Re-elect Ray Kirchner

Thanks again to all of you for your support.

Today we held a ribbon cutting event to welcome Factory Auto Tint to Mentor.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Mentor Senior Center's annual Veteran Appreciation Breakfast. It was another full house this year and was a great opportunity to honor and reflect on those who have served our great nation.

Thank all of you for your support. It’s time to get back to business. 

Polls are open until 7:30 pm tonight. Please consider re-electing Ray Kirchner to Mentor City Council!

Working with my colleagues on City Council has always been a great honor and pleasure. As a registered Independent, I work well with Republicans and Democrats. The proof is in the quality of services and amenities in our city.

You may have gotten a glossy mailer from my opponent that says I “travel the world on your tax dollars.” That’s a misleading attack and it leaves out the rest of the story.

First, a councilmember’s travel is part of the job. Conferences, expos, and site visits are how we sell Mentor to new businesses and bring jobs and development home. I have always been transparent about travel, and I have run a clean campaign. I will not apologize for doing the work it takes to attract economic opportunity to our city, and I’ve always been mindful of the responsibility I have when I travel on behalf of the city. And when I travel on behalf of the city, much of that travel is paid for with grant money, not tax dollars. That’s what my opponent doesn’t want to tell you.

What his mailer doesn’t tell you is that Scott Marn has done the same thing. Over $40,000 for trips to Las Vegas for conferences. That’s a fact voters deserve to see alongside the claims he’s making about me.

What the mailer also doesn’t mention are the serious concerns about Scott’s conduct that residents should factor into their decision. In the last year there has been a federal lawsuit filed that names Scott and alleges long-standing misconduct toward female employees, and multiple news outlets have reported on a public altercation where he was accused of using a racial slur. These incidents led to a formal resolution urging his resignation, and a 5-1 vote to remove him for his conduct. Those reports are a matter of public record and reporting.

Most important to me: I will not support cuts to the funds voters approved to keep our first responders ready and safe. My opponent’s plan relies on you not doing your research. My position is simple. We keep our public safety fully funded, and we look for responsible ways to manage our tax levies and city budget without sacrificing the quality of services people depend on.

If you get that mailer, don’t let flashy design replace facts. Ask to see the records. Ask your neighbors. I have run a campaign on openness, public safety, and growing Mentor responsibly. Not on personal attacks.

It's crucial for Mentor Residents to have the best city services. Our emergency services and our first responders are the best around and we plan on keeping it that way!

Ray Kirchner was in a train derailment that ultimately ended his 35 year career with Norfolk Southern. Due to his injuries, Ray was told by his doctors that his spine would require supervision and treatment for the rest of his life.

Ray was an avid runner who competed in numerous marathons. He was told the high-impact from running would cause further issues with his spine. His Doctors offered him low-impact options, take up swimming or cycling.

Ray took up cycling and can be seen utilizing the miles of bike lanes throughout Mentor that keep traffic moving and cyclists safe as they travel and explore Mentor.

Well, after a month of no bicycling and walking door-to-door campaigning, I finally got a chance today to get on the bike for a short ride. I even fixed some campaign signs along the way.

There are many reasons to choose Mentor and be a part of our community. Making sure there are a variety of housing options that appeal to existing residents, young professionals, families, seniors, and everyone in between is a priority for me and the rest of our council.

40 years ago, my family chose Mentor due to the excellent city services, schools, and the opportunity to establish our roots here. I have and will continue to find creative ways to bring a variety of options to the city.

Working together as a team made it possible for us as a community to stop the largest sales tax increase in Lake County history! The increase would have been forced upon us without a vote, and hurt our local businesses. I am running for reelection to be a part of a team with you and my colleagues on council. Because when we work together, we accomplish so much more than we could alone.