Transparency, fiscal responsibility, and vowing to listen to their constituents were recurring themes in the Durbin Elementary gymnasium last Wednesday night as candidates for Trustee, Advisory Board and Hamilton Southeastern District 4 School Board squared off in a voter forum hosted by the Wayne-Fall Lions Club of Hamilton County.
Potential voters submitted questions that were asked to the candidates via a pair of moderators. In the Wayne Township Trustee race, Independent candidate Joy Sisson Kiskaden is looking to unseat incumbent three-term Republican Diane Crim,s who chose not to attend the forum. This left Kiskaden to answer voters’ questions regarding transparency, restoring confidence and respect to the Wayne Township Trustee’s office, and reaching out to all residents’ needs are her priorities.
This was the theme that was echoed by the three candidates in attendance seeking to be members of the Wayne Township Advisory Board. Republicans Robert Brent Hiday and Laura McNamara and Democrat Brandy Bast seemed to be lockstep agreement with Kiskaden that now is the time to restore respect to Wayne Township government.
Incumbent Advisory Board Member, Republican Stacy Mahan, who is also the daughter of current Wayne Township Trustee Diane Crim, also chose not to attend the forum due to a prior commitment.
Bradley L. Banks and Julie Chambers, the two candidates for the HSE School Board District 4, made their cases to the voters. Both candidates are attorneys with children in the system. They believe their backgrounds, education and dedication to making choices that provide the best educational outcome for HSE students – while remaining fiscally responsible to the voters – make them the best choice. Both Banks and Chambers say they value and want to hear from voters in order to represent their interests on the HSE School Board.
After about an hour of questions and answers, the Wayne-Fall Lions Club served cake and cookies to all who attended.
The Lions Club would like to thank all of the candidates, the public that attended and both moderators, Steve Willy and Brian Lane, for a very successful forum that was unbiased and provided much information.
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Dave Barker and the Wayne-Fall Lions Club for hosting the Canidates Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 24th at Durbin Elementary.
I would like to introduce myself, I am Joy Sisson Kiskaden and I am running for Wayne Township Trustee. I have been a resident of Wayne Township for over 50years.
I am running for this position because we need to rebuild the reputation of Wayne Township. I intend to do this through transparency and accountability with the assistance of the advisory board. I would like to provide my availability to the taxpayers so they are aware of where their money is going and how it is being spent. I would also make a quarterly report available to all who would like to see it. With the primary expenses of Wayne Township being the Fire Department, which we know has had an issue with the loss of funds totaling approximately $140,000, I plan to monitor this expense closer than our current administration. I plan to make sure that all Cemetery Care & Maintenance in Wayne Township is not just mowing the grass, but keeping the trees trimmed, fence rows cleaned out, and set up any stones that have fallen.
I will be available to answer any questions or concerns that the residents may have about Wayne Township expenses and how it effects the taxpayers. By monitoring the funds more closely, we will be able to support more families who need assistance in our community. I strongly believe, we need 24/7 medical personnel who are in our community to assist all residents. This will ensure a quick response to all in need.
In closing, if we are going to rebuild the reputation of Wayne Township, we need to start now. Let us get rid of all the dishonest, negative publicity and bring transparency and accountability to Wayne Township.
I appreciate all of you and look forward to serving our community.
Thank You,
Joy Sisson Kiskaden