CityBeat endorses Drake

This race raises a number of questions: What exactly does the county treasurer do? Can it be done better? Why have the Republicans held this office continuously since 1940?

Survey says: Nobody knows, nobody knows, see the first two answers.

Bob Drake, a mathematics education professor at the University of Cincinnati, sees a different way with the treasurer's office. He's put forth a dizzying array of proposals for the treasurer to generate millions of dollars in additional income for Hamilton County, most of which have been met with shrugs by the incumbent, Robert Goering.

Drake thinks the county isn't doing enough to collect delinquent property taxes, so he proposes the sale of tax certificate liens to allow investors to acquire cheap property if they pay off the back taxes. He thinks the county can generate a better flow of property tax payments by giving property owners a 7 percent cut on their taxes if they pay monthly instead of twice a year. He thinks the county isn't doing enough to help its older urban neighborhoods, so he proposes the treasurer invest county funds at local banks that make low-interest loans to urban homeowners, in a dollar-for-dollar match with the loan amounts.

All seem to be creative approaches to the treasurer's job, which basically is responsible for collecting, disbursing and investing the county's tax money. All are working in other county government elsewhere. And that's not even counting Drake's creative and funny Stadium Fiasco game on his Web site ( www.bobdrake.org), which helps highlight the county's miserable record on cost overruns at Pauyl Brown Stadium.

Drake also points out that he'll be a full-time treasurer, since his UC teaching gig would end with his election. Goering, meanwhile, works as treasurer only on a part-time basis, as he's also a bankruptcy attorney.

All in all, Drake's enthusiastic campaign and creative proposals make us wonder why, after 60 straight years of Republican Party control, the treasurer's office can't be turned over to someone who actually is interested in extending a little effort on the public's behalf.


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HAMILTON COUNTY TREASURER: BOB DRAKE CityBeat, Nov. 2-8, 2000 This race raises a number of questions: What exactly does the county treasurer do? Can it be done better? Why have the Republicans held this office continuously since 1940? Survey says: Nobody knows, nobody knows, see the first two answers. Bob Drake, a mathematics education professor at the University of Cincinnati, sees a different way with the treasurer's office. He's put forth a dizzying array of proposals for the treasurer to generate millions of dollars in additional income for Hamilton County, most of which have been met with shrugs by the incumbent, Robert Goering. Drake thinks the county isn't doing enough to collect delinquent property taxes, so he proposes the sale of tax certificate liens to allow investors to acquire cheap property if they pay off the back taxes. He thinks the county can generate a better flow of property tax payments by giving property owners a 7 percent cut on their taxes if they pay monthly instead of twice a year. He thinks the county isn't doing enough to help its older urban neighborhoods, so he proposes the treasurer invest county funds at local banks that make low-interest loans to urban homeowners, in a dollar-for-dollar match with the loan amounts. All seem to be creative approaches to the treasurer's job, which basically is responsible for collecting, disbursing and investing the county's tax money. All are working in other county government elsewhere. And that's not even counting Drake's creative and funny Stadium Fiasco game on his Web site ( www.bobdrake.org), which helps highlight the county's miserable record on cost overruns at Pauyl Brown Stadium. Drake also points out that he'll be a full-time treasurer, since his UC teaching gig would end with his election. Goering, meanwhile, works as treasurer only on a part-time basis, as he's also a bankruptcy attorney. All in all, Drake's enthusiastic campaign and creative proposals make us wonder why, after 60 straight years of Republican Party control, the treasurer's office can't be turned over to someone who actually is interested in extending a little effort on the public's behalf. More Articles