Welcome to Tom McMasters' blog about local politics & life in Huber Heights

Note Tom is a candidate for Huber Heights Council, Ward 6 

Because we are still interested in moving the city forward!


Many of you may have gotten to this page because I mention my Facebook page with the same title as this url.  I post much more often on the Facebook version because it is easier to get out quick thoughts and share public events.  The audience is also a little bigger.  Most of my posts here are longer important articles that need more space than makes sense on Facebook.  Check out the articles below and also follow or like HuberResidents.org on Facebook.   

Tom McMasters

 
 
Mayor Tom McMasters
 

As important as I'd like to think this website can be, if you really want to keep up with City government regularly look at the agenda items found on the City's Meeting Information & Audio / Video page 

We hope you enjoy your visit here. Please join or login if you have joined before.

News

Serving on council is an obligation I am willing to fulfill  

BLUF 

  • I feel obligated to try and bring back those procedures that led to 4 years of projects coming in on time and on budget
Vote Tom McMasters for Ward 6 representative to council

Expanded essay 

Debate organizers and ballot guides often ask candidates, “why do you want to be elected?".  The better question is, “why should you be elected?”.

Respectable conversations between two people that differ on Issue 25

My Issue 25 article plays into the conversation.  It can be found here:   Council can increase police manning even if you vote No on Issue 25
Here are other some of my other recent articles

TIF discussion - again -

Road improvements on Old Troy before Riverside, Office Building vs Gas Station, Executive Session

Purpose:
The main reason for this post is to expose you to what

Mayor Censured - fodder for click clackers

Paul Scheaffer, someone whose Facebook page "Huber Heights Community Forum" should be a daily look, endorsed the other candidate that is running to represent Ward 6 on city council. 

One of the strains in our relationship is the negative perception he had of me prior to ever engaging with me.  That perception appears to be largely formed from misinformation spread by those that support other city

Council can increase police manning even if you vote No on Issue 25

Earlier today I posted
 

If elected Ward 6 Representative Tom McMasters will vote to increase Police Manning from 55 officers to 63.

As a resident of Huber Heights Tom McMasters is voting No on Issue 25

There is no conflict in these votes


This article explains my logic.

To ensure my reputation as a terrible politician stays intact, I start by talking about the significant reasons voting

TIF discussion - again -

All the way back in 2012 I started trying to explain TIFs to Huber Heights Residents.  I will start this article by exposing you to a post by Mr. Paul Schaeffer who manages the Facebook group Huber Heights Community Forum.  Currently this page is the most comprehensive "paper" for the Huber Heights community. 

Generally, you can expect that the things he writes are reasonably logical.  If you go
Tags: TIF, discussion

Older news

9th March 2023, 12:00 am Wait to Renew the Income Tax Levy 0 comments
23rd January 2023, 10:05 am McMasters for Council? 8 comments
11th December 2022, 11:26 am Latest on City wide watermain line refurbishment.  0 comments
28th February 2022, 12:03 am Will annexation be approved again without due diligence? 0 comments
1st November 2021, 1:24 am What to know about the two coalitions 0 comments
16th October 2021, 12:00 am Mayor Gore Honest? or Smart?  [candidate comparison part 2] 0 comments
11th October 2021, 11:45 pm Rating the 2021 Mayoral Candidates part 1 0 comments
17th September 2021, 7:21 pm Open Meeting Act Lawsuit - Summary Judgment
3rd November 2020, 8:07 am Election Day Flier 0 comments
25th August 2020, 12:00 am Inappropriate Executive session leads to more wasted money 2 comments
26th April 2020, 12:45 pm Update - I guess the city is still going broke. 0 comments
13th February 2020, 12:46 am Complaint about the Mayor - the investigation 0 comments
7th December 2019, 12:41 am Another no bid contract.  
23rd October 2019, 10:29 pm Could this illegal flyer get me to vote for Otto? 1 comment
10th October 2019, 11:12 pm Budget Discussion
15th May 2019, 10:10 pm Councilman Otto investigation
13th May 2019, 12:19 am Raise Council Pay by 560%!
18th April 2019, 12:19 am Councilman Morgan thinks blackmail works
14th April 2019, 9:24 am Importance of Timing when creating TIF

Recent Comments

Mayor Censured - fodder for click clackers

Tom, I have read what you have provided. I still have no public comment on if your stand on principle was appropriate in my view. At the significant risk of fueling the writing of another chapter in this saga, I’ll leave you with the following rhetorical. What you have not addressed is how your conduct, communication style, and ability to work with others may have contributed to the strained relationship with Council, the negative press, solving the city’s problems during your term, and ultimately why that is a factor voters should or should not consider when deciding who to vote for. 

McMasters for Council?

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As a member of Ward 6 I am not motivated to vote for a candidate that is frustrated at paying attention to our City Council. You might get frustrated at the activity or discussion, but if you are frustrated by listening to others….don't run.

I don't believe anyone made deceptive arguments against why the city could not address the water issue. There is a difference of opinion on how to proceed….either reactively or with a life cycle management plan that has yet to be developed that includes identifying the funding sources and plan of action.  It is inappropriate to compare the infrastructure issues that the city owns to the revitalization efforts that are largely commercial activities designed to generate a profit for the private sector.

Inappropriate Executive session leads to more wasted money

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

I wonder if we could get an injunction that requires City Council to get court approval before being allowed to go into executive session. The number of times they go into executive session in violation of the law is so frequent this requirement makes sense.

Would anyone else be interested in helping pursue this kind of action?  

Could this illegal flyer get me to vote for Otto?

I would like to see the candidates talk about issues.  For instance Council is discussing the Lexington Place TIF.  Staff gave them an estimate of $5.1 million dollars.  When I look at this I see the possibility of over $10 million or getting as little as $2 million yet no member of council asked questions that would help determine what is a plausible expectation.  Nor did they ask questions that show they understand the details that would change the amount the city will get.  Glenn missed his opportunity to show he is voting on the plan that maximizes our revenue.  But I would give him or Dana credit if they were to discuss it now.

 

Site Purpose

I've found that when people talk to our current city council they listen. I also believe council both needs that scrutiny and they don't like it. In fact, they proclaim they want public input but then their actions discourage it. I’ve been trying for a year and a half to get more people to learn about what council is doing because I know with our feedback the city will end up with better government. This website is new online and I have a great vision on where it can go! Right now you can review the beginning of the Aquatic Center or “The Heights” or you can create a profile and start adding content to this site. This is a great project and I look forward to working with you to ensure we get good government here in Huber Heights.
 
Tom




Flier

If you've come to this website because of a flier you probably want to see the City Lawyer's opinion paper first. At the very bottom of that page you can find a link to the flier for you to download it and pass it out yourself. 
 
Tom McMasters



Announcements

Web Designers, Authors, Ideas Wanted

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

This website theme has great potential especially since it is open source and free but I can see I'll need help to make it work. If you believe in the vision and you can write code for a website as sophisticated as this contact me. As useful as this site seems it loads pretty slow so if you know of another open source theme that does the same things contact me.
Also, I think if there are 8 of us willing to rotate through the committee meetings and then write about the key events we can improve this city. Contact me if you are interested.

Finally, if you have pictures of City events, construction, public areas or services I'd like to show them. Send them to me and I'll incorporate them into the site. Tom McMasters


Respectable conversations between two people that differ on Issue 25

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

My Issue 25 article plays into the conversation.  It can be found here:   Council can increase police manning even if you vote No on Issue 25
Here are other some of my other recent articles

TIF discussion - again -

Road improvements on Old Troy before Riverside, Office Building vs Gas Station, Executive Session

Purpose:
The main reason for this post is to expose you to what

Mayor Censured - fodder for click clackers

Avatar

Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

Paul Scheaffer, someone whose Facebook page "Huber Heights Community Forum" should be a daily look, endorsed the other candidate that is running to represent Ward 6 on city council. 

One of the strains in our relationship is the negative perception he had of me prior to ever engaging with me.  That perception appears to be largely formed from misinformation spread by those that support other city

Keep Republic

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Tom_McMasters is in the usergroup ‘Administrators’

There probably are a couple more years on the City's trash contract with Republic but I do not think it is too early to compliment the job Republic is doing.

This week the garage got clean and I had a lot of items out front. This morning Republic came and took it all away. I have said it before, Karen Kaleps did a good job organizing the RFP and Jim Borland did a great job in choosing the right…

Older blog posts

3rd February 2018, 9:16 am Robbery - the police and citizens shine
19th January 2018, 7:13 am Narcan Training at HH Library
7th November 2017, 12:49 am What is TIF?

 

Image of the day

Tax Split

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