To the Editor:

Many of the most important concerns on the progressive agenda are about the environment from global warming to recycling. UAPA has consistently worked at the local level to inform and improve Upper Arlington on such issues. We have sponsored forums with experts on global warming and screened “An Inconvenient Truth.” We held a successful Earth Day beautification project at UAHS in concert with their PTO. UAPA has encouraged the Cool Cities effort resulting in the recent Cool UA endorsement from City Council.

From this base it is imperative to support Council candidates who are open to pursuing a healthy environment for our community now and in the future for our children. I believe that current incumbents Mary Ann Kraus and Ed Seidel have shown a willingness to deal with not only to ecological concerns as important to quality of life in Upper Arlington but have are eager experience the cost savings of “going green” as well.

While I have not seen any position statements about environment issues from any of the candidates, Krauss and Seidel have a positive record from their tenures in office. They have endorsed the Cool Cities movement. They have continued Upper Arlington’s award-winning recycling program and closely monitored it to keep the program effective and self-sustaining financially. Krauss and Seidel also been working with the citizen’s task force to reform our trash collection system so as to meet rising disposal costs and at the same time provide the waste removal services our community demands.

None of the other candidates has spoken or acted on this issue that I am aware of. Indeed, the more “market driven” development faction has ignored any problems uncontrolled growth/development may make on UA’s limited public space.

Please vote for candidates who are willing to follow the example of the UA Board of Education to maximize energy value, explore the new “green” technology, and make UA the city of environmental leadership it should be.