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BRIAN HOUSH
I grew up in the Dayton area, completed my undergraduate degree at Cornell University, and attained a JD/MBA from Tulane University. After advocating for indigent clients with disabilities at New Orleans Legal Assistance for several years, I shifted gears and pursued a career abroad. For 10 years, I managed the corporate training company that I founded while serving actively on �ve boards, including the American Chamber of Commerce and the American School of Bangkok. I have learned much from meaningful leadership experiences that have produced incredible results. In response to the devastating 2004 tsunami, I coordinated efforts to raise nearly $1 million from the American business community to rebuild schools affected by the disaster.. As a citizen of Yellow Springs, I have been highly involved in supporting our local nonpro�ts, currently serving as the YSKP president, and I have led several major initiatives, including YS-Opoly and the Public Places Resources Group. I work as a consultant for the Consortium for Global Development, which provides me with the �exibility to be dynamically engaged in our community and easily accessible. I am a “doer,” as my professional career consistently re�ects, and I look forward to the opportunity to represent all community members. Question responses: 1 . I have had discussions with many Yellow Springers about what they consider to be the strengths of our former Village managers, and several key attributes are consistently highlighted that inform my thinking about the skill set that our next Village manager should possess. Citizens generally seem to appreciate the ability to get things done balanced with respect for village values. People also value someone in this position who is
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diplomatic, knowledgeable, energetic and collaborative. Importantly, most villagers indicate that they want a person who has a �nger on the pulse of Yellow Springs. In addition, I believe that we need an individual who has solid management skills and does not micro-manage her or his team. Our past Village managers have each possessed at least some of these qualities, and it is critical that the next Village manager have the complete skill set. We have major challenges to tackle over the next few years, and success will depend significantly on strong leadership from Village Council and a solid Village government team. Admittedly, it will not be easy to �nd this individual, and we will likely need to actively market our community to attract the right candidates. I support a process that promotes dialogue and input from the full community, and I would like to organize at least one citizen committee to be part of the vetting, interviewing and hiring of our next Village manager. Additionally, I recommend a formal public forum as well as an informal community event to provide villagers with opportunities to get to better know the �nal candidates. Being comfortable with personal interactions with citizens is important to being an effective Village manager in Yellow Springs, and ideally the individual that we select will hit the ground running because she or he will have had time through the hiring process to embrace our community and become acclimated to our village. 2 . Based on the preliminary studies coupled with citizen surveys, refurbishing the current water plant seems a promising solution when compared to the options of constructing a new water plant or sourcing water from Spring�eld. However, the more comprehensive studies have not yet been completed, and I strongly believe that it is important to consider all the facts before making a �nal decision on the village’s water sourcing solution.
In general, I support investment in our local infrastructure, and I know that this is highly valued by many of our community members from the conversations that I have had with different groups. The 2012 Yellow Springs News survey data also supports this perspective. Still, I feel that it is necessary to evaluate the economic impacts involved with using hard water versus soft water, and it seems likely that villagers will want to weigh in again once we have more information about the three alternatives. Notably, the least expensive option currently on the table is rehabbing the existing water plant, which is persuasive to me, but there are long-term considerations
that could mean another option is more economically viable. While cost effectiveness is a key factor, ultimately, I believe that the facts will provide justi�cations for all three strategies; thus, it will become necessary to accurately determine what our community values are regarding this issue to make an appropriate decision. I am prepared to represent the consensus among our citizens, and I am quite open to your feedback on what makes the most sense for our village. I �rmly believe that it is a priority for Village Council to make a decision on this issue so that action can be taken to avoid a potential shutdown of our water system. 3 . I feel that it is the responsibility of the entire community to help keep the village affordable, and local government should facilitate appropriate initiatives that represent community values. Yellow Springs should be welcoming for all types of people, and my primary duty as a Village Council member is to represent our residents and to promote a healthy and happy environment in our village. Speci�cally, I believe that we must address affordability from both directions. Not only should we consider strategies for providing affordable housing and a reasonable cost of living to encourage diversity, but we should also be actively engaged in responsible economic development for Yellow Springs so that our citizens can obtain better jobs with salaries commensurate with the benefits, facilities and services that we want in our village. Great schools, green space and energy and dependable infrastructure represent some of the important aspects of the high quality of life that we expect as villagers. If we value affordable housing as a community, then it makes sense for local government to facilitate this initiative. I am con�dent that long-term capital improvements and economic development will further encourage affordable housing. I look forward to a continued collaborative effort among community members to address af fordability issues in Yellow Springs, and Village Council should represent citizens and encourage activities that maintain a sustainable standard of living. In principle, I support affordable housing, recognizing that there are competing interests and priorities. I realize that public funds must be spent in a responsible manner that re�ects the community as a whole. To some extent, residents de�ne affordability by the choices that they make related to what they are willing to pay for educational excellence, public services and quality of life. I will represent your views
YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS
in making decisions on how to best develop our village.
MARIANNE MACQUEEN
Attracted to Arthur Morgan’s concept of the “small community,” I moved to Yellow Springs in 1972, with my 1-year-old son. Shortly after moving to the village, I helped start the Community Infant Center — a cooperative childcare facility that later merged with the Children’s Center — and ser ved as treasurer of that organization. My work career includes 19 years as a small business owner: �rst as a remodeling contractor in the village, and more recently as co-owner of the Village Guesthouse. I have 21 years of experience directing local organizations, including the Village Mediation Program, Community Service, Inc. and Yellow Springs Home, Inc. I’ve served on numerous local and regional boards, including the Community Children’s Center, Community Resources, Friends Care Community, BW Greenway conservation land trust and the Ohio Con�ict Management Network. I have a Bachelor of Arts in biology, a master’s degree in teaching and a master’s degree in con�ict resolution. My work and volunteer experience have provided me with skills that include budget and �nancial planning; project development and long-range planning; negotiation, mediation and group facilitation and interviewing and hiring. As a long-time resident who has always worked in the village, I’ve gained an understanding and appreciation of the uniqueness of this community. Question responses: 1. Council should �rst review the role of Village manager as described on the Village website and engage citizens in a discussion of the expectations of the manager. The Yellow Springs Village manager needs to be both a good com-