Policies
No matter how charismatic a candidate can be, it is their policy that will define their success in the long run. What does a high schooler stand for? Here, you will find in detail my plan to help Lancaster grow as a community. If anything is unclear or if you wish to further inquire on an issue, I encourage you to email me at lunsfordforlancaster@gmail.com, or contact me on the phone via (740)- 407- 8826. Thank you for your interest, and I hope to earn your vote at the polls on November 7th!
-Clayton Lunsford, Independent Candidate for Mayor of Lancaster
In 2016, excluding the 3 mill street levy, only approximately $200,000 of the city's $132,679,814.32 budget was spent on improving Lancaster's streets. In my 15 years of residence in the city, I have seen most of the city's roads, most of which could easily be improved upon. A potential solution I've considered is to divert some of the surplus funds from other departments (millions of dollars) and make cuts in department budgets to make up for a sharp spending increase in the maintenance of our roads. The ultimate goal is to vastly improve Lancaster's infrastructure without vastly increasing the tax burden on the citizens.
The addiction problem that is putting our community in turmoil needs to finally be addressed. That's why I've done extensive research to find a way to begin to heal our city. This research familiarized me with Police And Citizens United (PACU) in Baltimore, Ohio, which encouraged people with an addiction to seek help with the police before they are arrested. This privately subsidized program will then send the drug user to an out of state rehabilitation facility to get them the help they so desperately need. This program is not a get out of jail free card. If someone doesn't take the initiative to go to the police and ask for help, then they will be arrested and prosecuted. As Mayor, I would also strengthen the enforcement of local laws concerning the possession and distribution of illicit drugs. This would serve as an incentive to use Lancaster's new PACU program. The overall goal is to provide a compassionate solution for this epidemic in our community. I will be putting $10,000 from my salary into this program every year I am in office.
The Brian Kuhn controversy showed Lancaster's citizens the blatant lack of transparency in our city government and disrespect for the voters. Instead of selecting Mayoral candidates in the tradition of American democracy (through primary elections or petitions), our local political parties refused to allow the people to vet the candidates for themselves by choosing candidates via central committees. To improve transparency in city government, I will mandate public hearings to allow community input on future mayoral appointments. Additionally, I will provide a monthly status report on the city, sparing no facts, to keep the people informed. I will devote specific office hours solely for the purpose of meeting with citizens to discuss their concerns for the city.
Infrastructure
Drug Addiction
Transparency
In the recent past, the city of Lancaster's Sanitation Department provided our citizens with both trash and recycling services. When the city eliminated the recycling program, the population lost a vital system that benefited the community and improved the cleanliness of our environment. If this endeavor were to be reinstated, we could see successes similar to those of our fellow Ohioans, such as in Upper Arlington and Athens. To fund this initiative, my administration will pursue and apply for various grants offered by the Ohio EPA which could help kickstart a worthwhile recycling program. If Lancaster were to reinstate a recycling program, it would act as one of the many needed steps the community can take towards becoming a cleaner, sharper, and all around improved community, one we can all be proud of.
As a young adult, I have unmatched energy and enthusiasm for this campaign and the office I seek. My age also gives me a unique perspective on Lancaster's strengths as well as it's weaknesses. My opponents (as products of their time) are bound to see many things in the same light. My youthful enthusiasm will allow me to differentiate from their aged opinions. The youth will inherit the problems of today, and it is time my generation steps up to the plate and accepts the challenge. There is no better chance for the youth to change the community than in this 2 year term.
It's no secret that our city, a former economic powerhouse that was home to a fortune 500 company, no longer has enough jobs to sustain it's people. Many, such as my father, have to commute to other cities to find careers. Some of our community's highest paying jobs should not be in city government. Lancaster is in need for a stronger business outreach program. That's one of the reasons why I will be consolidating our city's redundant Economic & Community development departments into one full time "Socioeconomic Development" office that promotes Lancaster's economic interests by advertising our city's appeals to new businesses. I will make sure our city is represented immediately as it should be. I also will not overlook businesses that already call Lancaster home. Through the use of tax abatements, I will encourage the expansion of existing businesses, no matter their size, while also enticing new ones to provide quality jobs to the citizens of our city. No longer should our city be beholden to a select few businesses or industries. Lancaster must diversify it's economy.