Development plans separate Lakewood opponents
By BRETT ROWLAND - browland@nwherald.com
LAKEWOOD – Divisions over economic development in Lakewood separate the two candidates running for village president.
Erin Smith, a 43-year-old Motorola executive, wants to encourage development in the village of 3,500, but she said not even the sluggish economy should allow Lakewood to compromise its strict environmental and architectural standards.
“I want destination locations that meet our highest stands,” Smith said. “We have different vision for the kind of development we would bring in – I believe my vision is more consistent with the residents’.”
Opponent John O’Hara – a 44-year-old developer, home builder, and real estate professional – said he wanted to give the village trustees more options for economic development in a move that might lessen the burden of property taxes on village residents.
“Lakewood needs nonresidential tax base – now more than ever,” he said. “We need economic development. We should put every opportunity for development on the table and let the trustees at least react to it.”
Smith, who served on the Lakewood Village Board of Trustees, and O’Hara, who served on several village committees in the past decade, agree on many issues, so it might boil down to what kind of development perspective residents prefer when it comes to voting April 7.
Smith also said she wanted to improve communication with village residents. She said she would bring strong leadership and customer service qualities to the office.
“I really want to preserve the quality of life that we all enjoy,” she said.
O’Hara, whose work on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Public Works Committee was praised by his opponent, said he also wanted to look at curbing village spending during the tough economic times ahead.
“We need to make it like a small business or an American family – we have to sit down at the kitchen table and figure it out,” he said.
Both candidates said they would be against revisiting the issue of home rule anytime soon.
Home rule was roundly rejected by voters in an earlier referendum vote.
The term of office for village president is four years.
