Retired; former Bolivar Street Superintendent, EMT with Bolivar Fire Department, CPR instructor; currently a trainer for Tusky Valley varsity football and basketball teams. Political party affiliation: Independent Previous elected offices: No Applicable experience: I was the street and water superintendent in the village for 35 years. QUESTIONS What is the primary reason you are running for this office? I think it a financial thing. There is a lot of spending going on in the village and most of it is wasted. I would like to be a part of council so we can get that under control. We have been in financial trouble. I would like to see the village spend our money on the things that matter. Why should someone vote for you? I have been in the village so long. I know the water system. All my expertise is helpful in making decisions about how the village is run and ways we can fix the water issues. What is the biggest problem(s) facing your community? The water system is our biggest problem. Council has done away with the water board. Council has hired an administrator with no license. We have a lot of empty buildings. We need to get some businesses in there. Bolivar, like many small villages have been affected by the big stores like Wal-Mart. We have so many nice attractions like Fort Laurens and Zoar just down the road. People would come to Bolivar if we had a theme and some shops for visitors to come to. How do you propose to solve it (them)? I had a grant available for $100 thousand to use on getting the village’s second well up and running. The current council used it for something else. As far as bringing businesses into the village; we need a theme, something to draw people here. Limited only to the office you are seeking, where specifically would you cut budgets if needed? We need to start with the water system. Our chlorination system has been changed. Council is spending too much money on hiring outside people to do the things we used to do on our own. Why are you running for public office? I need to stay involved. I drink the water here, too. I want to help the village in any way I can. Why do you think you can make a difference in your community? I really believe I can. I want to give the people the opportunity. If they see fit to vote for someone else at least I tried to make a difference. How can local cities and towns work together to improve the entire area, rather than just do what’s best for them? Oh yes, especially in our police system. We had partnered with Lawrence Township. Council never gave it a chance. We could have full time police protection but after three months council gave up on the program and now we only have police in the village during the week.


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