In Fort Wright there are eight candidates running for six seats on city council. Below, find their answers to a series of questions from LINK nky. The incumbents are presented first, followed by the challengers.
QUESTION (for incumbents): What do you see as the main issues facing your city?
Margie Witt: I believe the main issues facing Ft. Wright continue to be attracting and retaining qualified first responders. The safety of our residents is our primary concern and so many communities face this same issue. Secondly, funding for CERS is also a concerning budgetary issue.
Dave Abeln: I am happy to say there is no major crisis currently facing our city. Years ago, we made very difficult decisions that allowed us to address several major issues. We are now benefitting from those decisions. We have purchased new equipment, increased staff, saved and even invested those savings. We will have to be attentive to the I-75 expansion issues and are already lobbying for noise abatements on behalf of residents who are likely to be impacted. As always though, our primary job is to maintain budgets ensuring safety, emergency services and infrastructural advancements. Beyond that, we will try to fund the amenities that make Ft. Wright a great place to live, work, play, learn, and give back.
Jay (Justin) Weber: The main city functions that are always at the forefront are Police, Fire, and streets. The city has a very aggressive street replacement program, but inflation is cutting into that. The funds expended the last two years have resulted in less being done. Police protection is paramount. Retaining good officers and equipping them so they can function and be safe is on all council members’ minds. Fire and EMS is as important as police protection. Again, retaining and attracting qualified individuals is always a priority. Acquiring new life saving technologies and training must always be addressed. Thankfully both the Police and Fire chiefs are very capable individuals and hopefully the residents can see that. We do have a great City Administrator and Public Works Director.
Scott Wall: The main issues facing our city, in my opinion, are unfortunately, bound up in state jurisdiction. Specifically, those issues are state owned roads and the pension system. Nearly all of the roads that lead to Ft. Wright are owned or controlled by the state. Yet the state fails to maintain them and wants the city to pick up the tab. The infrastructure on Route 17 (Madison Pk or 3L Hwy) at I-275 is a crumbling mess …. the same goes for the Kyles Lane I-75 interchange … these are gateways to our city and it is important that they are clean and updated so that businesses and citizens want to move here and do their business here … we need the state to honor their responsibility so the city can continue to prosper as one of the great suburban American cities.
As far as the pension system goes, we filed a lawsuit a decade ago to demand some accountability and were recently disappointed with a decision by the Kentucky Supreme Court that sided with, what we deem to be, a far less than transparent accounting of where our citizen’s money is being spent … we send 12% of our budget to Frankfort for pensions and the answers we receive are still far from satisfactory.
Bernie Wessels: The Mayor, myself, and the entire City Council team have worked closely and diligently for many years to ensure that we are not only a great place to live, work and play, but also to be well positioned to tackle any challenges that may come our way. Specifically, we are working to address the impact of the I-75 Brent Spence Bridge Project and traffic in general. We continue to lobby the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for much needed sound barriers and improvements to the corridor design and construction that make our community safe and easily accessible for our residents, business owners, and emergency first responders. We also are working to incorporate aesthetically pleasing signage and amenities that will enhance our community. We also continue making major investments in public safety and infrastructure including new positions in the Police Department and Fire Department and significant road projects each year. I am committed to continuing to provide funding for major safety and infrastructure improvements. I will also continue to recruit high-quality, community friendly commercial developments that help us offset residential property taxes for our residents.
QUESTION (for incumbents): What are your chief accomplishments while you have been on council?
Margie Witt: I’ve had the pleasure of serving on Ft. Wright Council for five years but have been organizing a community cleanup annually since 2015. I’m always so impressed with how our community comes together to make Ft. Wright such a great place to live. I’m also proud of how our council, Mayor, administration and heads of departments work together toward the same goal: keeping Ft. Wright a great place to live and work, while working to keep our focus narrow.
Dave Abeln: I have been on Ft. Wright City Council for 10 years. In that time, this council team along with the current and past Mayor has championed the idea of fiscal responsibility and transparency. The days of perpetual debt refinancing and kicking the street repair can down the road (pun intended) are long gone. We have sufficient financial reserves and $3M of investments. We have a capital improvement plan that allows us to pay cash for large expenses. We have eliminated the vehicle tax and have the 5th lowest property tax in Kenton County.
Jay Weber: We have continued to monitor spending so we can accomplish the cities tasks and still be able to lower taxes. We have added multiple full-time positions in the Fire and Police Departments which were needed because of the expanding city. We have continued the aggressive street improvement plan. This is on our web site for all to see. We use nationally known assessment techniques to make our decisions on each year’s tasks to tackle. This assessment matrix helps lower cost while maintaining and improving our streets. Property values have increased yearly because of the above items. We have improved and continue to improve South Hills Civic Club facilities so residents can have a facility to utilize at a reasonable cost. We have new city signage. We have revamped Volunteer Park and are looking to continue that trend with the city’s other parks.
Scott Wall: My chief accomplishment on council has been that I was part of a team that has produced, probably, the best run, most financially viable city in Northern Kentucky. We have some of the lowest taxes in NKY and one of the best balance sheets you will find anywhere. All of that credit goes to our department heads, the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Publics Works Director and our Chief Administrative Officer. None of it happened over night and there are other folks in past years that have occupied these roles that deserve some credit as well. I would be remiss if I did not mention Mayor David Hatter and Councilmen Wessels and Weber of the Finance Committee for their exceptional business acumen. I have lived here for 59 years, and the city has never been in better shape … we are a well-oiled machine, humming … but … it took a long time and a great deal of sacrifice from our city employees and department heads to get here.
Bernie Wessels: I have been a long-term member of the Finance Committee where we have focused on improving the City’s financial position while reducing taxes. We have zero long-term debt, substantial financial reserves, and a solid Capital Improvement Plan that allows us to pay cash for capital items. In addition to many years of spotless financial audits (which can be viewed on our website), we have established and maintain a Financial Transparency Portal (https://fortwrightky.opengov.com/transparency) where our constituents can view our finances down to the check level. Our property tax rate is at its lowest point since 2011 and we are in the lowest third of taxes in Kenton County. We also have the lowest income tax rate in Kenton County. I have worked closely with the Mayor, Council and Staff to adopt an investment policy for public funds which yields interest income helping us to reduce taxes while improving services. We have also implemented and funded a long-term Street Repair, Maintenance, and Replacement Plan for all ninety-eight (98) City maintained roadways. Additionally, from a humanitarian standpoint, I am very proud that we were able to help Eastern Kentucky residents by working with the City of Whitesburg to provide them with a much-needed police cruiser after their department lost most of their vehicles due to severe flooding in their region. It’s an honor to serve on a Council that is committed to helping where it can!
QUESTION (for incumbents): What projects would you like to see accomplished while you are on council?
Margie Witt: The projects I’d like to see accomplished are a continuation of current focus: constant improvement of services provided to residents (fire, police, roads, public works), responsible budgeting, and attracting businesses.
Dave Abeln: Ft. Wright has a lot of amenities. They are expensive and in need of updating. We have tried to solicit residents’ feedback to ensure that our forward-thinking ideas are in step with the community mindset. The feedback was minimal, and the overall plan is lacking a unified vision. I tend to favor fewer but well-maintained facilities over many scattered amenities that can be challenging to maintain properly.
Jay Weber: I’d like to see more of the above, and help the city attract city workers in all departments. I’d like to continue financial management practices so that we spend wisely and save the residents funds.
Scott Wall: The project that I would like to see accomplished while I am on council involves the future of the Battery Hooper Park. I love the park and I loved the museum … the museum became untenable from the perspective of how to best spend the money of the citizens of Ft Wright. Thankfully, the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park stepped up to help us preserve the legacy of the museum … I look forward to working with the citizens of Ft Wright and the Mayor and incoming council to figure out how to best use this wonderful resource.
Bernie Wessels: If re-elected, I will continue to work towards further reducing the tax burden of those who live, work, and own property in our community. I also pledge to provide the Police, Fire, and Public Works Department with the resources they need to continue to provide the level of service that our residents and businesses expect and deserve.
QUESTION (for incumbents): What do you see as your greatest strength, the quality you can bring to the table to get things done in your city?
Margie Witt: I believe my greatest strength is organization and creativity. I am a small business owner, wife, mother, garden club member, and community volunteer. Like all council members, I have to be able to organize my time and responsibilities in order to give the city the attention it so deserves. I also like to research and consider creative solutions to issues that face the city such as litter.
Dave Abeln: The system is such that no single councilperson can solely impact change. In Ft. Wright, we very much have a team approach. Our dedicated council members have diverse backgrounds. As such, we are very good at dissecting and investigating situations. My strength and the strength that my current council colleagues (and Mayor Hatter) possess as well is the ability to work better as a team. We very much respect each other’s input and are routinely unified in our solutions.
Scott Wall: My best strength in being on council is the relationships that I have with the citizens of Ft Wright. I have lived here my entire life … I spent a few years on the Fire Department as a young man … my father was on the Fire Department and served on the City Council … I raised four children in Ft Wright … through coaching soccer and baseball and other school activities, I probably know a third of the citizens that live in Ft Wright, young and old … Of those citizens that I don’t know, I know someone that does know them … there are portraits of all of the Mayors that Ft Wright has ever had hanging at the City Building … I knew every one of them and served under three of them … it’s a tight community and a special community … I want to preserve that.
Bernie Wessels: I have decades of business experience running a family-owned business and I have been fortunate to serve our community as member of Council for more than a decade. During that time, we’ve been named a KLC City of Ethics and have received several recognitions such as being named #6 of the 10 Best Suburbs to Live In Near a Large City for the entire country by Smart Asset (https://smartasset.com/data-studies/best-suburbs-to-live-in-near-a-large-city2022). During my tenure on Council, my record demonstrates that I can work with Council, Staff, and constituents to see important issues through completion and to make the sometimes difficult decisions required to ensure our community prospers well into the future.
QUESTION (for incumbents): Where do you see your city in ten years?
Margie Witt: With similar leadership values, I see Ft. Wright in ten years (and well beyond) as a beautiful, safe, fiscally strong city – exactly what it is today!
Dave Abeln: Mayor Hatter and the current council team are proven leaders who are responsible and respect the fact that we are guardians for our resident’s assets. To see the future, you only need to look at the past. In 5 or even 10 years, our goal is to be in even better financial shape. The city streets will be in better shape. And our police, fire and public works will be well prepared to deliver the best services to our residents. It is also our collective desire to achieve these results in a very transparent manor that invites input from our residents and business community.
Jay Weber: The Mayor created, and I helped tweak a spread sheet that looks at the financial implications of decisions today, and their ramifications on future councils 10 years or so down the road. The departments have exceptional leadership. People retire and when they do, we can convince other exceptional individuals to take the leadership and move the departments forward. Including the current department leaders in that process will help it be successful. Doing all the above, the city will be financially well off with the citizens receiving the services they deserve.
Scott Wall: Where do I see Ft Wright in ten years? Well, I hope the Brent Spence Bridge project is done by then! Ft Wright is ten minutes from an international airport and five minutes from the downtown of a major metropolitan city with three professional sports teams … and yet here in Ft Wright, it is quiet and peaceful and relatively free of crime … I see housing values rising steadily higher, neighborhoods maintaining their integrity and folks begging to live in Ft Wright, one of the best small cities in America.
Bernie Wessels: The City of Fort Wright currently holds the title of one of the lowest taxing authorities in Kenton County for both property and business owners. As the same time, our property values have continued to rise, and we continue be one of the most desirable and livable communities in the Greater Cincinnati region. In fact, we were recently ranked as one of the best suburbs in the entire country for jobs, affordability, and livability. We need to continue along that pathway while ensuring that we are providing the highest quality services, maintaining property values and making necessary community wide infrastructure improvements. I want to ensure that Fort Wright continues to be a great place, to live, work and play for all. I am confident that my record of service on Council demonstrates this commitment, and if given the change to serve another term, in 10 years we will not only have reached those but will exceed those objectives.
QUESTION (for challengers): What specifically made you put your name on the ballot?
Jason Collins: When my friend, Adam Feinauer, decided not to run for re-election, I was approached by some of the existing council members and the Mayor to run for his soon to be empty seat. My kids are essentially grown now, and as long-time resident who has raised his family here, I decided that I am ready for a new challenge. I want to keep the community that I call home moving in the right direction.
Jason Worms: There are two main reasons I put my name on the ballot. First, I think that I have a professional skill set in management and customer service that is a good complement to the skills of the existing council. I see opportunities to improve citizen outreach that will get more people involved in the city. Second, I think that our democracy in general is better served when races for public office are contested.
Mark Kaelin: With my past city council experience and desire to give back to my community, I decided to run for Ft. Wright City Council. I hope to give my neighbors an opportunity to vote for someone who shares the values and goals of the community but will be independent and open minded. With the current City Council selecting candidates and running as a group,I would provide an alternative that would bring new ideas, experiences and options to my neighbors and friends in Ft. Wright.
QUESTION (for challengers): What do you want to change if you are elected?
Jason Collins: Thankfully, there is not much I would change. I believe that the current Council and Staff has a long track record of success and has done a fantastic job for many years. The current council has lowered taxes, improved infrastructure, improve safety services, brought new development to the city, improved the City’s finances and remained debt free. I like the council’s vision and I want fill Adam’s seat to keep the city moving in a positive direction so that our community remains a great place to live, work and play far into the future.
Jason Worms: I want the city to engage people before a decision that impacts them is made. Before we upgrade a park, before we renovate city services or amenities, before we update the road plan, tell the people living near those places or who will be impacted by the decisions of council so they can make the case for what they want before the decision is made. Great ideas come from everywhere, and I think the city can make even better decisions if we hear from more people beforehand.
Mark Kaelin: City services of police, fire, public works, roads and administration are an important and crucial part of city government. I would like the city to provide the tools, training, personnel and support to make sure the services provided are the best for our residents, in a truly fiscally responsible and efficient fashion.
QUESTION (for challengers): What qualifications do you want to highlight that will make people vote for you?
Jason Collins: I am long-time resident who raised my family here. I’ve been actively involved as a community volunteer at Saint Agnes for many years. I now work at a business located in Fort Wright. I have deep roots and many friends here, so I want to do my part to give back to the community I call home.
Jason Worms: I have lived in Fort Wright since 2009 and really enjoy living here. I work in the city and see how hard our police, fire/EMS, and public work crews work for us. I appreciate the dedication of a long-serving council and their fiscal stewardship. I also know that I am willing to go door-to-door to my neighbors and find the large issues and small annoyances they have and will work to get them addressed by the city if I can. I am an active community volunteer, giving my time to organizations like the Life Learning Center, Hoxworth, Horizon Community Funds, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, and others.
Mark Kaelin: I grew up in Park Hills where I served 3 terms on city council and moved to Ft. Wright 15 years ago. I attended St. Agnes Elementary School and graduated from Covington Catholic High School. My experience as a firefighter for 40 years reinforces my commitment to community service. Starting out as a volunteer, I worked my way to becoming a career firefighter at Covington for 21 years. I still serve part time for the city of Fort Mitchell. Additionally, I have strengthened my community by serving as a coach for various athletic programs at St. Agnes and Covington Catholic. I raised my family here and consider Ft. Wright to be my home.
QUESTION (for challengers): Is there something specific you would like to change in the city?
Jason Collins: While there is always room for improvement, I believe that things are going very well in the city of Fort Wright. In fact, Fort Wright was recently ranked in the top 10 suburbs in the entire nation and has won similar accolades in the past. My only agenda is to ensure that Fort Wright continues to be a welcoming place for all who choose to live in, work in or visit our great community.
Jason Worms: The city coordinates with a lot of other agencies, the Sanitation District, PDS, Transportation District 6, etc. Based on comments by council and the mayor, some of those relationships are strained. I would like to be part of the effort to improve those relationships. Good working relationships with the groups we have to partner with drive better results for the people of Fort Wright. I expect that process to take time, but I am willing to put in the work because the results will be worth it.
Mark Kaelin: I would like to use my extensive knowledge and 40 years of experience in emergency services to formulate plans with our department heads, to increase staffing levels, and address the needs of our first responders to ensure that Fort Wright is able to provide the highest level of service to the taxpayers of our great community.
QUESTION (for challengers): Where do you see your city in ten years?
Jason Collins: I am committed to work with Council and Staff to ensure that the city is even stronger than it is today while retaining that friendly, small town feel where folks really believe in and live by our old motto, “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”.
Jason Worms: In 10 years, I see the city of Fort Wright thriving. I see a city with a well-diversified tax base, well-maintained and desirable houses and infrastructure that accommodates people, whether they work from home, commute or are retired.
Mark Kaelin: The challenge over the next 10 years will be maintaining the city services. The increased cost and availability of qualified personnel will require the city to explore new ideas and models to continue and improve these services. With my experience and knowledge, I believe I can help make the decisions that will continue to make Ft. Wright a great place to live.
