October 19 Issue - Newspaper - Page 8
Page 8
EDITION 8
October 19 2023
PROFILE
Mark Kennison
Candidate for Mayor – City of Washington
plan for the repair work needs agreed upon and overseen by our street department
and city officials.
I would like to create specific initiatives for cleanliness, art, landscapes, lighting and
increase community engagement through city website, social media, and calendar of
events. There is so much we can do.
Question
Public safety is a critical concern for residents. What policies and strategies do
you intend to implement to enhance public safety and build trust between law
enforcement and
Answer
I Strongly support the services of our police, fire, and EMT services.
We need to prioritize leadership and community engagement. Walking the beat should
be a requirement. Police cars are intimidating but a friendly, in person greeting can
foster a positive relationship with our citizens.
I would connect with these departments in the surrounding municipalities to find
benefit in collaborative efforts towards training, purchasing power, and overall
effectiveness. When an emergency does arise, we need to be ready to support one
another with upgraded communication systems in place.
Focusing on grants, sponsorships, and fundraising efforts need to be supported to
offer competitive career opportunities to ensure quality of staff is important.
Washington needs the best police and fire team possible, and we need to get
aggressive ensuring that we do. There is top level training at the state level available
for local municipalities and we need to take full advantage of it.
Answer
We can create new opportunities for the city’s youth
with continual improvement of our parks and
playgrounds with year-round programming and
community engagement.
I would work hand in hand with organizations such as
the Lemoyne Community Center and Common Ground
Teen Center to enhance the quality of life for our youth,
and work towards additional supervised programming
in our public spaces to help offer structure throughout
the summer.
It is incumbent on us to provide the best assistance to
our valued seniors to uphold Washington as not just a
great place to grow up but also a great place to grow
old. This is to include those with special needs of all
ages. We have to maintain consistent dialogue with the
senior and assisted living housing and programs to
discuss ongoing needs to feel connected and engaged
as a valued citizen. I would like to coordinate specific
events such as field trips and club activities with readily
available transportation and mobility assistance.
Question
Inclusivity and diversity are important aspects of
community leadership. How will you work to ensure
that all voices and demographics within the city are
heard and represented in decision-making?
Answer
It is a priority to ensure that all members of the
community have a voice equally represented in the
decision-making process of our city government. We are
fortunate for the cultural diversity we have in
Washington. I plan to create an all-inclusive committee
comprised of residents, business owners, and
community leaders that will meet on a regular basis to
discuss the needs, challenges, and goals of our city.
Mark Kennison on the Campaign trail
Question
Addressing infrastructure and urban development is a significant aspect of being
mayor. What is your vision for improving city infrastructure, transportation,
and housing?
Answer
We must have consistent code enforcement with absentee homeowners and landlords
to ensure the property value and aesthetics of our neighborhoods remain intact and
the business district is built based on a plan that meets the needs of the city.
We must have accountability to enforcement. The downtown business district is not
business friendly because codes, ordinances, and zoning are not enforced. Landlords
must go through the appropriate process to ensure new tenants meet zoning
requirements and buildings standards are maintained.
Broken glass and plywood store fronts, unauthorized use of retail space, loitering,
littering, and smoking at business entrance ways should not be tolerated.
Question
How can you make a positive influence in the fight against the opioid and drug
crisis?
In my professional career as a multi business owner in
the City of Washington over the last 14 years I have
created hundreds of jobs and new opportunities for the
local residents. My experience fostering a positive and
productive work environment for men and women both
young and old and from diverse backgrounds is the type
of partnership I wish to extend throughout our entire
community on behalf of our local government. Our city
council has a great foundational knowledge of the how
to make Washington work for the betterment of its
citizens and I intend to lean on their experience while
leading by example of how to put in the necessary
efforts to ensure a prosperous future for all.
Question
How do you plan to collaborate with other city
officials, departments, and community stakeholders
to achieve your goals and address pressing citywide
issues?
Answer
I will improve the working relationship with
Washington’s strategic partners such as our community
leaders, Washington and Jefferson College, District
Attorney, and County and State Officials to bring about
real change in our city. This happens if we do it
together. I will work closely with the D.A. and police
enforcement for effective crime prevention as well.
We can also better utilize Ignite as a central hub for
business growth and development while establishing a
more comprehensive relationship with Washington and
Jefferson College.
Answer
It’s a serious and ongoing issue, but Washington cannot be a regional center for
rehab and recovery houses. We need to ensure our efforts are taking care of our
residents first as opposed to a “come one, come all” policy. Watered-down
programming with lack of administrative support is not sufficient.
Treatment centers, local outreaches, and housing coordinators need audited for
effectiveness and protocol. We want to facilitate recovery and placement back in the
community with employment opportunities, not just a tax credit for the landlord.
Question
What are some other key areas you want to focus on?
We also need increased meeting frequency and
efficiency with our strategic partners where we
establish desirable networking opportunities but don’t
leave without a plan and next steps.
Mark Kennison is an intelligent, experienced, educated,
and dedicated leader in the city of Washington. His
working knowledge of the city as a successful multi
business owner and his desire to continually improve
upon the city’s infrastructure, job creation, diversity,
crime prevention, blight and so much more, make him
uniquely qualified for this position. He will fight for a
better city.
