Mayfield Heights Council Election 2011: Benjamin Stocum

Editor's Note: As part of Hillcrest Patch's election coverage, we will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for local office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more-informed decisions at the ballot box. Stay tuned for more coverage of the election.

Name: Benjamin Stocum

Age: 33

Occupation: Vice president and co-owner, Delta Diversified, Inc.; co-owner, Optima Sun Lab

Education: BA, Accounting & Computer Information Systems, Heidelberg College, 2000

Political affiliation: Republican (election is non-partisan)

Office sought: Mayfield Heights City Council

Previous political office sought or held: None

Statement: Our city’s Master Plan identifies significant issues which need to be addressed if Mayfield Heights is to remain the vibrant community we enjoy today.

Those issues include:
• Concerns about maintaining the community’s residential base
• Improving the quality and quantity of retail development
• Limited land and financial resources to work with
• A need for consensus vision, action strategy and commitment to deliver results

I have monitored council activities since 2009 and have been convinced that a fresh perspective and new, energetic leadership is required to deliver effective solutions and protect the valuable piece of real estate that is Mayfield Heights.

As a candidate I have been positive, solution oriented and honest. As a councilman I will be responsive, proactive, relationship oriented and accountable.

It is my goal to protect Mayfield Heights and lead the community to the next generation, where we’ll be recognized as one of the best places to live in Ohio. If elected I will represent residents with this ideal in mind.

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