Candidate Guide - Mason City Council - Barbara Spaeth

As you prepare to vote in this year's municipal elections, the Western Star compiled answers from candidates. Here are the responses as provided. All typos and grammar mistakes, if any, are in the original responses.

Headshot provided by candidate

Education: Bachelor of Social Work; Master of Social Work

Current employment: Retired

Office Sought: Mason City Council

Why are you the best suited for this position? (150 words)

I am the candidate with the most experience on Mason City Council and have worked passionately to serve the citizens of Mason for 12 years. I am a proven leader and a voice for all citizens. Helping to create strong families has been the core of my work throughout my career. My career has been service focused and I have worked to make Mason a great place to live, work and play.

What are your top three areas of focus for your position?

Public Safety, Strengthening Key Partnerships and Protecting Tax Dollars

What specifically are you going to do for each of your top three topics? (200 words)

For public safety, I continue to support the fire and police department to ensure they have the essential equipment and personnel needed to keep the community safe. Also, we are considering how to improve the response times of our fire department and planning for a third fire station. I support the campus safety program to ensure that all of our children in our schools are safe every day. Strengthening and maintaining key partnerships are important in everything the Council does. We could not accomplish anything without community partnerships, like the MADE Chamber, community organizations, the schools, the downtown community and citizens. Protecting our tax dollars and lowering the tax burden on our citizens are vital for a thriving community. It is necessary to consider every dollar the city spends to make sure we are not being wasteful, and we provide the services that our citizens deserve.

If you are an incumbent, what is your best accomplishment?

If you are a challenger, what do you think needs to change from the current situation?

NOTE: She is an incumbent.

I have served four years as the Vice Mayor and two years as the Mayor. During my time as the Mayor, I worked to change the tone on city council to return civility and decorum to council meetings and regain respect from the community and surrounding communities. I demonstrated consistent leadership to regain the trust of citizens and worked to repair connections and partnerships with community organizations and businesses. I worked with county and state leaders, along with our staff and Beemok Capital, to ensure the Cincinnati Open tournament stayed in Mason. I encouraged a partnership with the MADE Chamber and I continue to support the work of the “Make a Mile” project, which is taking steps to be revitalize the downtown business community.

What are your qualifications for this position? (150 words)

I have lived in Mason almost my entire life, and I have seen the changes that have occurred over the last 65 years, so I have an understanding of what is important to people who have lived here their entire life and to people who just moved here recently. My education and experience in social work has given me the skills to listen and learn from all of our citizens of Mason to better represent our community.

Property tax is one of the top issues for local residents. What are your thoughts on the current property tax issues? (150 words)

City Council continues to fight to have one of the lowest property tax rates in Warren County. We continue to work with our state legislators to keep the 4.40 mills of the 5 mills authorized under its home rule authority and the City’s charter.

State laws often impact our county and the funding of local project depends on the state budget. What is your relationship with the local state representatives and senator? (100 words)

I have had and continue to have good relationships with all of our local state representatives and Senator.

How have you been involved in the community outside of politics?

I served on the Board of Trustees for Safe on Main for 3 years. Currently, I serve on the Mary Ann Klingling Trust Fund Committee for 12 years. I am a member of the Mason Kiwanis and also serve on the Board of Directors. I have volunteered to help pack meals with the Comet Cupboard and Joshua’s Place.

Are you running as a slate or as a team with any of the other candidates?

I am not running as a slate or as a team.

Is there anything else you want the voters to know about you?

I appreciate the confidence my community has had in me for 12 years. If given another opportunity, I will continue to work hard to make Mason great place to live, work, and play.